Stephen Hendry V Ali Carter

[Q Ball]

Hendry needs a long look at himself, can he still compete at this level with robertson selby allen , who are just a few of the rising stars. The standards are just getting higher and the once feared players are beatable

Q

[david16]

When Hendry has been so invincible as he was for so long and winning so many events each and every season as he was in his prime, I suppose it must be difficult for him to understand that there are many good players out there as much of a threat, circa the Hendry of pre 1997 especially his 1993 to 1996 prime.

Maybe it would be for the best if Hendry had regular chats with Steve Davis to discuss his problems and the problems Davis had when he declined and the fact that Davis came under threat from so many other younger players in the 1990's the same as Hendry is now. But with 7 world titles to his name, the most in modern day game, Hendry probably believed he was so good and was beyond having to discuss things over with a fellow great, and that's probably why he has never had such discussions with Davis.

It's more damaging for Hendry when he comes in still expecting to demolish Ali Carter 13-2 or 13-3 old style but loses 13-6 compared to when Davis lost 13-3 to Ken Doherty at the same stage. Davis came to terms that long before then he had already declined a few years earlier that somewhat cushioned the pain of such a heavy defeat somewhat and the fact that Doherty went on to win it. Hendry has not come to terms with his and any defeat to anybody or still even winning but not the most empahatic fashion 1990's style against allcomers are bitter pills to swallow. If only Hendry had bit the bullet 3 or 4 years ago and did discuss things with Davis he may have appreciated how great things were in the past after he lost today against Carter and not mull over about why things are not what he feels they should be like they were 12 or 13 years ago.

[david16]

Hendry needs a long look at himself, can he still compete at this level with robertson selby allen , who are just a few of the rising stars. The standards are just getting higher and the once feared players are beatable

Q

The problem is that Hendry thinks it's still a poor standard he's coming up against him when really it's an excellent standard now, probably a higher more consistent standard throughout the tournament than he was facing even at his prime.

He hasn't come down from his expectations of 1993 to 1996 levels he feels he should always produce every time he enters the arena, even 11 years past his prime.

But I suppose when he's been so good as he was for so long and was so used to doing it, it must be extremely difficult for him to understand that any level even a small fraction lower than his vintage is far better than not much of a standard at all he seems to class it as.

The main thing in this match is that Carter belived he could beat him and knew he could and pulled it off convincingly. The likes of Carter, and other good young players have come up to a level during Hendry's autumn 1989 to autumn 1992 form spell (not yet his prime at the time) that could believe they could possibly beat the Hendry of that time with the session of their life but only Steve James had the belief of the few good players there were around at the time managed to pull it off at the Crucible. Wattana had a great chance to put Hendry on the rack in the 3rd session of round 2 in the 1992 championships but lacked the required belief and White in later on in the same championship in the final should have been 15-9 up but tossed away 3 or 4 careless frames from 14-8 up with not much special at all from Hendry before eventually Hendry blossomed supreme in the last 6 frames, and Hendry was lucky that Robidoux had a push shot called against him that wasn't one at all that turned the match in 1990 round 1. None of these sorts of situations would have happened between 1993 and 1996 when Hendry really was in his prime, but more good players with more belief would have pushed him and punished more autumn 1989 to autumn 1992 period when he was clearly vulnerable at times.

[moondan]

Hendry is not the player he was but this match was a one off in my opinion.
The situation Hendry had to contend with was a player at the very top of his game and the run of the ball to go with it.
I keep hearing standards are rising, and they are in a general sense but it must not be forgotten who set those standards, and the greatest performance by any snooker player is Hendrys 7 centuries in a best of 19 UK final.
Along with his record that is where the bar is at. Hendry was entirely different class in his peak years to the player he is today.
The great years may well be gone, but he will turn it on now and again, and nobody should doubt that.

[Miss_S]

She's not being nasty at all IMO. It's true,Hendry's not been playing well enough to beat Carter.
I've had to read much worse things about my favourites....

Now,what's up with giving me negative rep for this post?
Am I not allowed to give my opinion without getting anonymous negative reps with no comments?
If you disagree/are offended, then by all means, do tell me! What's wrong with just replying to my post if you disagree?

(Ok,it's not such a big deal,just really annoying and rude IMO)