Hendry - Not good enough

[wildJONESEYE]

It is horrible to watch Stephen playing as he is and has done since around 2001. As we remember him in the nineties he is so far away from that standard and it really is gut wrenching to watch. I sincerley hope he adds to his 36 titles before he does retire. Were all still behind ya mr Hendry

the ironic thing is many actually believe the play has overtaken his standards not as what has happened he has fallen back to allow others to overtake him...

Ronnie apart nobody else playing today could get close to how hendry played and even Ronnie doesent do it as consistant as hendry used to....

[RocketRoy1983]

He was so consistent winning 7 titles in the 90's which is something ronnie couldnt have done even if he was at the same level from 1990 as he is too inconsistent when it comes to his mental strength.

[Templeton Peck]

Ronnie is dominating now as Hendry did in the early-mid 90s because of the lack of opposition, not of supreme brilliance. During the 98-03 golden age Hendry lost his dominance and Ronnie was unable to establish himself as the dominant force because the opposition was just too tough. I'm pretty sure Ronnie won't win another three or four titles but he was unfortunate to graduate from the class of '92 with Higgins and Williams, followed by Hunter three years later. If Ronnie had come through on his own like Hendry he probably would have won in '98 and '07 too and possibly with another to come so it wouldn't have been unthinkable that he could have matched Hendry. The fact that he could easily have won in 2005 and 2006 had he been up for it adds another dimension to any judgement on his ability. The opposition Ronnie faced during his peak period totally chnaged the landscape of what was realistically achieveable. Stats don't tell the full story - if you are going to judge him off what he does win then you have to take into account who beat him when he didn't win...

[moondan]

I will always believe that Hendry stopped Ronnie winning 3 World titles, and Ronnie stopped Hendry winning 2.

[ADR147]

I will always believe that Hendry stopped Ronnie winning 3 World titles, and Ronnie stopped Hendry winning 2.

so far.

[Anastasia]

always someone stop someone

[noel]

always someone stop someone

Good point.
Although to put it another way... any shot can be missed.

The thing that "hurts" the most for me in seeing Hendry do poorly is this...

Last night my son (15) was getting frustrated with the fact that I ran a number of 40+ breaks off his misses/leaves. He was annoyed that I was playing ok and he wasn't on his game. I tried to help him understand that even O'Sullivan and Hendry don't win every frame... they don't necessarily get beaten... they lose.
When you're sitting down its out of your control.
Rule #1...Don't miss, son!

(Also, be happy for someone who is playing better than you - it may not be cheap but let it be a valuable lesson.)



=o)

Noel

[poolqjunkie]

Hendry was so amazing to watch in the 90's. He was just liek a machine. You can leave him on the cushion, only let him see one ball, and he will clear the table from there!
May be Hendry was practicing more and now he has taken other interests in life? Some people said old age has gotten to him but Ronnie is over 30 and seems to be only getting better.
Hendy seems to have changed his cueing action, may be he has a new coach and it is not working for him?
Or is it just his cue?

[Templeton Peck]

Hendry started to go downhill after he lost his virginity at 26.

[ADR147]

i think its a confidence thing i know for a fact hat mark williams and hendry are both still frightening break builders on the practise table they just need to string a few wins together.

[ADR147]

Hendry started to go downhill after he lost his virginity at 26.

i wonder when you will lose yours.

[noel]

i wonder when you will lose yours.

That reminds me of a Scottish joke... is this what you mean Andrew?

A Englishman was visiting a Highland region and he and a local shepherd were tending sheep in the mountains when they came across an ewe with her head caught in a fence. The shepherd dropped his trousers, got down on his knees and had his way with the ewe. Satisfied, the Scotsman buttoned up and turned to the Englishman, 'Fancy a go?' asked the shepherd.

'Don't mind if I do...' said the Englishman, so he drops his trousers, gets on his knees,
and sticks his head in the fence...

=o)


Noel

[ADR147]

old joke that one , this one even older - what do you call a sheep tied to a lampost in cardiff? a leisure centre

[noel]

old joke that one , this one even older - what do you call a sheep tied to a lampost in cardiff? a leisure centre

I see what you did there Andrew!
"Cardiff"... HaHaHa


=o)

Noel

[david16]

Teenagers aren't really ready to win at the Crucible.

You really need loads of experience over long course snooker to acutally be ripe to win at the Crucible. O'sullivan was only 3rd season pro in 1995 hadn't even played a best of 31 anywhere, while Hendry at the same stage of his career had already played best of 25 final and a best of 31 final away from the Crucible nobody else since 1992 has had the opportunity to do so. Best of 31's away from the crucible Hendry had already played another twice since 1988 before he was 21, while others since only got their best of 25 and 31's experience at the Crucible as those type length matches never existed elsewhere from 1993 onwards.

So Hendry was ready much sooner to win at the Crucible than anybody else that has came through at the same age from 1992. Hendry lost to Davis and even Mounjoy before that in best of 31 before he was truly ready to win at the Crucible, so if others did not win 1st attmept at the best of 31 (best of 33 now) then best of 35 you can't not put it down to lack of experience.

Hendry was more around in 1987 and 1988 than Higgins, Williams and O'Sullivan were in 1994 and 1995 if you compare long match experience at the same stages of their careers. I can't believe anybody who says that Hendry was just gaining experience in 1987 not seriously around, but Higgins, O'sullivan and Williams were seriously around in 1994.

Winning the UK in 1993 did not make O'sullivan sudden contender to win at the Crucible almost immediately in his career, as he never already played best of 31. He didn't know how to handle 4 session matches at such an early stage of his career. Took till 1996 until O'Sulllivan played best of 31 in the world semi and got beaten, so on that evidence can't say that if he had got through the quarter final v Hendry the year before that he would have won it definitely for sure.