Northern Ireland Trophy thoughts

[leroy86]

I haven't posted in so long I have half forgotten what to do!

Anyway, didn't see a thread up so thought I would get one going. Who does anyone like/dislike this year? The bottom quarter is pretty tough, I would be surprised to see Ronnie win it given its location aswell.

Personally, I think Shaun Murphy will go well...and maybe Liany Wenbo as a lively outsider?!

Any views or news?

[hegeland]

Shaun Murphy has a favourable draw, and is arguably the most consistent player over the last 12 months.

That being said, I hope Hendry beats him heavily in the second round and then proceeds to win it! But my mind says that's (almost) a no-no.

Then again, as the top 17-32 is better than ever, predicting a winner is harder than ever.

[ADR147]

Shaun Murphy has a favourable draw, and is arguably the most consistent player over the last 12 months.

That being said, I hope Hendry beats him heavily in the second round and then proceeds to win it! But my mind says that's (almost) a no-no.

Then again, as the top 17-32 is better than ever, predicting a winner is harder than ever.

i think hendry has a very good chance. actually i think the winner of the likely stevens v hendry match could win it and that would be a great result for either of them - jamie cope v neil robertson would be another great match.

[HarmySandwhich]

I'd like to see Marco win a second ranking title event and he looks in great form. I read an article from http://worldsnooker.com that he resumed intensive training immediately by going over his mistakes in Aberdeen, in light of the upcoming North Ireland Trophey event. I really hope he gets it.

I don't think Ronnie is likely to get back in there. He hasn't won a tournament in 31 months and this is largely due to his own thinking. Everyone knows that Ronnie will never win if he doesn't want to. He's the type of guy who only wins tournaments when he really wants to. I'd say he didn't win the Grand Prix because he wasn't really fussed. Although an article in Snooker Scene [I'd photocopy a scan later] did comment on his depression affecting the way he plays in the likelihood he would lose [and lost he did].

I think Higgins has a good chance of winning.

[PaulTheSoave]

Sorry, but I still cannot understand Stevens is rated so highly. Has not done anything decent for the last years and still going out as a favourite. I rate Murphy as a favourite, or Day finally winning something (more hope than believe)

i think hendry has a very good chance. actually i think the winner of the likely stevens v hendry match could win it and that would be a great result for either of them - jamie cope v neil robertson would be another great match.

[HarmySandwhich]

Sorry, but I still cannot understand Stevens is rated so highly. Has not done anything decent for the last years and still going out as a favourite. I rate Murphy as a favourite, or Day finally winning something (more hope than believe)

Oh, come on Paul. Steven's has been knocked out of the Top 16 but we all know how very capable he is. I personally believe that Murphy winning that match in the World Championship was sooo lucky. Matthews is a great player. You saw the form he played in the World Championship. He just needs to get back on track.

[PaulTheSoave]

haha, I wont go there again. (See threads in archive). Been hanged and quartered already on this one. I called him the bottler Sorry

Oh, come on Paul. Steven's has been knocked out of the Top 16 but we all know how very capable he is. I personally believe that Murphy winning that match in the World Championship was sooo lucky. Matthews is a great player. You saw the form he played in the World Championship. He just needs to get back on track.

[HarmySandwhich]

haha, I wont go there again. (See threads in archive). Been hanged and quartered already on this one. I called him the bottler Sorry

lol. Ah. I wished I got to this forum sooner. Any chance of seeing Stevens back in the Top 16 next year?

[PaulTheSoave]

Well, we have a little prize here for joke of the day and you just got first prize on this one, lol!

lol. Ah. I wished I got to this forum sooner. Any chance of seeing Stevens back in the Top 16 next year?

[Alex0paul]

Sorry, but I still cannot understand Stevens is rated so highly. Has not done anything decent for the last years and still going out as a favourite. I rate Murphy as a favourite, or Day finally winning something (more hope than believe)

Ryan Day is another bottler. His most noteable chokes came in the 2004 WC 1st Round, leading 9-7 against Higgins and missed a match ball pink. 2006 WC 2nd Round again leading 9-7 against O'Sullivan he missed a simple black to go 10-7 and his head went and most notably leading 6-2 in a ranking final to Dominic Dale losing 10-6. I will be very very suprised if he ever wins a ranking event as I can't see him ever beating the top players.

[HarmySandwhich]

Well, we have a little prize here for joke of the day and you just got first prize on this one, lol!

Mean. Real mean. I'll watch out for you on this forum. If Stevens beats Gould and Hendry [let's face it, Hendry is stuffed anyway ] and Murphy beats the Hamilton [I think Hamilton will beat Judge], there will be an opportunity for revenge!

If that happens, i'm certainly going for Stevens. Stevens needs closure! I'm waiting for that day to come. Stevens is my second favourite player.

[PaulTheSoave]

True, thats why i stated more hope than believe. Although the real bottlers are the ones that have the worlds in sight, and miss out on the last hurdle. Like the whites, the stevenses!

Ryan Day is another bottler. His most noteable chokes came in the 2004 WC 1st Round, leading 9-7 against Higgins and missed a match ball pink. 2006 WC 2nd Round again leading 9-7 against O'Sullivan he missed a simple black to go 10-7 and his head went and most notably leading 6-2 in a ranking final to Dominic Dale losing 10-6. I will be very very suprised if he ever wins a ranking event as I can't see him ever beating the top players.

[hegeland]

So many people still saying Stevens is class this and so capable that, the reality is that he is a 30 year old who has won one ranker in all his years and is not in the top 16. Yes he has played some good snooker in his day, but so has many else. Nothing special, IMHO.

Day was too old when he had his break through, in the best scenario he might be a new Joe Perry but that's about it.

[dannyd0g]

Everyones being a bit harsh on Day me thinks. Ok you could argue that he has bottled match balls in a few big matches. But he is still new to the 'big time' and bound to improve in nerve and composure.. I dont think he is much older than mid 20s and is rising quickly and has so far got to 2 major finals i believe. His breakthrough may have been much later than the likes of Ronnie and Hendry but I believe he could be a top 8 player and a lot more successful than a Perry.

[Alex0paul]

I dont think he is much older than mid 20s

He is 27. His progress may have been stunted because of problems with his liver in 2003.