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thinktank

Hmmm...
Sep 28, 2004
45,893
68,893
Just thought I'd leave this here, the master at work again making the game look ridiculously easy. Hendry's centuries record on the verge of going.


I don't follow snooker that much, only to watch ronnie usually. Is there another 'mercurial one' in the wings to take over from him as he did from Higgins, or is there just a que of steve davies?
 

haxman

Well-Known Member
Jan 14, 2007
16,911
8,146
I don't follow snooker that much, only to watch ronnie usually. Is there another 'mercurial one' in the wings to take over from him as he did from Higgins, or is there just a que of steve davies?
I'd be the same. When O'Sullivan retires I'll probably stop watching it altogether as there are no characters left in the game like there were in the past. I suppose Judd Trump would have the potential to take on the mantle of the outstanding player but he's not done it yet but he's only 25 so time is still on his side. Neil Robertson is decent too.
 

tiger666

Large Member
Jan 4, 2005
27,978
82,214
I'd be the same. When O'Sullivan retires I'll probably stop watching it altogether as there are no characters left in the game like there were in the past. I suppose Judd Trump would have the potential to take on the mantle of the outstanding player but he's not done it yet but he's only 25 so time is still on his side. Neil Robertson is decent too.

He is decent. I can't stand him though.
 

hughy

I'm SUPER cereal.
Nov 18, 2007
31,842
56,935
I'd be the same. When O'Sullivan retires I'll probably stop watching it altogether as there are no characters left in the game like there were in the past. I suppose Judd Trump would have the potential to take on the mantle of the outstanding player but he's not done it yet but he's only 25 so time is still on his side. Neil Robertson is decent too.

Let me introduce you to this beauty.

 

Spurger King

can't smile without glue
Jul 22, 2008
43,881
95,147
I'd be the same. When O'Sullivan retires I'll probably stop watching it altogether as there are no characters left in the game like there were in the past. I suppose Judd Trump would have the potential to take on the mantle of the outstanding player but he's not done it yet but he's only 25 so time is still on his side. Neil Robertson is decent too.

I think it's more to do with more players being media savvy these days. Ronnie's a bit of a nutter (probably why he supports the gooners), but he's probably the greatest natural snooker player of all time so can get away with it most of the time.

With the money involved, and the level of competition, it's not so easy for the more flamboyant players (like Tony Drago) to express themselves and get away with it. Off the table it's even less likely that Alex Higgins-types could get away with being pissed out of their heads and still make major tournaments.

I think the real problem snooker has is that there's simply nobody even remotely close to Ronnie's abilities. Trump, Selby, and Robertson are not consistent enough. I remember a time when we had Hendry, Williams, Higgins, and a few others all playing almost perfect snooker, then a young Ronnie joined the party.
 

scat1620

L'espion mal fait
May 11, 2008
16,285
52,506
Happy for Ronnie as he's the reason that I fell in love with snooker and I'll be in his corner until the day he retires. But Judd Trump is immense, and surely the heir-in-waiting to Ronnie's crown - got loads of time for him too. That was pretty much the perfect final (result and performance from both players) from my pespective.
 

scat1620

L'espion mal fait
May 11, 2008
16,285
52,506
He [Neil Robertson] is decent. I can't stand him though.
Agreed, on both counts. I have a number of snooker players who I dislike immensely for no rational reason that I can fathom, but something about them just really gets my goat anyway. Top of that list is/was Mark Williams. Neil Robertson would also figure pretty highly.
 

Spurger King

can't smile without glue
Jul 22, 2008
43,881
95,147
Great final. I'm a fan of both players and they delivered a brilliant match.

Agreed, on both counts. I have a number of snooker players who I dislike immensely for no rational reason that I can fathom, but something about them just really gets my goat anyway. Top of that list is/was Mark Williams. Neil Robertson would also figure pretty highly.

Shaun Murphy for me. Disliked him even before I found out about that incident with Stephen Maguire.
 

haxman

Well-Known Member
Jan 14, 2007
16,911
8,146
I think the real problem snooker has is that there's simply nobody even remotely close to Ronnie's abilities. Trump, Selby, and Robertson are not consistent enough. I remember a time when we had Hendry, Williams, Higgins, and a few others all playing almost perfect snooker, then a young Ronnie joined the party.
Yes that was the golden era of snooker for me, but my dad would talk about the Ray Reardon and Alex Higgins days before that. As for Ronnie and the others, well he's the most talented player to ever pick up a cue and players like that are extremely rare, it may be a long time till someone with that ability comes along again. No shame for the others not being able to play to that level.
 

Mustard

Well-Known Member
Nov 14, 2012
10,781
20,141
I think it's more to do with more players being media savvy these days. Ronnie's a bit of a nutter (probably why he supports the gooners), but he's probably the greatest natural snooker player of all time so can get away with it most of the time.

With the money involved, and the level of competition, it's not so easy for the more flamboyant players (like Tony Drago) to express themselves and get away with it. Off the table it's even less likely that Alex Higgins-types could get away with being pissed out of their heads and still make major tournaments.

I think the real problem snooker has is that there's simply nobody even remotely close to Ronnie's abilities. Trump, Selby, and Robertson are not consistent enough. I remember a time when we had Hendry, Williams, Higgins, and a few others all playing almost perfect snooker, then a young Ronnie joined the party.


No denying he is the greatest natural talent ever but has there ever been a more ungracious champion, in any sport?

I'm familiar with his mental health issues but even when he is in a 'good place' he still comes across as a sulky teenager. His comments after the 147 were a disgrace quite frankly.
 

AW?

Formerly known as *******Who?
Feb 6, 2006
13,205
4,951
Great final. I'm a fan of both players and they delivered a brilliant match.



Shaun Murphy for me. Disliked him even before I found out about that incident with Stephen Maguire.
Murphy's got an annoying baby face. Robertson looks smarmy as fuck. The one that winds me up is Stephen Lee because he is disgusting (not because he's a disgrace but because to look at he makes me feel physically sick). Also Matthew Stevens who always makes annoying faces. Can't stand him.

Can't stand the Rugby player Matthew Stevens either. The one that got banned for doing coke. He owns Jikka JIkka the cofffee shop in Bath here by the bus station. He once walked in front of me to cross the street to go there forcing me to stop and then gave me a dirty look even though he was the arsehole. If I hadn't and hit him it probably would have written my car off he's such a fat bastard. I lifted my finger to my nose and simulated I was doing a line myself. He didn't look to pleased about that but although I was already on my way by then and driving off. I probably need to tone this stuff down all things considered haha!
 

dagraham

Well-Known Member
Sep 20, 2005
19,115
46,080
No denying he is the greatest natural talent ever but has there ever been a more ungracious champion, in any sport?

I'm familiar with his mental health issues but even when he is in a 'good place' he still comes across as a sulky teenager. His comments after the 147 were a disgrace quite frankly.

What did he say that was so bad after the 147?

I agree that sometimes he doesn't think before opening his mouth, but he always comes across as quite magnanimous to me in his after match interviews (at least in the last few years). I've seen plenty of players lose and act really surly afterwards refusing to give the other player credit.

Like others have said before, I love snooker but when he's not around I find it hard to be interested.

I think Trump could be the man to take on his mantle, but he his game needs a bit of honing first. Robertson is a great player but I can't fucking stand him, comes across as a smarmy ****.
 

Montasura

Well-Known Member
Mar 15, 2008
7,256
6,768
I'm not sure I'm convinced by the idea of not seeing another with Ronnie's talent for many years to come. As someone above said he remembers Hendry, Williams, etc as being a golden era but yet his father speaks of the era before that.

In my lifetime I've had the good fortune of watching Ronnie, my all time favourite Jimmy White, and Alex Higgins (who I had the pleasure of playing against) - three players of incredible natural ability. I see no reason why players like this will continue to come along.

As an aside, do any older members remember the golden days of snooker. I was chatting to a mate the other day and we were reminiscing about the good time when players like Bill Werbeniuk would tank through a dozen pints during a match, Higgins snoked his way through 40 cigarettes, and David Icke presenting. The good old days of snooker!!
 

Mustard

Well-Known Member
Nov 14, 2012
10,781
20,141
What did he say that was so bad after the 147?

I agree that sometimes he doesn't think before opening his mouth, but he always comes across as quite magnanimous to me in his after match interviews (at least in the last few years). I've seen plenty of players lose and act really surly afterwards refusing to give the other player credit.

Like others have said before, I love snooker but when he's not around I find it hard to be interested.

I think Trump could be the man to take on his mantle, but he his game needs a bit of honing first. Robertson is a great player but I can't fucking stand him, comes across as a smarmy ****.


It was on the radio. He just sneered that he only completed the 147 because the money had rolled over enough. If it hadn't he would have missed on purpose. He said he was bored and was going.

Someone must have had a word because later he said the opposite.
 

Spurger King

can't smile without glue
Jul 22, 2008
43,881
95,147
No denying he is the greatest natural talent ever but has there ever been a more ungracious champion, in any sport?

I'm familiar with his mental health issues but even when he is in a 'good place' he still comes across as a sulky teenager. His comments after the 147 were a disgrace quite frankly.

He can be very irksome at times. How many times has he threatened to quit the sport? I love watching him play, but some (not all) of his comments have taken the shine off him a little. Then again my favourite snooker player for years was John Higgins, and more than a few people think he's tarnished his reputation.

I do appreciate that Ronnie does bring some much needed personality to the sport, but he's no Jimmy White (I'm only just starting to come to terms that Jimmy probably won't ever win the World Championship).
 

haxman

Well-Known Member
Jan 14, 2007
16,911
8,146
I'm not sure I'm convinced by the idea of not seeing another with Ronnie's talent for many years to come. As someone above said he remembers Hendry, Williams, etc as being a golden era but yet his father speaks of the era before that.

In my lifetime I've had the good fortune of watching Ronnie, my all time favourite Jimmy White, and Alex Higgins (who I had the pleasure of playing against) - three players of incredible natural ability. I see no reason why players like this will continue to come along.

As an aside, do any older members remember the golden days of snooker. I was chatting to a mate the other day and we were reminiscing about the good time when players like Bill Werbeniuk would tank through a dozen pints during a match, Higgins snoked his way through 40 cigarettes, and David Icke presenting. The good old days of snooker!!

For me it comes down to the fact that he doesn't have to play regular competitive snooker, and can just turn up at the world championship and destroy the field, that's how far ahead of the rest he is. It's natural ability. Selby did well to stop him this year. Add to that that he's at least 200 ahead of the next best player in centuries made and is sure to add to that. I don't think we'll see his like again for some time.

i do remember Big Bill, used to drink heavily to settle his hand so he could play. There was also Steady Eddie Charlton, Cliff Thorburn, Kirk Stevens, and remember they used to show the doubles tournaments where Steve Davis played alongside Tony Meo?

It was on the radio. He just sneered that he only completed the 147 because the money had rolled over enough. If it hadn't he would have missed on purpose. He said he was bored and was going.

Someone must have had a word because later he said the opposite.

There was that other time a while back when Jan Verhaas had to convince him to pot the final black for the 147 "for the fans" as there was no extra money for the maximum, it was a smaller tournament. He's a twat no doubt, but he's a really gifted twat.
 
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