tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post4889950000445202431..comments2024-02-03T12:04:16.336+00:00Comments on SNOOKER SCENE BLOG: THE CRUCIBLE CONTENDERS: SHAUN MURPHYDave Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08037719321756898982noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-16588622206779643142013-04-09T23:15:47.378+01:002013-04-09T23:15:47.378+01:00His last match with selby when he lost 6-2 sums it...His last match with selby when he lost 6-2 sums it up for Murphy. I think Murphy is lacking the tactical clout say that most of the other top players have.<br /><br />Its not that he doesn't have safety, its like he doesn't have the patience for slogging it out, a bit like hendry when his formed dipped.<br /><br />You can't take anything from selby, thats the way he plays, but It's clear Selby's style of play gets to Murphy.<br /><br />Maby he should just go for everything! On his day he can beat anyone.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-48046799153102917332013-04-09T20:19:02.090+01:002013-04-09T20:19:02.090+01:00Very good read. I think he needs to avoid certain ...Very good read. I think he needs to avoid certain players to lift the title. <br /><br />Only one point I disagree with. I don't think it's so much he's better in adversity. I think he's better when he goes all out attack. He's much more instinctive this way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-44402710843415089672013-04-09T19:58:55.439+01:002013-04-09T19:58:55.439+01:00cause he thought it was easy pickings and no one w...cause he thought it was easy pickings and no one would noticeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-89849332132358776312013-04-09T19:54:51.344+01:002013-04-09T19:54:51.344+01:00Thai-Phoon and Tornado still in it! hope the vets ...Thai-Phoon and Tornado still in it! hope the vets qualify to the TV stages.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-90630044598441354392013-04-09T19:49:52.858+01:002013-04-09T19:49:52.858+01:00It's really amazing that so many players, with...It's really amazing that so many players, with an abundance of ability and bottle and who do the right things, have not won a bagful of ranking titles e.g. Murphy, Allen and Ding.<br /><br />Conversely,there are some brilliant players who haven't achieved what's expected for reasons that seem to be evident e.g. Day, Cope, Trump and J White. The first 3 seem to lack patience for the game and their shot selection is poor at times. Some of these have more time than others to put it right. Jimmy's lifestyle and sparse practice seem to have been his undoing - which is a shame for someone with his off the scale ability. Many years ago John Parrott said " .. if Jimmy had practiced properly the rest of us needn't bother turning up"<br /><br />If someone worked out what this X Factor was he would become a millionaire in double quick time.Raynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-61332354631137215792013-04-09T18:51:15.798+01:002013-04-09T18:51:15.798+01:00Higgins' interview phobia can be no great surp...Higgins' interview phobia can be no great surprise. It's a given that the one burning question everyone wants to know the answer to is, 'why John, why ?'Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-38559725867886804672013-04-09T17:47:10.127+01:002013-04-09T17:47:10.127+01:00I think Shaun is his own worst enemy. I watched hi...I think Shaun is his own worst enemy. I watched him play Luca Brecel at the Barbican last year and he looked almost guilty when he won. He needs to develop a more ruthless approach and I think then we will see him lifting trophiesLittlesprathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08419624287019647686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-29521402075400950542013-04-09T16:34:29.152+01:002013-04-09T16:34:29.152+01:00Love the guy and purr over his action and temperam...Love the guy and purr over his action and temperament. Sometimes he seems to lose concentration - forgets he's in a tournament too, maybe. His game would improve if he had a rocket up his bum, IMO.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08797670668432272829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-38461836486088030422013-04-09T16:34:20.288+01:002013-04-09T16:34:20.288+01:00Was surprised to read Higgins refusing to do inter...Was surprised to read Higgins refusing to do interviews, he always seems very amiable and philosophical in defeat.<br /><br />It will be interesting to see if O'Sullivan makes your ten, I've not got him in my leading top five or six contenders.<br /><br />jamie brannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01668254365608375328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-81478655613249872242013-04-09T15:06:43.954+01:002013-04-09T15:06:43.954+01:00The problem is, all the top players, plus many oth...The problem is, all the top players, plus many others want titles too. I do though remember when he won the UK a few years ago and came in to the event with hardly any, if no form at all, and still won the games second biggest ranking event! He knows he can win the worlds again, as he has done before, but personally his form is not strong enough and neither is his mental state and I couldn't have him on my shortlist, but then again, I said the same thing before his UK win...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-76755257478324164102013-04-09T15:01:42.978+01:002013-04-09T15:01:42.978+01:00To be fair he has been in good form this season, a...To be fair he has been in good form this season, and he has always shone in the longer formats (1 world title, a second world final, and a UK title) so for me he's the dark horse for the title this year.<br /><br />He's in the tougher half of the draw (the winners of 8 of the last 9 championships are in his half of the draw, with Judd Trump thrown in for good measure), but it's also the half that is most likely to open up: O'Sullivan hasn't played in a ranker this season, Higgins is in poor form, and Trump has only reached one semi since xmas. <br /><br />Based on current form out of the players that have reached a world final, he is probably the favourite to come through the top half.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-91680174126848921272013-04-09T13:59:57.887+01:002013-04-09T13:59:57.887+01:00agree - serious contender, perhaps not currently a...agree - serious contender, perhaps not currently at top of his form, but has the confidence & expereince to last the marathon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com