I just watched the MS final matches on youtube and congratulation to LCW for pulling through. Now when he wins, no one mentioned about the coach issue anymore and what needs to be done prior to OG'12. It seems like all the agonies and defeats by LD not long ago was forgotten. Personally I thought he still need someone with the right caliber, experience and who had been through to where he wanted to go to assist in his preparation and fine-tuning of his game. Sad to say that TSB and RS simply can't help him on this aspect as this is beyond their capabilities! From what I see in those matches, LCW still has some work to do and the onus is on LD to lose.
^^ Yep especially that last sentence. Most of their battles and esp this final's G3 was LD's to lose.
LCW seems to be pushing the luggage cart with a lot of confidence. He didn't look mentally prepared when I saw him at the airport last year, and his cart kept veering to the left. He seems to have overcome his old demons and have emerged mentally refreshed and able to push that cart to the kerb to get his taxi, ahead of Lin Dan who struggled with his cart.
Congratulations to LCW on his win! I think he won because he practised patience when patience was needed, unlike the earlier times he crossed paths with LD. Of course, LD for reasons best known to him (and XXZ) did not demonstrate any patience in game 3, and paid the penalty. I think LCW is putting into practise some important lessons and tactics that he had forgotten for may years: that he has the best defense in the world, and that he does not have to use his awesome speed at every point and wear himself out. And most importantly, to stay cool. This time, he was the ice-man! Good for LCW! Of course, the threat from his main opponents is even more real for him now... there's lots of work to be done...
That's XXF, not XXZ or XYZ. And LCW was lucky that LD had a mini mental breakdown at 10-12 rubber set, after which LCW had a continuous run of 7 points thanks to uncharacteristic errors from LD after that line call he didn't agree with. As always, imo, when these 2 meet, it is LD's to lose, not LCW's to win.
Congratulations to LCW on his win! . Well said. As you can read - Many LD fans still think that LD intentionally gave this KO title to LCW. .
Lol, I'm actually a bolehian... I'm a Malaysian Chinese, now living in Canada for the past 30 something years. However, I'm not blind to the fact that LD is physically and mentally and tactically and skillfully better than LCW, most of the time, sad as that is to me.
I am in "agreeance" (a Dubyaism) with you! But it's XXZ, and I suspect there are some politics happening out there.... But back to LCW, this match showed a strong ray of light for some reasons: Patience. Slow down the pace, take the sting out of LD's returns. Make LD generate his own pace. (a leaf out of Taufik's manual.) Less of the cute show-pony strokes. More of the basic strokes. Less tentative defense and deeper clears. Better net-play, more intent at the net. For some reason, I think his new racquet is less head-heavy that the VT80, and that may have something to do with a more compact defence and tighter netplay.
You may say, "Come on now lah, (insert LD or LCW here, depending on your allegiance...) ___, what's a SSP title among friends, eh? We fight later in August for-real, ok? Until then, Baby You Can Drive My Car."
^^ D'oh XXZ is the coach, XXF is the wifey! Agree with your assessment. I think also the slow and cold condition of the venue prevented both sides from attacking much, hence a lot of clears and drops while waiting for the right moment to attack on the part of both players. However, I'm still flabbergasted by the 7 point run by LCW after 10-12 where 5 of those points were from bizarre pushes and clears out LCW's forehand side line. Which happened to be the line where there was a call he didn't like.
