Then what do you think if Waldner played Zhang Jike? I find this is pretty pointless to even ask you this question 'coz your imagination will go back again to the ZJK's glories and grandslam stuff, then intimately conclude that ZJK can manage the game better. However, Im sorry, who knows? He is probably even worse and just like amateur playing against Waldner.
Actually I agree with you on this. My point about Waldner had very little to do with Ma Long. I think it was said that the guys of today are better than the guys of yesterday. I think players from the 1990s could adapt to todays game and would not really be behind. I think if Waldner played one of those matches against ZJK he would probably be able to show up his weaknesses just as easily. ZJK would probably come into the match with a bad attitude and get a worse beating.
Also, you should know: I AM NOT A ZHANG JIKE FAN. I actually think he is an arrogant ass with an attitude problem which may be the worst aspect of his game. And I personally wouldn't care how many big titles he wins. It will be an unfortunate thing for table tennis if he does go down as the "best ever". The reason is, he has a complete lack of respect for his teammates and players who he thinks he is better than. I have seen him quit matches because he did not feel like playing and he did not feel like losing. When it is not a big event his attitude is totally lame. In last years China Trails for the Team WTTC, Zhang Jike finished the first round at the top, because he wanted to finish first in that trail. But then he did not even show up to play at the Team WTTC. I can't even remember who he almost lost against. But everyone remembers how badly he played in losing against Dima. Nothing against Dima. But Zhang Jike should be ashamed of himself for his behavior.
You made plenty of good points in the rest of your post Bricephan. I think TTFrenzy's post got at one thing I was saying. Ma Long's short game is not a factor against foreign players. Guys like Wang Hao were just successful at nullifying Ma Long's opening attack with the short game, frustrating him and making him play a game he did not want to. It kept him from winning several big titles.
I personally don't think it is Ma Long's nerves as much as everybody claims but I could be wrong. But, if it is, that is still huge.
But this should not be just about Ma Long. I personally think that Jiang Jialiang SHOULD be on this list. I personally think there are some others who should be but aren't. I also don't think Xu Xin, Ma Long and Fan Zhendong should be considered as the best Chinese player ever, at this stage in their careers. I don't think Zhang Jike should be either because of how bad he is in the tournaments he does not care about in spite of his already winning 2 WTTC and an Olympic Gold.
I do think Ma Lin and Wang Liqin should be considered. And I think Ma Lin may be the best number 2 ever. But, in his career, he unfortunately stood behind Wang Liqin and his 3 WTTC wins and his total domination of the world rankings.
I really think it is a shame that Zhang Jike and/or Ma Long have more votes for best ever than Wang Liqin, Ma Lin and Kong Linghui combined and that Liu Gouliang is not even on the list.
Hopefully my perspective is clear.
By the way, my only point about the world cup was that ZJK was acting like a jerk and not playing for real in most of his matches and he was not really having a good tournament. And, even though, with behavior like that, he did not lose. Yes he eeked out a victory after Ma Long worked to get it to deuce in the 7th. Honestly I wish Ma Long had won. Honestly I wish Ma Long had won at least one of those WTTCs so he could be in the discussion. I like Ma Long way more than ZJK as a person. But I can't say he is the best Chinese player ever because he is not the best Chinese player of today. That is all.