If you are the CNT boss, what would you do?

[Tony's Table Tennis]

CNT had the first rocky year ever since the Swedes passed over the reign decades ago.
They had been some solo warriors challenging the 3 decade CNT champions, some upsets by Chinese players moving overseas etc.
the threat was only a handful at most and could be tamed by even the no 5 player in the team.

Today, nearly everyone in the top 50 can challenge a top CNT player.
The Olympics was probably the start of the fall
ATTC saw how CNT couldn't handle the pressure + workload and now the 2nd last Champion of the year.

Rumors of FZD retiring (who will retire first - Ma Long of FZD??)
Ma Long retiring too
WCQ become just like the unstable LGY
LJK the reliable 2nd string leader loosing more and more and he isn't getting younger too....
the list goes on and the women's team isn't any better.
and there isn't good juniors coming through....

There will be one more Champion in a months time, it is probably not enough time to do anything, but if you are the CNT boss, what would you do for 2025?
surely if things continue as is, it will only go in one direction.

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

there is only one thing to do.
I would retire

 

[Robin0910]

I’ve read quite a good comment by @Lkhfly from another thread:

“The CNT is probably in red alert mode. If I'm them, I will make sure of 3 things:

+ Beg FZD & Ma Long to not retire: FZD will probably still play due to sponsorships, but if CNT could extend ML just for 1-2 more years for the next gen (LSD, XP) to really mature, that'd be really good. ML still has that tactical game and overall aura that's unmatched. If either ML or FZD play, we wouldn't be seeing the strings of upsets lately.

+ Retire LJK & LGY (mens), WYD & CXT (womens) to make way for more Chinese youths: this is self-explanatory. Japan, France youths are way surpassing Chinese youths at this point in both men and women.

+ Train and take it slow with LSD / WCQ: both are young with great techniques BUT lack important tournament fighting experience and have some glaring holes in their games (WCQ forehand defense and LSD over-dependence game on the mid-distance game, it doesn't work well against consistent players). But honestly, WCQ mental game might not ever be fixed (look at LGY). I believe LSD can dominate in 2-3 years though.
They can be China's hope in 2-3 years at least, but definitely not now. At least 1-2 more WTTC. That's why Ma Long and FZD is desperately needed. I think FZD will definitely stay - but there are rumors of CNT making him unhappy so they have to take care of his needs until then.”

 

[TensorBackhand]

I miss the zhang jike era and the Ma Lin era. In those days, anytime a player won a championship it really felt like they earned it by beating the final boss.

Today, it feels like you could win by getting a lucky draw and catching a slumping Chinese player.

 

[sky500]

Well, for the men I agree, the Chinese rooster is looking weak without Ma long and FZD. WCQ and LSD are too young yet. LGY needs to be benched and LJK being the only stable one but not undisputeable or unbeatable.

For women, three of the top players didn't even participate in Montepellier. SYS, CM and WMY are still top level and I would say they will beat top players, if they are rested.

 

[Takkyu_wa_inochi]

I miss the zhang jike era and the Ma Lin era. In those days, anytime a player won a championship it really felt like they earned it by beating the final boss.

Today, it feels like you could win by getting a lucky draw and catching a slumping Chinese player.

the final boss is Miwa, and Odo earned her championship

 

[mcfly]

the problem is not only the CNT itself. It is the other teams getting much much stronger.
what would i do if im the boss? i would love to see the Final best of 7, no BS side view camera, between Tony and Zeio, winner gets to be the boss

 

[netdriver]

if im cnt's boss that means i would at least be champion material

i would come out of retirement onto the international stage to show em how its done.............................

los angeles 2028 gold medal here i come

 

[Sims]

Today, nearly everyone in the top 50 can challenge a top CNT player.

I'm not sure I'd agree here. Outside top 20 is still going to lose 19 times out of 20 I think. But it's certainly more competitive than it has been for a long time.

There will be one more Champion in a months time, it is probably not enough time to do anything, but if you are the CNT boss, what would you do for 2025?

My 3 step plan would be as follows:
- Wrap FZD in cotton wool
- Pray WCQ returns to form
- Give LSD as much Tournament experience as possible!!

 

[backspacer]

Bring back Xu Xin and Zhang Jike.

 

[driversbeat]

Bring back Liu Shiwen and maybe Zhu Yuling too if possible as a stop gap.

Redistribute money at the top to provincial and B team. People need incentives to commit to professional sport and unemployment in China is still high anyway.

 

[kindof99]

The strength of CNT for years is its long closed training before a big event. We can all see the falling of CNT, but they will somehow still dominate in a big event that matters most to them. WTTC next year is a sign of fallen CNT if China can't take most of the titles.

 

[TTFrenzy]

There is nothing solid you can do really, the rest of the world has caught up. If I could guess I would say LGL not being in the sidelines anymore could be a solid reason or maybe simply the chinese didnt manage to deliver a good generation this time. It's too early to jump into conclusions though

when ma long burst into the scene from 2009 to 2013 everybody expected him to win but he failed. Same scenario with FZD, harimoto , liang jingkun was also the next zhang jike, lin gaoyuan also failed. etc etc

Same thing could happen with the lebrun brothers, it wont be a surprise if a chinese who no one expects starts clinching titles one after the other or maybe a new wonder kid like hana goda or the 14 yo kid from iran

 

[cybershapedragon]

CNT's boss is all about keeping the position (by politics) and making money, not about making the team play better. If the team playing worse helps the goals, he would do it without a blink.

 

[Gozo Aruna]

CNT start getting their arse handed to them at around the same time ESN started to come out with Hybrids. Now the non-CNT can also tackified their game without boosting. Igor Novick will be so happy.

 

[Dr Evil]

I'd laugh at anyone who's worried about the CNT. Their resources remain unmatched and probably unmatchable unless the Chinese economy implodes and the government slashes their funding. They continue to dominate at the top of the rankings, and would probably dominate at every level if they let more of their players compete internationally. Meanwhile, more competition is good for the game in and out of China.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

CNT start getting their arse handed to them at around the same time ESN started to come out with Hybrids. Now the non-CNT can also tackified their game without boosting. Igor Novick will be so happy.

hybrids been around for 20 + years lol

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

the problem is not only the CNT itself. It is the other teams getting much much stronger.
what would i do if im the boss? i would love to see the Final best of 7, no BS side view camera, between Tony and Zeio, winner gets to be the boss

winner gets to boss?
hell no, i will loose then
how about looser gets the boss and i can see how good zeio is being a head coach.
he might fire the whole team on the first day on the job tough

PS. when I said the Chinese coach who told me Qin resigned from CNT to "save his life", this is actually what he was talking about it. The job is bound for failure. Ma Lin and Wang Hao knew it.

 

[mcfly]

winner gets to boss?
hell no, i will loose then
how about looser gets the boss and i can see how good zeio is being a head coach.
he might fire the whole team on the first day on the job tough

PS. when I said the Chinese coach who told me Qin resigned from CNT to "save his life", this is actually what he was talking about it. The job is bound for failure. Ma Lin and Wang Hao knew it.

cmon i expect you to lose 9-11 in the 7th after Zeio pulls the illegal hook serves at 9-9 (He will be hiding the contact point behind his long long posts)

we all will pay top dollars to see that match, don't you dare giving up too early!

 

[Gozo Aruna]

Even ESN???

hybrids been around for 20 + years lol