To be fair, ML and LGL lost so much in their early careers, particularly in the majors. ZJK was actually really consistent until after the singles at London 2012. WLQ, MLin and WH also lost a lot in their early days, but later on became the best in terms of consistency, particularly WH. The only loss in the team event in the 3 majors in his entire career was to DO at the World Team Cup 2011.
I know I will be labeled again to be "defensive". But I must point out, the "consistency" is reflected from whether a CNT player can be selected in WTTTC, whether he can play KO stage and whether he can play A/Y position, because WTTTC is unbelievably important for CNT (OG team is as important if not more but OG team only started from 2012).
LGL (1993) and ML (2006) both started to play WTTTC before 18 yrs old (CNT only has FZD in 2014 and WCQ in 2018 being the same). They did have some bitter losses. ML's most bitter loss was in 2010 WTTTC final as B/Y player but since 2012 WTTTC, he played as A/Y player in the final. LGL's most bitter loss was in 2000 WTTTC final as B/X player, and the doping issue could not be neglected. BTW, 2000 may not be considered early in LGL's player career. He won OG singles gold in 1996 (20 yrs old), the youngest Grand Slam (23 yrs old) so far, and got retired in 2002.
On the other hand, FB got selected in 2016 WTTTC (24 yrs old) and did not play KO stage. LGY got selected in 2018 WTTTC (23 yrs old) and we will see if he will play KO stage soon (most likely not). XF (19 yrs old now) has not been selected in WTTTC yet. To be frank, they will never reach the level/status of LGL and ML (Grand Slam winners), and FZD (not Grand Slam winner yet but anticipated by most people). They don't make to the best 3 in CNT internal trials, barely best 5 (XF is wwway behind). They even lost in qualification stage of world tour events which never happened to ML, not to mention the performance in youth tournaments, national tournaments, super league at the same age. Hao Shuai, Chen Qi may be the likes they should compare with.
What makes a CNT player successful (at least world team champion and world singles champion in any of 3 major events)? Talent, hardworking, health, mentality, fortune, etc. You need to realize that the talent of LGL, ML are recognized and appreciated at their young age by CNT. FZD the same, not really for FB/LGY/XF. In 2006, LGL already said ML is more talented than the group of players born around 1983 (WH, CQ, HS, QYK, Zhang Chao, etc.); in 2012 he still said ML is more talented than WH and ZJK. LGL did appreciate FZD's talent, but never for FB/LGY/XF. There are players who got talent but did not achieve what people expect them to achieve, just like WLQ/M Lin/WH should get Grand Slam. But are there real cases that one achieved more than people (at least experienced coaches) expected?
One funny fact, KLH, LGL, WLQ, M Lin, WH, ML, XX all played A/Y player in WTTTC KO stage. We will see FZD soon. Guess who is missing?
