Are Euro teams getting better?

[shamu]

As a general rule, I think euro paintball (as a whole) may be better than it was before. Unfortunately, the americans have progressed farther in the same amount of time. The net effect is euro paintball is farther behind the americans than they were a few years ago.

As Magued said, the teams that are working hard and practicing are improving - Joy, Menace, Russians. Those are the most obvious ones. I haven't seen them play in a few years, but I remember the Kellys having a very american style of play too.

 

[MissyQ]

Teej, When you said Ducks were a powerhouse top 4 team, were you were talking about one season in the late 90's?

I think Euro teams that are competing in the States and adopting the same mentality to training as the top US teams are keeping pace. I would say everyone else in Europe is losing ground. With few US teams travelling to Europe now that gap is likely to broaden, because the yanks do (and always have) evolve the game quicker through thier ability to train all year round, against GOOD opposition, and learn from this.
Its 100 degrees at SC, and Dynasty just trained for 2 days straight, 9am to 4pm. I saw Opie this morning and he looked like he had been beaten up. The top US teams are putting a lot more in than the top Euro teams (possibly excluding Joy), and as a consequence they are getting more out.

 

[Nick Brockdorff]

Hmm - I think people are thinking about the wrong period of time here.

I am not talking in relation to back in the 90's... I am talking about compared to 2-3 years ago.

Personally I believe the gap is LESS now than it was, say 3 years ago.

I believe teams like Joy, Menace, the Tonstons and Shockwave (which I believe are the 4 best teams in Europe at the moment - and Shock is only struggling because of poor sideline coaching) are closer to the US Pro level, than any Euro team has been for 3-4 years.

I'm obviously leaving RL out of this - they are on a whole different planet, and not really part of the European scene.

Nick

 

[Nexus - Leigh]

Hmm - I think people are thinking about the wrong period of time here.

I am not talking in relation to back in the 90's... I am talking about compared to 2-3 years ago.

Personally I believe the gap is LESS now than it was, say 3 years ago.

I believe teams like Joy, Menace, the Tonstons and Shockwave (which I believe are the 4 best teams in Europe at the moment - and Shock is only struggling because of poor sideline coaching) are closer to the US Pro level, than any Euro team has been for 3-4 years.

I'm obviously leaving RL out of this - they are on a whole different planet, and not really part of the European scene.

Nick

Just a quick question Nick, what are you basing your opinion of USA standards on ? by watching the few Americans who come over and play in the CPL or have you been to play/watch any NPPL/NXL events ?

You've quoted Joy Menace, Ton Ton and Shock as the four best teams in Europe, fine, yet two of those teams got relegated last year from the NPPL - I think this highlights the vast difference in standards.

Leigh - Nexus

 

[Nick Brockdorff]

I'm basing my observations on my experience - like it or not, it if fairly extensive

Yes, those teams got relegated, and then both went through a major roster change, which shows.

Both teams sucked last year

Nick

 

[crazzzy]

I'm basing my observations on my experience - like it or not, it if fairly extensive


Nick

What experience? I know you used to play in the US so yes, you have experience there. But your saying the gap have decreased this year compared to 3 years ago, then what experience do you have of the US standard THIS year?

 

[TJ Lambini]

I'm basing my observations on my experience - like it or not, it if fairly extensive

Yes, those teams got relegated, and then both went through a major roster change, which shows.

Both teams sucked last year

Nick

It is extensive but you can't really make the sorta claims you are making without seeing the US teams in tha flesh Nikolai.

It's like me saying, I served in Korea and Nam and, though I haven't been on a battlefield for a long time I've watched our troops train and I am confident we are a lot better drilled and equipped than the Iraqis.

Seriously, you can't make tha claim if you haven't watched at least one NPPL or PSP event over tha least year or so, minimum.

Not digging you out here hoss, but when did you last cross tha pond for an event?

 

[Nexus - Leigh]

I'm basing my observations on my experience - like it or not, it if fairly extensive

Yes, those teams got relegated, and then both went through a major roster change, which shows.

Both teams sucked last year

Nick

That's fine Nick, I respect your experience, not doubting that, but I honestly think you would have a surprise at the level of play in the USA these days, from NPPL Pro right down to Div III betters the Euro teams.

Shock actually haven't changed their roster too much I think and the The Ton Tons have gone through roster changes, agreed........they have rostered lots of americans all year in the CPL and they're winning it !!!!

erm......?

 

[Chicago]

It's like me saying, I served in Korea and Nam and, though I haven't been on a battlefield for a long time I've watched our troops train and I am confident we are a lot better drilled and equipped than the Iraqis.

I've never been on a battlefield and never observed troops train, but ANYBODY can be pretty confident that we're better drilled and equipped than the Iraqis.

I think you can make an intelligent comment about the relative skills of the teams even if you havn't seen them by looking at the various performances of teams in the cases where teams from the two continents have played each other and then comparing that to how those teams perform against other teams on their own continents, or even your observations of the teams from your continent you have seen.

And Leigh - you're kidding yourself if you think NPPL DIII is better than top European teams. You might get away with saying DI is comparable. That's still a pretty big gap, but DIII is downright insulting.

 

[TJ Lambini]

I think you can make an intelligent comment about the relative skills of the teams even if you havn't seen them by looking at the various performances of teams in the cases where teams from the two continents have played each other and then comparing that to how those teams perform against other teams on their own continents, or even your observations of the teams from your continent you have seen.

Well, we tried that by stating that Nik's best Euros were relegated, but Nik wasn't having any of it...