Team GB Daily: Day 15

[Cinnamon Bun 541]

16 minutes ago, RussB said:

Strange to have Caden as an underdog given his root to the final.

both women look great in the MP

emma looks very strong in the sprint.

 

as much as I’m all for doom and gloom let’s try and keep it realistic. 

I am keeping it realistic. I'm not to keen on Caden's style and he's got a tough opponent in Sapina and Salimi so I'm not favouring him by any means. Finucane's looked good but I want to see how she fairs against the 2 Germans and Gros before handing her the medal. I thought Bryson looked good in her semi final but so did the Italian behind her so that for me is too close to call, French was quite off it for me and won't challenge. The 2 4x4s won't win, there are too many contenders who are better than us. Finishing in 8th behind Netherlands and Germany, which is the worst we can realistically finish, would best reflect where we are atm as a nation and the transitional period we're currently going through - the total medals we'll probably end up with (60-62) will reflect the talent pool we've got but the position we finish (if we do go on to finish outside of top 5) will reflect how our athletes lack that clinical edge in pressurised situation to go on and be the best. 

[RussB 189]

4 minutes ago, Cinnamon Bun said:

I am keeping it realistic. I'm not to keen on Caden's style and he's got a tough opponent in Sapina and Salimi so I'm not favouring him by any means. Finucane's looked good but I want to see how she fairs against the 2 Germans and Gros before handing her the medal. I thought Bryson looked good in her semi final but so did the Italian behind her so that for me is too close to call, French was quite off it for me and won't challenge. The 2 4x4s won't win, there are too many contenders who are better than us. Finishing in 8th behind Netherlands and Germany, which is the worst we can realistically finish, would best reflect where we are atm as a nation and the transitional period we're currently going through - the total medals we'll probably end up with (60-62) will reflect the talent pool we've got but the position we finish (if we do go on to finish outside of top 5) will reflect how our athletes lack that clinical edge in pressurised situation to go on and be the best. 

Sorry a lot of this I can't agree with.

French had one disastrous shoot and then still easily ran to the front group by the end - in my opinion ruling her out based on that is extremely foolish.

Gros just got dominated by the Dutch girl and will have to qualify via a repechage, not sure how her form is indicative of challenging Friedrich or Emma.

Basically at worst you have 2 gold medal shots that are 50/50s, that's with a highly pessimistic hat on. Let alone the nonsense about the 4x4s...they probably won't win given the US dominance, but both squads should medal and I expect both will be much closer than you're giving them credit. Not sure who you think are the "better contenders"...the women's team is likely to change all 4 and the men's team is considered 2nd fav behind the US.

Edited August 10 by RussB

[cjsavory 44]

3 minutes ago, Cinnamon Bun said:

I am keeping it realistic. I'm not to keen on Caden's style and he's got a tough opponent in Sapina and Salimi so I'm not favouring him by any means. Finucane's looked good but I want to see how she fairs against the 2 Germans and Gros before handing her the medal. I thought Bryson looked good in her semi final but so did the Italian behind her so that for me is too close to call, French was quite off it for me and won't challenge. The 2 4x4s won't win, there are too many contenders who are better than us. Finishing in 8th behind Netherlands and Germany, which is the worst we can realistically finish, would best reflect where we are atm as a nation and the transitional period we're currently going through - the total medals we'll probably end up with (60-62) will reflect the talent pool we've got but the position we finish (if we do go on to finish outside of top 5) will reflect how our athletes lack that clinical edge in pressurised situation to go on and be the best. 

I'd say 64-66 for total medals, not 60-62. Already on 58, plus the guaranteed Gold/Silver from Cunningham. Then you've got the 4x400s, the MP women, Finucane/Capewell, Carlin, Men's Madison, Women's Omnium, Artistic Swimming, Muir... Hard not to see another 4-5 medals out of that lot. 

[Jambo 9]

yeah the Madison isn't winning anything but that was expected

[Olympicsnell 300]

Just happy to be there aren't we 

[Cinnamon Bun 541]

14 minutes ago, RussB said:

Sorry a lot of this I can't agree with.

French had one disastrous shoot and then still easily ran to the front group by the end - in my opinion ruling her out based on that is extremely foolish.

Gros just got dominated by the Dutch girl and will have to qualify via a repechage, not sure how her form is indicative of challenging Friedrich or Emma.

Basically at worst you have 2 gold medal shots that are 50/50s, that's with a highly pessimistic hat on. Let alone the nonsense about the 4x4s...they probably won't win given the US dominance, but both squads should medal and I expect both will be much closer than you're giving them credit. Not sure who you think are the "better contenders"...the women's team is likely to change all 4 and the men's team is considered 2nd fav behind the US.

My post was in relation to gold medals, not others. Both 4x4 will likely get 3rd behind US and Botswana in men's and US and Netherlands in women's. Taekwondo is too unpredictable and like I said I'm not a fan of Caden's style as it leaves him quite open to an agile attack like that of Salimi's, and with Emma I'd have been more sure of her if she'd have pulled it out the bag in the Keirin. French's run could still clinch her a medal but let's be honest, if Asadauskaite gets within 10 seconds of 1st she's storming home to victory. We've had tons of gold medal chances over 50% these games where we've crumbled enough under pressure to let it slip through our grasp, so I don't see how thinking this now isn't realistic. 

[RussB 189]

After her fence (and likely swim and ride scores) Asaduskaite is not likely to be anywhere near 10 seconds from the front of the laser run… 

 

Ok so you have Botswana beating GB in men’s 4x4, Dutch beating GBR in women’s 4x4, Emma losing to Friedrich and Caden losing the final. Not sure what to make of French not having a chance of gold but “could medal” so will park that.

 

Will check back in on those 4 predictions later. I’d be hugely surprised if 2 or more of the above prove to be accurate.

[Olympicsnell 300]

Shameful showing in this madison, not even trying

[G-ann 113]

6 minutes ago, RussB said:

After her fence (and likely swim and ride scores) Asaduskaite is not likely to be anywhere near 10 seconds from the front of the laser run… 

 

Ok so you have Botswana beating GB in men’s 4x4, Dutch beating GBR in women’s 4x4, Emma losing to Friedrich and Caden losing the final. Not sure what to make of French not having a chance of gold but “could medal” so will park that.

 

Will check back in on those 4 predictions later. I’d be hugely surprised if 2 or more of the above prove to be accurate.

If you’re wrong, you’re buying the entire forum a round right?

 

I’ll take a mid range lager please! 

[RussB 189]

Just now, G-ann said:

If you’re wrong, you’re buying the entire forum a round right?

 

I’ll take a mid range lager please! 

You got it 🍻!!!!