Well as a pair I think Liu/Zhang has better potential, and supposed to be better. In team events they are more consistent and reliable than most of the other pairs (including Goh/Tan). But unfortunately, I don't think this pair would live up to its potential now individually, at least not in time for the intended goal (Olympics) or maybe never. I am afraid that their early exits in the past months were not just them being off form, but it was like ZN was trying to make a point. Maybe I am just overthinking it.
Interesting that Bao Chunlai is there.....didnt even remember they were in the ntl team at the same time
Another difficult draw for ZhangNan in ChinaMasters and HK Open.. Will probably face GohTan twice. When it pours, it rains no matter whats the seed. He gotta make decision at the end of year.
Yeah, also whether to continue in MD. As it is, it will be end of line for LiuCheng. Not sure for ZN , he is probably reaching end of line. However, I think he has better hope in XD than MD. The field is much easier as long as he is willing to work hard at the back.
Since China has 2 top XD pairs and no good female player to be paired with him, I think he should focused on MD. He is much better as front court player than XD back court player. He worked hard from the back and set his partners nicely but I have no idea how "easy and nice" his partners need the shuttles to be in order to be able to kill it successfully. LC swings his racket too much at the front net, keeps missing the shuttles. That's not something ZN can help with.
I think CQC/ZN will make a good one. Btw, if they can enter top 4 in XD (OlympicQualification) there can be 3 China reps in OG no matter what is his rank in the NationalTeam. However there is not enough time to start from zero for either discipline because S750/1000 doesnt allow qualifiers. So i still believe its much easier for the coming years to get to top 4 in XD than MD. To say maybe Yinhui can definitely improve more than LiuCheng.
I have doubt about LYH. And CQC is playing WD. With ZN's rank/points I am sure he could qualify for S750 or 1000 with a new partner. Actually ZN/LYH was using both notional(?) points or ranking to qualify in both S750 and S1000 this year. Just not so sure what the coaches would decide to do with him. Not good enough player to level with him apparently. What a sad situation.
Yeah very difficult situation ZN in. I think his situation is more sad compare to LC/LYH. Maybe giving him nightmares.
Why is LC/LJH situation sad? They are both just off form and still has many years to develop in some aspects.
For me ZN need a good rear court player with good defense.. or he need to concentrate only XD with better partner.
Once the two younger pairs, Han/Zhou and He/Tan start winning a couple of titles soon, it will spell the end of Zhang Nan/Liu Cheng's quest for a spot to Tokyo 2020, I think.
Only partners left for zhang apart from breaking pairs are lu kai,huang kaixiang,wang zekang or another new player
