Former World No.1 Colin Lloyd sat down with the Odds-On podcast, for a wide-ranging chat covering the sport’s brightest young darts talents, where Luke Littler currently sits in the all-time pecking order, and whether Michael van Gerwen has another major left in him. Here’s what he had to say.
Who is the next Luke Littler?
“There are two outstanding players, possibly three,” Lloyd says, before naming Scotland’s Mitchell Lawrie as the standout.
“There’s a young man up in Scotland called Mitchell Lawrie. He’s actually breaking all of Luke Littler’s records in the youth… I think he’ll be at Q-School in January.”
Burnley’s Kaya Baysal is the second name Lloyd puts forward, with both players tipped as genuine tour-card contenders. “Kaya Baysal’s an extremely good player also. So they’re the two biggest names that are possibly going to be pushing through and trying to get a tour card for next year.”
It’s a third, younger name that stands out most from Lloyd’s assessments.
“There’s another young man, but he’s only 13 or 14 at the moment, and his name’s Jack Johnson, Jackie Boy Johnson. And he’ll certainly be a player to look out for in the future.” Lloyd points to Johnson’s recent WDF UK Men’s Singles title, and the scalps he took en route to it:
“He beat two players who play on tour in the PDC ranks at the minute. He beat Martin Lukeman, and he beat Owen Bates.
Summing up the trio, Lloyd is unequivocal: “They’re players for the big stage, and they’re certainly the three big names to watch out for coming through the youth system.
Can Michael van Gerwen return to his best?
Lloyd is in no doubt Van Gerwen can rediscover his top form, though he treads carefully around the personal circumstances that have coincided with a dip in results.
“Michael’s had some things in his private life going on. It’s no one’s business. Only Michael can deal with that.”
What Lloyd is far more willing to discuss is Van Gerwen the player and the person, and on that front the praise is unreserved.
“Michael is the consummate pro. He’s always got time for the fans. And he’s also a 101% player when it comes to playing darts because he knows it’s given him a good life. He still loves the game of darts. And he’s just too good. He’s proved that this year already. He won two World Series earlier this year. I still think there are a few majors left in Michael.
“As and when he does turn up, he’s still an absolute joy to watch, and he can still produce the brilliance that we’re used to seeing.”
Where does Littler rank all-time?
Asked to rank the three greatest players of all time on their day, Lloyd goes straight to the familiar three, though with an important caveat attached to where Littler currently sits.
“Taylor, Van Gerwen, Littler. I have Luke Littler third at the minute. He’s only been on the circuit for two-and-a-bit years. You’ve got to look at someone like Phil Taylor – he had 25-30 years on the tour. MVG’s been on the tour a long while as well.”
Could Cameron Menzies be a top-three player if he channelled his aggression?
Menzies gets a more measured verdict. Real respect for the ability, tempered by a sense of what he’s still missing.
“He’s class, but I don’t know about top three. He could definitely be in the top 10. He’s a very, very good player, Cammy. He’s a very heavy hitter.”
To explain where Menzies could still improve, Lloyd reaches for a comparison from Gary Anderson’s own career, a player whose scoring long outpaced his finishing.
“When he’s clicking out his doubles, he actually reminds me of someone like Gary Anderson… Anderson has always been a fantastic dart player, always scores heavily. But in the early part of his career, his doubling used to let him down. He still won events, but he could have won so much more if he’s hit his doubles.
“All of a sudden, when the game came together, back-to-back world champion… one of the most feared dart players in the world.”
Lloyd stops short of predicting the same trajectory for Menzies, but sees a clear route to being talked about for the right reasons. ‘I don’t think Cammy can achieve what Gary’s done. But he can certainly put himself in the frame where people are talking about him and talking about him for all the right reasons for being a great dart player.
“He’s not a bad lad. He’s one of the nicest fellas you’ll ever meet in your life. He’s always got time for the fans. He’s always signing autographs, always standing there smiling. He never just walks past someone.”
Lloyd closes with the point that matters most when it comes to Menzies fulfilling his potential.
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“You can always give people advice, but ultimately, you have to do it yourself. You have to control your emotions, and when you get opportunities you have to grab them yourself because no one’s going to grab them for you.”
Colin is a former World number one and World Matchplay Champion he is also a long term ambassador for Red Dragon Darts
Images: Red Dragon
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