Article Title: Potential Roster Shuffles in the CSGO Scene
Could any of these French players be heading to North America?
After the disappointing performance of several prominent teams at MLG Columbus, the 8th CS:GO major, roster shuffles are expected. Here are some possible shuffles that might happen, although they are highly unlikely.
Faze: -Fox +pimp
It is not widely known, but Faze has been facing some serious issues. Once considered a “superstar team” with skilled players, they have recently experienced a sharp decline. They have struggled in online matches, with a 3-9 record in the ESL pro league. They also failed to advance in the MLG Columbus tournament. While it is true that they were hindered by Liquid’s upset over Fnatic, Faze’s inability to defeat Liquid on the first day played a major role.
It has been speculated that Fox would be the first player to be replaced if Faze decided to make a change. This would be a wise decision as it would allow Maikelele to return to his AWP role. Maikelele struggles with rifles, and it is clear that he is more comfortable with the sniper. Despite being a better AWPer than Fox and having a higher skill ceiling, Maikelele is forced to use rifles most of the time because Fox specializes in AWP. My suggestion for Faze would be to consider signing Pimp. He would bring balance to the team and prioritize teamwork over individual skill. As stated by Thoorin, Pimp has the determination and belief to overcome any challenge. This is exactly what Faze needs to win close games and become a top team once again.
Although unlikely due to Faze’s attachment to Fox, this change would improve teamwork, drive to win, and allow Maikelele to focus on AWP.
Cloud9: -Freakazoid/Stewie/N0thing +Shox/Happy/Ex6tenz/Kioshima
Cloud9 also faces issues, and the French scene is expected to undergo changes. While Cloud9 lacks the firepower to compete with European teams, the French players could bring the necessary experience, skill, winning mentality, and tactics. One possible option for Cloud9 is to sign Kioshima, who is currently without a team. This would close the skill gap between Cloud9 and teams like Liquid and Luminosity. Alternatively, Cloud9 could remove Freakazoid and n0thing and sign Shox and ex6tenz. Ex6tenz would fill the void left by seangares, while Shox would provide additional firepower. This lineup would be exciting to watch and could become a superteam in the future. Another option is to replace Freakazoid and Stewie with Happy, a world-class IGL. Happy’s skill and leadership would greatly benefit Cloud9, with n0thing returning to a more supportive role.
All of these potential Cloud9/French merges are unlikely to happen, but they would greatly improve North American CS. However, factors such as buyout fees, language barriers, and the preference for building tactically based teams may hinder these roster changes.
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