Devilwalk on possible roster changes at G2 Esports: “jL seems like a very realistic replacement”
Host James “BanKs” Banks and analyst Jonathan “Devilwalk” Lundberg discussed the history of the Fnatic vs. Ninjas in Pyjamas rivalry in the latest episode of the All About Counter-Strike podcast, identified Alliance as the strongest Swedish team at the moment, and speculated on possible roster changes at G2 Esports.
On the history of the Fnatic vs. Ninjas in Pyjamas rivalry
BanKs: Let’s move on to the next topic. For the first time in the twenty-year history of the Fnatic vs. Ninjas in Pyjamas rivalry, there wasn’t a single Swedish player on the server. The match ended with a 2-1 victory for Fnatic. Fnatic now has an all-Ukrainian roster: Jambo, jackazmo, cairne, Fear, and mazay. They beat NiP, so the “Ninjas’” losing streak continues. But the very fact that there are no Swedes is striking—there isn’t even a Swedish coach left.
Devilwalk: Actually, Xizt is still coaching NiP.
BanKs: Yeah, you’re right.
Devilwalk: And that’s crazy. It’s wild to even think about it, because for me, the national factor has always been a key part of their rivalry. It’s one of the most intense rivalries in CS history. In every era, the battle for the title of the region’s best has been fierce. Now, looking at the server, I feel a sense of emptiness, because this match is an absolute Swedish classic. After all, Ninjas in Pyjamas is a Swedish name and a Swedish organization. Fnatic is technically considered an Australian club based in London, but its Counter-Strike division has historically been made up of Swedes. It seems there was only one instance, right at the very beginning, when they had a Danish roster, but even then, MODDII played for them.
On Alliance’s status
BanKs: Alliance is the best Swedish team right now, isn’t it? They’re ranked 22nd.
Devilwalk: Yeah, I also think Alliance is the strongest right now.
BanKs: And we like this team—we have no complaints about them.
Devilwalk: I really enjoy watching their matches. They’re a real team that you want to root for. I believe in these guys. Obviously, they’ve faced some minor challenges after losing one of their players, but they’re still finding a way to handle the situation. I hope to see them at the Major, and I’m confident they’ll pull it off.
On possible roster changes at G2 Esports
Devilwalk: Well, I’ve already touched on this topic in today’s episode, and in my opinion, jL seems like a perfectly realistic replacement. That said, I don’t think he’ll ever be able to fully take on NertZ’s role, which requires extremely aggressive play and constantly stepping up to the front lines to take the brunt of the attack. If we’re going to try to organically fit jL into this context, he should be considered more as a replacement for matys.
BanKs: The thing is, there are moments when matys looks very composed and sharp on the server. But when it comes to G2, a lot has changed within the team: now NertZ is taking on a large volume of calls on the defensive side. During an interview at BLAST, I asked him whether he was receiving less information on his side of the map after SunPayus left—SunPayus had always been very talkative. Did that affect his decisions during rounds and the impact he could make? He replied that it does have an effect, but ultimately, he still needs to find space on his own, secure early kills, and open up areas. Clearly, NertZ has his own vision for the game, and the team is now trying to adapt to it.
In the previous segment of the latest episode of the All About Counter-Strike podcast, BanKs and Devilwalk discussed the contract situation at FUT Esports, commented on Kasper “ruggah” Dew’s retirement, and addressed the misunderstanding surrounding Natus Vincere’s coach’s message to the players.
Photo — StarLadder.
