Cloud 9 has updated their roster, showing progress.
Cloud 9 has updated their roster, showing progress.
Cloud 9 has updated their lineup with fresh faces! Freakazoid and Skadoodle are stepping in for Semphis and Shahzam after the recent ESEA match. Watching that game really helped me see why they made such a smart move. Skadoodle held strong through four to five rounds and secured a 16-7 victory. Freakazoid is gradually proving his worth in this roster. Before Katowice, I expected Shahzam to be replaced. Share your thoughts!
They seem to be in a bad mood, I don't care. Hope VP does well.
I'll State This, They Must Defeat These European Competitors To Secure My "Top" Group Placements. Mainly Titan, Fnatic, VP, And TSM Without Priority.
This just another case of the misguided NA perspective. Teams fall out internationally not because they lack strength, but due to outdated or poorly planned strategies. Bringing in Skadoodle and Freak feels like a familiar old tactic—just adding more firepower. They’ve played only a few matches yet, so it’s unfair to dismiss them too quickly. Dropping Semphis, who is quite tactically aware, and replacing her with someone known mainly for being a good shooter, doesn’t seem right. EDIT: I’m from NA, so I’m not making an elitist comment.
It goes beyond what you think, right? Steel was chatting with CLG about their recent loss, and CLG mentioned they don’t watch demos or replays just because NiP doesn’t. Steel got really fired up, talking about why they shouldn’t skip demo sessions—every advantage counts. Then they started playing 10-man matches for practice, though half of them weren’t taking it seriously. It looks like the CSGO NA scene is seen as a joke by many in it. CLG’s reason for losing was “being out aimed,” but to stay strong against weaker opponents, they need solid team positioning—crossfires at bomb sites, smoke, flashing signals, nearby players to help if someone dies, and always having someone to cover chokepoints. It seems CLG doesn’t seem to value these things.
I don't believe watching demos is as crucial unless FNS reviews demos for his calling. Still, understanding an opponent's weak points offers significant benefits. I've witnessed KRiMZ smoothly entering Mirage A connector prep without even assessing the opposite end—such readiness is impressive. CLG would personally rank them among the top tactical groups in NA. For the qualifier, I think they effectively dismantled their rivals and consistently show selfless teamwork rather than chasing kills for teammates. What stands out to me is their mental strength during closing games, their ability to bounce back, and how opponents are neutralized by tough players. The team with the most potential appears to be Elevate; they excel tactically and boast solid individual talent along with seasoned members.
Freakazoid feels fairly standard, so I’d think he’s about the same as Semphis or just a bit improved. Skadoodle stands out here. His AWP approach matches what Cloud9 wanted. And he had a solid 4k performance against Liquid, just like I remember.
Do you think the changes in the NA teams make them inconsistent until they form a stable unit and train together? That’s just your take.
Being a monster on most NA LANs wouldn't demand much expertise. That said, Freakazoid isn't exactly a monster, but I'm sure he's improving. Skadoodle is currently playing a beast AWP and will likely climb back into the top 5 AWPers globally. From a CLG perspective, I considered adreN—unusual because Liquid is decent now and adreN is an IGL—but his AWP is solid, especially when he was at his peak with iBP. His performance in 1v4 against fnatic was impressive.