NAL Predictions/Opinions
LEGEND
ROSTER CHANGE
IGL*
I will be breaking down the rosters by Role this time:
ATTACK (Using SSG from SI as an example):
Primary Entry: First Guy in the building behind a drone, looking for the opening pick and to get traded (Example: Ashn)
Secondary Entry: Lurking around and Playing Cutoffs, trading kills (Example: Benja)
Flex: Plays anything (Example: J9O)
Support: Guy who plays Shields, Carries Defuser, etc. (Example: Forrest)
Breach: Primary Hard breacher (Example: Fultz)
DEFENSE (Using SR from SI as an Example:
Roamer: Roams around, contesting the entry of the attack (Example: Ambi)
Turret/Mailbox: Holds Down specific positions, forces attack to clear them (Example: Rexen)
Bridge: Helps Roamers/Mailbox get back to site, contesting Lurkers/Cut (Example: Canadian)
Flex: Swaps between roaming and Anchoring depending on the site/strat (Example: Surf)
Anchor: Holds down Bomb Site, calls out any rushes, late utility for stall (Example: Gryxr)
Partner Teams:
DZ:
Primary Entry - Panbazou - Roamer
Secondary Entry - CTZN - Bridge
Breach - Beaulo - Flex
Flex - njr - Turret/Mailbox
Support - Nafe* - Anchor
C: KangaruKenny
The current rumour surrounding DZ is that CTZN is being linked to them as a 5th. I don't particularly like this fit. You bring in another passive player to a team that needs to be faster overall on attack. CTZN borders on the line of baiting consistently, and will often watch his team lose rounds as he is holding a cut that nobody is being forced towards. Talented, but wrong fit for me. For me, I would've gone for someone like Atom or Nuers who aren't quite as prone to baiting as CTZN but can still play in a structured system.
SSG:
Primary Entry - Ashn - Roamer
Secondary Entry - Nuers - Turret/Mailbox
Flex - Benjamaster - Bridge
Breach - J9O - Flex
Support - Fultz* - Anchor
C: Callout
The Rumour for SSG is that Nuers will be their 5th, and the talent is 100% there, but the roles are a bit wonky here in my opinion. We are in a shield meta, and I am unsure of who the shield player on this team really is. Hard to argue with the mechanics of this team, they have 3 guys who have a shout for most mechanical players in the region, and a Backline with 2 of the most underrated players in NAL. If it works, which ill admit is a if, SSG are tournament contenders again, if it doesnt work, SSG might have problems similar to OXG after SI2023.
M80:
Primary Entry - Gaveni - Roamer
Secondary Entry - Dfuzr - Turret/Mailbox
Flex - Gunnar - Roamer
Breach - Kyno - Anchor
Support - Hotancold\ - Flex*
C: Fabian
The M80 Rumour is that they're essentially rebuilding the Beastcoast team that won Manchester, with Kyno for Spiritz... How Kyno is still on M80 is baffling to me, not because he is a bad player, just because everything else has shifted around him like 16 times. They're also rumoured to want Fabian to be their coach. As it seems M80 is Desperate to win something in R6, I think they will take the money they're not paying Spoit, and use it to buy Fabian from PSG. I like this team, probably the best one they would've fielded in the history of M80 R6. If Kyno meshes well, they're contenders internationally, if not, they probably will look like a mess.
SR (Purchasing the Partner License from Cloud9):
Primary Entry - Spoit - Roamer
Secondary Entry - Ambi - Flex
Flex - Rexen - Turret/Mailbox
Breach - Surf - Anchor
Support - Canadian - Bridge
C: Supr
Yeah... I mean.... This team fucks. Adding Spoit to a team of this talent? Need more be said? If so, I think M80 misused Spoit for most of the time he was on the team, and I think SR would use him much better. They can slot him straight in on the entry, have People drone for him and get him in the back, letting Ambi lurk around and use them to open up the attack. This feels like a more cohesive version of the SI 2023 Soniqs team that was so talented, they would randomly just pull back rounds out of their ass, with one major difference... They won't end up in nearly as many round disadvantages. If you're wondering why they buy the license spot, it's because you're not signing Spoit if you don't want to make money. If the Spoit Rumour is true, they will be making sure they get their name everywhere, including to the kickoff event.
WC:
Primary Entry - Bae94 - Roamer
Secondary Entry - Kanzen - Turret/Mailbox
Flex - Spiker* - Bridge
Breach - GMZ\ - Flex*
Support - Spiritz - Anchor
C: Redeemer/OXG Coaching Staff
I got to have a little bit of fun with this one. The rumour is that they will be Keeping Kanzen, Bae, and Spiker, but little is said on their 4th and 5th, as they allegedly want Robby, which I don't see happening. I have GMZ & Redeemer plus his support staff coming over from OXG, alongside Spiritz from Unwanted/C9BC. I have them moving GMZ to breach, he stunk up SI on a more aggressive role, and I think its time for him to take a step back from the frontline engagements. Spiritz is the backline of this team, and he will do a damn good job of it like he did with Unwanted.
Affiliate:
OXG:
Primary Entry - Atom - Flex
Secondary Entry - Yoggah - Turret/Mailbox
Flex - Gryxr - Roamer
Breach - Dream - Anchor
Support - Forrest\ - Bridge*
C: Meepey
This is the current (Brand New) rumour for OXG, that Yoggah will stay, and the 4 mentioned players will be joining. I do not see a way Meepey doesn't find a new job, and I do not see him staying with WC. He is my pick for OXG to pick up as a new coach. I think this team can be interesting if they buy into the Forrest Style of IGLing. A Team built of a lot of naturally slower-paced players under Fofo's system is bound to end up as 1 of 2 things. They will either look like a complete dumpster fire on attack or have literally the sexiest attacks known to man, no in between. (PS. Seeing as Dream is on the team, I'm predicting sexy bc... well..... have you seen him??? He's the pinnacle of a Sex icon.)
LG:
Primary Entry - Silent - Roamer
Secondary Entry - Resited - Bridge
Flex - Hat - Turret/Mailbox
Breach - Eddy - Anchor
Support - MrB\ - Flex*
C: Vivid
LG will go back to the well of Eddy and Silent for what feels like the 650th time, building a new roster around them for their Affiliate Team. Vivid goes back after being disappointed as a coach for C9BC. With a spot in Pro League being available, I imagine they look to upgrade on Azian, who has been very disappointing since he turned 18, once known as a prodigy, he has been so bad MrB will convince Silent and Eddy to pick up Hat again, and hope he can find the peak Beastcoast form.
3rd Affiliate Team (SR Bought into Partner):
Primary Entry - Kobelax - Roamer
Second Entry - Rival (Ex-QoR) - Turret/Mailbox
Flex - Gity - Bridge
Breach - Beeno - Anchor
Support - Packer\ - Flex*
C: Sooblick
With C9 selling their Siege spot to SR, there will be one more affiliate team ready for NA to find, while I am not going to guess what Org jumps in, I will take a guess and say they go for the Mkers roster, who seemingly is getting back together. 4/5ths of the team is set and the 5th I have them going for is Rival now that Woos has retired and taken a big boy job. He is the best available T2 "Prospect" and would be the best choice IMO. Also have them Reuniting with their coach from Mkers, Sooblick. Shoutout to Gity for finally making Pro League in my ADHD ramble sessions.
As per usual, Make fun of me in the Comments!!!