MastoOG [#22]
I'm curious because I'm not a TSM fan and I just watch from afar. What about this team has given you confidence this team can compete with the top of NA? I just personally don't see it. I don't believe in constantly trying to duct tape your team with changes. I think if they fail to make the group stage again they will keep this team together but if they don't make it to the 3rd Masters' group stage they need to have a long look in the mirror and consider dropping the entire team and starting from scratch personally. TSM is too big of an org to go 2 years without making it to the playoffs of a single VCT event.
I think the core of the team has potential, but just need to develop better chemistry and discipline. As you prolly saw, TSM lost like 15 thriftys because they ego peek and lack discipline. The thing is, they are good enough to win 2-3 gun rounds in a row forcing their opponents into a full save but lose because of overconfidence. I think with a real coach, like when they had chet, this could be fixed. One specific play comes to mind when gmd, who is normally pretty disciplined, swung a main on ascent against TSM academy on an eco, without flashing for some reason. He was playing breach, a flash there and he gets 2 kills but he didnt, died, and they got thriftied. Corey is a very good entry, no problems there. Up until the ghost game, Subroza was performing well individually and was calling very well too. Rossy isnt there to frag but is a good flex support and provides good util usage and can play any agent, sova, cypher, skye, kayo, sage. gMd is very talented mechanically and a good flex as well. There is a reason he was the last one to be cut from the GenG roster which was always a threat. I honestly think that if Wardell was still on the team, they def win this tournament and after getting more in game experience with each other could compete with low-mid tier 1 teams. Im not gonna be delusional and say they could be as good as C9