nah the roster is good, but its team lulquid, so they are NOT playing any international this year
The problem with liquid is that good is all they are. They are such an okay, safe roster (similar to last year). They probably wont lose to the bad teams, but they wont really challange EMEAs top teams. Theyre most likely not getting any quals for internationals, and at that point it doesnt really matter anymore if youre in the middle or at the bottom of EU.
I mean yeah their coaching was questinable, but this is clearly not their only issue. They are probably the richest EMEA org and consistently field mid rosters (the only time it felt like they really tried was the 2023 roster, but that was a disaster). I dont believe liquid are trying to have a top tier valrant roster anymore. They are just trying to be just good enough to retain the franchise spot.
but real talk, even if we bring the money in discussion, would Kr1stal be that much more expensive than any one of the other players they've signed. I mean for the longest one of their biggest issues was that they were missing a solid igl who can shoot back, they get the opportunity to sign one and pass it up. tho it could have been something about the vibes, i refuse to believe kr1stal was not the only igl available on the market for them to look into