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Team Liquid Doomed

SKLivinglarge·8/19/2016, 10:26:14 AM·3 votes·807 views

This is just a personal opinion on the whole TL situation but Is it just me or has TL literally become one of the worst teams since they replaced piglet with fabbbyyy? I understand that was a while back but I think its taken a few weeks and especially playoffs to show the repercussions of losing such a dominant player. If you look at their playstyle from the spring split TL focused heavily on the bot lane (because it was their strongest lane). Lourlo would play a tank which allowed Matt to play a ranged support (janna, bard, nami) which he is far better at than his braum thtat he seems to be playing every single game. By playing these ranged champs that clearly fit Matt's playstyle better, TL's bot lane became a powerpoint for their game. However with the loss of Piglet TL has had their strongest lane become their weakest, because fabbbyyy (and Jynthe) aren't lane dominant players and they are playing supportive adcs. Additionally, because of the meta shift in top lane Lourlo has swtiched away from tanks and TL's newfound dependence on Dardoch to carry (aka he's not playing tanks either) forces Matt to fulfill the tank role which he is significantly worse at.

Any thoughts or comments would be greatly appreciated...

10 Comments

anonymous1198/20/2016, 3:37:36 AM3 votes

I think that in all of the years I've been watching lol that right now the skill gap between pro players is the closest it has ever been. Team liquid absolutely has the players capable of being a top 2-3 team. The problem is that the top teams all seem to have better coaching staffs and better understanding of macro play that tl is just horribly failing at.

TL has one strat that they play every single game. Try to snowball early and team fight until you have a strong enough advantage that you can end. If TL falls behind they still make the call to team fight. Playing snowballing champions? Doesn't matter team fight early and often. Other team just hit a powerspike that you can't yet match? Fuck it just team fight anyway.

There are games when tsm is down 9 kills to 2 and i still up 8k gold from macro play. Team liquids playstyle doesn't work any more and I don't trust their coaching staff to fix it.

MunchCrunchLunch8/20/2016, 1:51:54 PM3 votes

TL have terrible macro and communication.

TBakes8/19/2016, 3:12:54 PM2 votes

Throughout the end of the split they were saying they switched them because "Piglet needed a break." They were killing two birds with one stone since the meta shifted to utility ADCs, so they figured the lost strength of the bot lane would be replaced by the shifted strength to Lourlo, Fenix, and/or Dardoch and would still allow the team to be effective. I would say it was largely successful. Fenix showed he can carry if needed. Lourlo showcased more of his carry play-style. I think Dardoch was a little inconsistent and fabbyyy had some off games as well. But they are also young and self-proclaimed tilt-prone players. It is unfortunate, but I think it would be short-sighted to think that leaving Piglet in would have brought them more success. It is difficult to know (but I am surprised they subbed Jynthe in the Playoffs).

If I had to guess, I don't think Piglet works well with players/coaches on the team, particularly Dardoch. I hope they are able to fix it because he is such a solid veteran player, but sometimes it is best to pass that headache along and work with younger guys to form a cohesive team for the future. Dardoch seems to have a better demeanor about him since his suspension, but who knows? I think Liquid's skill floor is pretty standard for an LCS team, but their ceiling is high. They have a lot of potential and show some games where they are playing as a top contender in the league, but others where they look like middle-of-the-pack in NA. I expect them to remain top 5 in NA, with or without Piglet, for years to come.

DREADN0UGHT8/20/2016, 1:58:40 PM2 votes

Got to agree with anonymous119 about the skill gap currently.

There are so many good teams in the fray right now, its kinda hard to judge. I think TL is a really good team with very good and experienced players with the likes of Dardoch, Lourlo and Matt. But with teams like C9, TSM, IMT and CLG, there is little space for mistakes. Every little move, pick, ban and decision is crucial when all teams are playoff worthy.

It doesn't even come down to who is best at this point, its about who fucks up the least... And TL just fucked up the most. But hey! See the bright side, they broke the curse!

redfeenix8/21/2016, 12:26:34 AM1 votes

Lets bench our former SKT-1 Former world champion and replace him with a random white american. Yep GOod call Steve.

Tl has no shotcaller. Dardoch is good, but honestly he cant solo carry. All 3 of TL's laners are subpar

III BAKURYU III 8/21/2016, 5:25:16 AM1 votes

Team Liquid will never make it to a Finals with the current roster that they have atm.

  1. Coaching staff- Owners etc.
    Remember the 2 week suspension for Dardoch for "flame" or something that went from 2 weeks to like 2 games( in 1 series) because Moon S$it the bed going 1-10 and TL built all this hope and hype around their team before the season but once s$it hit the fan they turn back on their words. Locodoco acts too childish. You can't watch 1 video where he acts like he isn't sniffing coke or giggles or just being really weird. I know being weird isn't a crime but when the Most established team in NA HISTORY lets you go... you know that you have a problem. It's like The New England Patriots releasing Tim Tebow if the best team in the NFL for years lets you go that is a sign that you suck.

  2. Players Lourlo potential but how long before he develops into a winning Top Lane player 1-2 more splits ? That isn't going to cut it for TL who wants to win ASAP because they are 1 of the oldest teams in NA/Western teams that have been Garbage for Years now and the laughing stock of the LCS. Dardoch his career in the LCS isn't going to last long if he doesn't get his s$it in gear. I seen a few games where does the "shoot me" hand motion after failed ganks or just dies.
    Fenix 2015 Spring the most underrated player in NA.
    2015 Summer Player maker.
    2016 A guy that stays in lane 24/7 and to be honest is forgettable. Piglet- Rages carries but eventually Loses Fabbyy-Calm Does nothing but eventually loses
    Key word is LOSES Matt ok but nothing special.