The veteran team Counter Logic Gaming has started its roster revamp by dismissing its head coach Kim “SSONG” Sang-soo, as well as coach Weldon Green. The move is the result of yet another upsetting League of Legends split.
[embed]https://twitter.com/clgaming/status/1292958911180333057?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw[/embed]It has been an up and down adventure for the CLG team and their fans alike. In the past year, hopes were high when they finished third in the 2019 LCS Summer Split of Riot Games, though they were immediately knocked out from playoffs by Clutch Gaming. Considering what we now know from their last three seasons, 2019 was still a success for the organization contrasting the team’s poor performance.
The announcement tweet reads, “CLG is parting ways with Coach Ssong and Coach Weldon. We thank both for their leadership and dedication to CLG. We wish them the best in their future ventures.”
In aspirations to reinforce the roster, the Los Angeles-based eSports organization brought in well-known players Lee “Crown” Min-ho and Andy “Smoothie” Ta. Alongside this alteration, the management hired SSONG as the team’s new head coach. As with any other sports and recruits, the team needs some time to gel together and work as a unit for better results. Unfortunately for both sides, SSONG can only lift CLG’s Spring Split to a 3-15 record, last among the tournament.
CLG’s Summer Split received just as terrible results. Eugene “Pobelter” Park, a seasoned mid laner, was brought back to the roster to help steer the team in the right direction. To the dismay of the team’s fans and analysts, not even Pobelter can carry the team to a better record. After a heartbreaking final bout against Team Dignitas, CLG collapse under the pressure of the tournament and playoff round with a 5-13 record.
Looking on the bright side of the remains of this season, the decade long eSports organization has a few pieces to work with moving forward. The veteran Pobelter looked rejuvenated as the starting mid laner of an elite team. Analysts report that his plays appear to be up to be par even on awful occurrences. Albeit the roster is still learning with each other’s skills and tendencies, several players can grow into better tournament players if given finer supervision.
While there are some fans shocked by the management’s roster move, many fans felt that this is the right move. Perhaps the coaching style and strategies of the two mentors mentioned above don’t fit with CLG’s playstyle and mindset.