Things Are Different—Gladiators Have Written A Letter Of Intent
With such a talented lineup, the Los Angeles Gladiators were consistently lacklustre throughout their 2020 attempt. That ends in 2021.
Formerly a member of teams like the Paris Eternal academy team, Eternal Academy, and Talon Esports, Kim "MuZe" Young-hun is in a position to become rookie of the year in the upcoming fourth season of the Overwatch League. Not only is he someone that will make a splash, but his signing marks a massive signal for where the Gladiators are headed; mediocrity isn’t a word they care to know. 2020 can and should be given grace, and things for Los Angeles are about to change in a big way.
Let’s face the music for a moment; not optioning former main tank Son “OGE” Min-Seok looks to be shortsighted. This is someone who has been a top-shelf tank player for some time now and dropping him can easily scare some of the most fervent Gladiators fans. However, if you can secure someone like MuZe, someone who is a young, promising rookie you can see yourself potentially building around or becoming a foundational piece of the puzzle in the coming years, then this all leans into this notion of planning for the future something that newly appointed General Manager Brenda Suh has spoken at length about.
One big throughline for the league as a whole, and something you’ll see widely praised generally, is that having open positions this early into the offseason is a good thing. There not only are a slew of new, talented players looking to come into the league, but there are insane free agents on the market that could whiplash your franchise in a completely different direction. That said, the Gladiators have room to work, especially in what some would argue is the most important department; the support line.
Consider the following; think for a moment across all of competitive Overwatch history, now think of the major champions, pinpoint those teams, and begin to look at their tanks and supports compared to their peers at the time and you see a positive correlation. While the Gladiators former support line of Benjamin "BigG00se" Isohanni and Jonas "Shaz" Suovaara were an above-average Western support duo, one with massive amounts of experience playing together, they were falling behind the eight-ball. While it’s sad to see such veterans of the game retire, the move is bittersweet. The Gladiators lose two workhorses of the game and two fan favourite picks, but gain so much in terms of possible new talent in positions that are not depreciating anytime soon.
And then they land Kim "Shu" Jin-seo from the Guangzhou Charge. Nearing top-five in his role last season and a statistical powerhouse, Shu is the most underrated and flex support in the Overwatch League. In easily one of the most impactful roles in the game, the Los Angeles Gladiators have added a top competitor.
If that isn’t signal enough, then we’re not sure what is.
We can look towards the horizon until the sun burns holes into our retinas, but who the Gladiators have re-signed is important to understand the base they are building with. While some things are different about the Gladiators, some things have stayed the same, and per the official Overwatch League 2021 Player Contract Status article, that is mostly in the form of the team’s damage dealers.
After having a revitalising 2020, Kim "birdring" Ji-hyeok is back with Los Angeles for the upcoming 2021 season. Once counted out and thought to be past his prime, the former London Spitfire DPS was the rock the Gladiators were looking for.
Showcasing some serious flexibility towards the end of the season, Gia Huy "MirroR" Trịnh has had his option extended with the Gladiators. Support, tank, DPS, MirroR can do it all and has done it all. We’ve said it before, and we’ll continue to beat the drum; Overwatch is a game of flexibility, and having someone who can be flexible beyond just heroes is a quality you don’t find often.
After joining the team mid-season, it is obvious that Kevin "kevster" Persson is going to be a weapon for the Gladiators come 2021. We all saw what he did for this team; however, if you venture just outside the Overwatch League, you can find a litany of examples showcasing so much more. This is a player that can grow with the Gladiators, he is going to be a threat no matter what format the league decides upon, and kevster should be considered a staple in the starting lineup next season.
Indy "SPACE" Halpern is quickly becoming the face of the franchise, not only for his impressive skills as a strong western flex tank but his passionate fan base. He alongside MuZe already has them jockeying for top marks when it comes to starting tank duos across the league, and that’s just arguing in a vacuum. When the rest of this team fills out, that tank duo is going to shine.
While that alone constitutes a team that nears playoffs calibre and while the roster is undoubtedly an important piece of the puzzle, but the management, the struts that hold up the stage, is truly earning their stripes this season.
You won’t find too many critics of increasing coaching staff. Adding former Guangzhou Charge Assistant Coach Jung "Tydolla" Seung-min gives the franchise its first South Korean member of coaching staff. This is a welcome, and perhaps it’s also a needed addition with the influx of new South Korean talent in the future of the league. Having someone that can translate and properly portray complex strategic ideas to the players is worth its weight in gold and Tydolla, with his experience working alongside some of the current Gladiators management and with his experience on the Charge, he is fit for the job.
Zooming out for a moment, we also have to keep in mind that this is the second year for the Gladiators under new top-end management. After the Sentinels and Kronke Sports and Entertainment (KSE) split last year, this left the Gladiators to start from scratch in 2020, this indirectly could be another problem stacked on top of the heap, a heap built from circumstance and from that the Gladiators should be given some sense of clemency.
On top of that, the world—and the Gladiators—are getting more and more equipped and to handle life post-pandemic. Having more experience with COVID and the obstacles that it can cause cannot be ignored. We cannot discount what teams and their management are currently going through. Even looking at 2020 towards the end of the season teams began to find solutions to problems they never thought they would have to address. Speaking to Brenda Suh before the Gladiators performance at the Countdown Cup last season, she mentioned that, for safety’s sake, they moved to the coaching staff to an off-site location. Knowing what we know now about the virus, more secondary and tertiary options could be put in place to both keep all parties safe but also maximise the potential of their 2021 roster.
Click to enlargeLaid out like a blueprint, the goal has been set by the Gladiators here; Los Angeles deserves a title, and they aim to be the vehicle for that championship. Wielding not only some of the best coaches and players in the league they are the true underdogs, the team no one sees coming.
Rest assured, things are different now.
The Gladiators have written their letter of intent, they’ve put their eyes towards the 2021 title, and all of their moves are in line with that vision. They are here to do what gladiators do best.
Fight.
Images via Blizzard Entertainment
