The MOUZ Conundrum – What’s NXT?

MOUZ has been bad for a while.

Rock continues to meet the bottom for the team, after failing to even reach the Challengers stage of PGL Antwerp, they’ve sunk even lower by failing to make ESL Challenger Valencia too. It’s a tier 2 tournament for Christ’s sake.

Oh and by the way, it was Sprout who beat them to it. Sprout.

Not making it out of the group stage at IEM Dallas could be excused. While a disappointing result, at least they lost to ENCE and Vitality. It’s not great, but at least it’s not losing to Sprout.

For a long time, MOUZ was a team considered ‘budget FaZe’, but as their former star has left to win a Major with the content kings, it seems his departure was the final straw for them becoming just plain shit.

A team that used to be home to names like Nikola “NiKo”, Robin  “ropz” Kool and Tomáš “oskar” Šťastný, the organization now finds itself in the awkward position where its academy team is better than its main roster.

And that’s after stripping it of half of its players too.

It seems MOUZ has a conundrum, let’s try to fix it for them:

Too High To Jump

Finn “karrigan” Andersen’s return to FaZe was always going to be an immeasurable loss to MOUZ, but when Chris “dexter” Nong was signed to replace him.

The Australian had exceeded expectations with Greyhound but would never displace  Aaron “AZR” Ward as the IGL of Oceania’s premium Counter-Strike team. Especially when everyone thought he wouldn’t move because of a child that didn’t exist.

Looks like @HenryGcsgo is about to get back on the phone with @dextersjourney after finding out he isn’t actually a dad 😂

👀 @Cloud9 Dexter incoming…? 👀 pic.twitter.com/6aw5RzX6ef

— Mac #ESLProLeague 🏊‍♂️ #IEMSydney (@MacMate_) September 14, 2020

Unfortunately, it hasn’t worked out. Ropz may have carried him for a while, but that crutch is gone. And it’s showing: they haven’t made the top 8 at a ‘big’ event since Flashpoint 3. Flashpoint 3.

Somehow, they did win the event, but there’s some essential context you’re missing here: It was a year ago.

For a team like Mouz, this just isn’t okay. Dexter’s had his time. Plenty of it, in fact. 

let’s get him out the door.

I could make a case for Mathia” “M “L” Lauridsen as his replacement. The veteran Dane has been out of the game for a while, but his ability to turn young guns with potential into certified superstars is unquestionable. Markus “Kjaerbye” Kjaerbye? Emi” “Magisk” Reif. They’ve both won a Major, Magisk has won three. Need I go on?

But let’s be real, try as I might to fit him into every team possible, MSL might never get a contract again.

And should he? Probably not. Not in this case anyway.

Dreamhack

MOUZ NXT has long been the ‘better’ MOUZ team. Sure, they play mainly against weaker opponents and in a WePlay Academy League, but they’ve threatened to overtake the main team in the rankings multiple times.

After losing its star, AWPer torszi,  the glue player in JDC, and even its coach, sycrone, MOUZ NXT have continued to dominate. So in my humble opinion, it’s time to promote the man behind that team: Kamil “siuhy” Szkaradek.

A Polish entry-fragging IGL, siuhy probably should’ve been promoted long ago. Winner of three WePlay Academy Leagues, he’s gained more than enough experience in high-pressure games at the lower level. His NXT team also often beat non-academy teams, too, like Sprout. You know, that team the main roster just lost to.

He fits tactically and would know half of the players well already. After managing to maintain dominance after losing such vital elements, it’s time to take note of siuhy’s IGLing ability. 

Results might still be tough at first while he beds into actual Tier 1 CS, but there’s no way what comes under his leadership could be any worse than this. MOUZ has always been a hotbed of young talent. Siuhy is another that deserves a chance to shine.

But then again, they’ll probably just bring back chrisJ again anyway.

Izako Boars

Any More for Any More?

None of the remaining players aren’t actually that bad. Ádám “torzsi” Torzsás looks certain to become one of the best AWPers in the world, while David “frozen” Čerňanský has more than proved himself already as a rifler. He also signed an extension at the start of the year, so I doubt he’s off for a while regardless.

Jon “JDC” de Castro has the lowest rating, but we should consider the roles he’s in. He’s also the newest member of the team, so it would be a bit harsh too.

This leaves us with bymas, the Lithuanian lurker. 

Aurimas “Bymas” Pipiras has long been touted as a future star, and while he isn’t bad – I just don’t see it. Bymas has some good spots on this team, and his impact rating of 0.91 does not justify that in the slightest. It’s unfortunate, because he has moments where he does look like he has it in him. But his problem is consistency.

ESL

Mouz needs a second rifle star to provide consistency, someone who definitely will be there if torzsi and frozen aren’t. 

Valdemar “Valde” Bjørn Vangså is an option following his benching by OG, but honestly, he deserves a team that’s better straight away. EG could soon collapse; Timothy “autimatic” Ta would be worth throwing money at if they do, but he probably wouldn’t make a move to Europe.

If you wanted to promote from within again, Dorian “xertioN” Berman is the next of the stars waiting for his move up the ladder. XertioN is excellent. His impact rating (1.15)  completely dwarfs bymas’, although he would create more of a role clash than other options. One of xertioN or frozen would be required to take bymas’ vacated roles, and both players could take a hit from it.

That’s why the best option is the one that not long ago, fans were calling to replace PGL Antwerp MVP rain.

Justin “jks” Savage.

ESL

The most talented player to ever come out of Australia, jks’ big move to Complexity has grinded his career to a halt. As the juggernaut collapsed, his damaged reputation wasn’t enough to secure him a new home as easily as the other members. Well, except poizon.

Forced out of his best spots on Complexity, jks found himself with a point to prove at IEM Katowice 2022. A stand-in for FaZe, jks established himself as what he had failed to be for the Juggernaut: versatile.

A key player for FaZe throughout the event, jks made it clear that his time at the top isn’t over yet.

Reputation restorations aside, jks also just makes sense. When he was announced as the stand-in for FaZe, people were worried that his comfort zone was in too similar of a place on maps to ropz’s.

That doesn’t seem like a problem here.

A major semi finals appearance, multiple deep runs in big events, years of experience, a star who could actually replace ropz. Jks is a surefire option to bring MOUZ back to the top 10. His experience would be priceless to the team too, something they’ll need to truly make the step up.

Although they better move quickly. It is shuffle season after all.

FaZe Clan

The New House of MOUZ

This roster could take a reasonable amount of time to bed in, although jks and frozen will provide enough fragging power to keep them afloat. Much of it rides on siuhy’s ability to call in Tier 1, a feat dexter has been unable to accomplish, but with his record on MOUZ NXT, it seems unlikely he won’t manage it.

Here’s MOUZ 2022… how many times will we have to say that?

• Justin “jks” Savage
• Jon “JDC” de Castro
• Ádám “torzsi” Torzsás
• David “frozen” Čerňanský
• Kamil “siuhy” Szkaradek

“jks to MOUZ is not really that creative of a move. You could place him in any team at this point. I expected more from you, Sam, even a Redditor could’ve come up with this. Siuhy is a good shout “