ESL One Cologne: Is Kjaerbye Really The Right Fit For FaZe?

Having recently replaced Aurimas “Bymas” Pipiras with Markus “Kjaerbye” Kjærbye, FaZe Clan are trying to reinvent themselves. The former player had originally been recruited as a stand-in for Olof “olofmeister” Kajbjer, who looks to remain on the bench of FaZe for quite some time to come. Now, Kjaerbye has been permanently signed to the roster. In light of the upcoming ESL One Cologne tournament, we feel the need to ask the question: Is he really the right fit for FaZe Clan?

HOW FAZE CLAN OPERATE

There is a unique element to how FaZe Clan play CS:GO. Actually, many teams approach the game similarly, but FaZe are the only successful squad. All the other top teams feature tactical in-game-leaders, who develop strategies and intricate game-plans. FaZe don’t really do that and Nikola “NiKo” Kovač can’t really be described as a mastermind of CS:GO. He is an excellent individual player, which is what FaZe have built their success on. They have signed so many decorated players that their roster is quite literally bursting at the seams from star power.

But is that really the best approach? FaZe Clan have had one of their most successful periods under Finn “karrigan” Andersen. The Danish player, rightfully regarded as one of the best leaders in the game, helped the team gain structure and strategy. Even more important is the support structure within the team. There needs to be a player who sets their own performance back in order to help the rest of the players make kills. Someone like Nathan “NBK” Schmitt would do the trick, who has understood that perfectly. If you want your star player to get the kills, someone has to throw them a flash or peek first and be traded.

WHY HASN’T IT WORKED OUT SO FAR?

FaZe appear to have forgotten this aspect. Their recent roster additions point to a system where they try to bring in as much star power as possible. But that power can’t be harnessed without a decent support structure. They certainly boast more individually talented players than Astralis or Liquid – but they hardly ever win against them. Ideally, a new player should help the star fraggers shine. So is Kjaerbye this type of player?

WHAT DOES KJAERBYE BRING TO THE TABLE?

Taking a look at his recent time at North reveals that he has mostly done the work of a fragger. He hardly ever flashes for his teammates. His KAST is at 70% percent, which would be really low for a supportive player. Again, FaZe appear to have picked a player who hunts for kills and requires for his team to support him, not the other way around.

They’ve certainly signed a talented player. While he hasn’t had a great time throughout 2020, we all know how good he used to be in the years before. The Major MVP of early 2017 may not have reached his peak yet and could grow into a world-class player under FaZe. But maybe, the clan should be concerned with picking an in-game-leader or a support player first. Without someone to do the ground work, Kjaerbye might not be able to reach his full potential.

In any case, they will be put to the test at ESL One Cologne 2020. In their opening match, they will face Heroic, who have just lost to BIG in the Grand Finals of DreamHack Open Summer EU. From there on, the likes of fnatic, Astralis, and G2 Esports will make their lives hard. How far can they get against these European super-teams?