I really like to think back to good old Alliance.

I liked the fact that worse (in theory) players could win because of superior strategy, and it stuck, so I still watch their games with interest, even if it is not the same team anymore.

Yurie

12084 Posts

January 16 2017 22:58 GMT

#4683

Been considering this a bit more. Alliance is now a Tier 2 team with small hope of going Tier 1. Does this mean I stopped liking to watch their games? No, thus I am still a fan. Pretty easy way to tell, if they drop to Tier 3 and I still like watching the games the same applies.

Zea!

9589 Posts

January 16 2017 23:25 GMT

#4684

I love Alliance, ofc for me Alliance will always be Loda, s4, Bulldog, EGM, Akke.
This was a team that brought magic to this game, and these guys were able to give me some memories and emotions that i'll never forget, going beyond the game. I hope one day they'll come back together, maybe even just for some special events games, just to enjoy the boys together once again.
At the moment i'm very sad watching what Alliance has become, for sure it's not the same anymore, but i'll always root for Loda and EGM and for the team, i just can't cheer for anything else (just support s4 and Akke in their teams to do well

).

About the rest, i agree (as always) with bluzi :D

WakaDoDo

Sweden1183 Posts

January 17 2017 09:00 GMT

#4685

This bias isnt a choice. As long as EGM, s4, akke, loda or bulldog is on the team i will forever cheer for my f[A]mily. To any depth until whatever height.

lookfirewood

1212 Posts

January 17 2017 09:32 GMT

#4686

Invited to dac qualifiers, ad finem, liquid, secret as biggest contenders I feel. Maybe a Navi vs alliance final. Haha, doubt it but el classico.

Full list:
Ad finem
Team liquid
Team secret
Alliance
Navi
C9
Escape
Bears

lookfirewood

1212 Posts

January 24 2017 13:28 GMT

#4687

Alright. Game tonight, and im gonna try to lift the mood of the thread (of which i've been part of downing, i know).
But new year, WESG is over. Some cash for the boys. Eyes on the horizon.
It's 5 months to TI qualifiers (give or take), and if this team is going to try for it all the way these 5 months, we really, REALLY need to see some improvement today and the following SL games.

The thing is, most teams in this SL qualifiers for europe are not big names. Secret performed well this weekend so they are scary. Ad finem is scary as hell as well. But the rest are beatable teams, even in alliances current state.

My prediction tho is alliance will reach top 5, but not top 2. But a man can dream. Somehow I've always trusted alliances choices, and if their choice is to stay together, then I'm gonna back them, no matter how much I dislike the current iteration. So I dream, dream for top 2.

take my energy!

bluzi

4703 Posts

January 24 2017 14:29 GMT

#4688

I will be watching today , hoping to see some improvement in Johanss ,he will be the barometer for the team success if he can't pull his weight we have 0 chance , this is a 5v5 game not a 5v4.5 game , no matter what ppl think about stars in this game its still a team game , you can see the biggest star of 2016 (Miracle) moving to liquid and looking incredibly normal , if handsken and Johanss start to play high tier dota i have hope for them , Limpp is very good and EGM/Loda can still do their thing (inconsistency still an issue , but in general they can).
I will lend some energy for them today as LFW gives his , but i will reserve some energy for the CSGO major , i need to give some to VP those old boys deserve some energy as well!

HeYmaney

Switzerland193 Posts

January 24 2017 16:18 GMT

#4689

Well it's a first game victory! Trying to be positive as well.

What I liked in this game:
- It looks like they played with the current patch. I'm not a picks expert but it's cool to see that they don't play like they used to with the former team, no matter what. Also they pushed a lot and even in my poor 3.5k mmr games I can feel that how you approach pushing is very important.
- Loda topped the net worth charts and was the guy you don't want to meet in your jungle! YAY!

What I disliked:
- It seems that they still have execution issues, some fights were very strange like the one at approx. 25 minutes where Handsken used his ulti and absolutely nobody in the team was ready for this
- Well it's HORDE, they should have destroyed them imo

gotnowheels

Philippines51 Posts

January 25 2017 10:56 GMT

#4690

I never thought TnC will 2-0 one of my favorite team. But it was an excellent game though!

jack_knife

Germany343 Posts

January 25 2017 17:53 GMT

#4691

2-0 and 1-1 against bottom 2 teams. not sure if it's a good start. may be we are in bottom 3.

Nodeadlykittens

Sweden2 Posts

January 26 2017 11:19 GMT

#4692

I kind of feel that Alliance always picks up the the new meta after it has moved on and been slightly nerfed or figured out. The moment sniper ld gets nerfed, be sure that Loda will pick it up.

On another note, it always bugged me that LD's actual hero was weak and it needed some kind of buff. Icefrog however buffed it out of the ballpark and now I kind of despise his creation. The talents should be more polarizing to be this strong. If you buff the hero (this much), Alfredo gets nerfed (maybe he loses the roar, he does'nt still do ridiculous damage to buildings).

Pontual

Brazil3038 Posts

January 26 2017 11:49 GMT

#4693

Name Last Used
Alliance.Akke 14 hours ago

https://www.dotabuff.com/players/41288955

discuss

edit: I guess the 14hours ago isn't when the name was changed but when he played the last game using this name? So nevermind guys, Akke not back to alliance yet.

lookfirewood

1212 Posts

January 26 2017 12:02 GMT

#4694

He never left alliance. Rather he became the owner. So alliance.akke doesn't mean he's back on the squad until an announcement is made.

Meaning he could in theory play for secret if their contracts allowed it, and still own alliance.

lookfirewood

1212 Posts

January 28 2017 11:59 GMT

#4695

Ok, 'tis time to lend A all my energy. Today's game is make or break I feel. TL is a real tough opponent, and I'm sure A needs 2-0 to be safe later on. anything but 0-2 makes me happy tho. That said, 0-2 is expected. So...
Take all my energy!

lookfirewood

1212 Posts

January 28 2017 21:35 GMT

#4696

Starting to feel like a monologue, but what the hell, that was my nick name a long time so why the hell not.

Handskens performance on pudge was ofc alot of luck, like it always is with pudge. That's the way the hero is constructed (pun inteneded). But the rest was really really well aimed. And well played. It makes me think, maybe handsken just have had the wrong playstyle all this time. May he shud just drop heroes like IO and disruptor and other defensive heroes. And aim for more agressive heroes. Pudge, mirana and maybe even Nyx, and heroes that thrive with agressive suprise attacks.

hunter_x

Germany2762 Posts

January 28 2017 22:14 GMT

#4697

Hey buddy, you are not alone;)
Of course it was a weird draft from us, but that handsken pudge was really great. Seems like he can play a good 4 position after all, at least on some heroes.

Zea!

9589 Posts

January 29 2017 15:03 GMT

#4698

3 series in a row today, let's hope for the best