Defining moments for SRP

SRP have arrived in Enschede backed by legions of fans and expectation resting upon their shoulders. Certainly blame is quick to flow whenever the performances do not meet demand, or signs of weakness emerge. But in truth, times have moved on from the superteams of old, and we must not expect the famous names that glitter the SRP team to illuminate the scene in the same way.

Nobody doubts their ability. The Dignitases, the TLRs of this world respect and are wary of the threat the team pose. Dedication wise, in Adacore you have perhaps one of the most driven communicators of the modern scene. Alongside him, you have players such as Night and ferus who simply do not take losing lying down. But as new challengers have emerged as pretenders to the throne which was once dominated by the old Idle players, I sat down with ET veteran Holz to discuss his and the team's future, as well as taking on the critics who have made SRP a veritable scapegoat for all things underachieving, a sort of easy vendetta of the masses which have swarmed the team in recent times.

Holz, of course, can understand the criticism. He is the level-headed utility man who has travelled to QuakeCon, twice, won at past CDCs and conquered the EuroCup. His position now is almost certainly one of complete retrospection - having been there, and done that - he can lay claim to deciphering the events of today within ET and the teams for which he plays.

It is his sheer experience which shines through in his behaviour and play, and is clear to see. He told me about the very first lan he attended, a small local affair in his native Estonia. Now of course, nerves, pressure, the very staple of lanplay do not affect him. Back then however, the story was wildly different. Despite little importance being placed on the event in terms of money and prestige, this new competitive environment presented Holz with a taste of pressure, and pressure he certainly felt. Fast forward two years and its all change. No longer does the lan situation represent new territory, and once you've won a cheque for $15,000, other events pale in significance.

Thus the SRP you see today is effectively heading in two different tangents. You have the newer SRP players of Squall, Adacore who are desperate to win events of significance and drive the team forward, whilst your Nights and feruses have won all there is to win, and thus have less to prove. For instance, ferus has played almost no competitive ET since CDC1, and Night hs busied himself recently with a social life and work, severely limiting desire and ability. For Holz, joining the army was the true turning point in a glittering 'et career'. Much has been made of this sabatical, but there is real sincerity in his voice as he tells me how after CDC1, the desire to perform and play to the maximum waned. Awards were won, players moved on, and that old Idle formula began to slide.

Yet all this sounds like an excuse of SRP. The fact is we have here a team who can, on their day, lay claim to the very final stages of this tournament. The very scrutiny this column picks up on is derived from the hundreds of people analysing every move and play the team makes, and expectation from the big names that make up the clan. In actual fact, perhaps Holz is being overly compensating when he claims they're a mixteam finding each other out. While it is true that you lose the ability to predict where all your teammates are and will be, it doesn't take long into a lan to get a feel for the way in which your team operates.

There has been a strong debate about the inclusion of particularly Adacore, but listening to the team members would be to hear a barrage of praise for their English member. Xpaz too, in truth Holz couldn't speak highly enough of his performances thus far at CDC: "He has really, really impressed, and put in some simply stunning performances". Performances aside, what a so-called "mixteam" needs is direction. Tactics spawn direction, so does the team have this basic structure? Well, the answer is a real yes and no, with Adacore joining us with a wry smile to confirm that it really is an area that needs work. "With our lan lineup we've only been able to practice properly for about a week before the event, so its a little thin on the ground. A lot of us understand the ideas - the basic tactics made for the standard maps really - but executing them in a match environment is a totally different situation".

So where does this leave our lovely bunch of 'super retarded players'? I asked what final position they would be happy with, and Holz, with all his sense of determination reduced to playing for fun, playfully suggested a top-3 would be a longshot. The crux will be the game against cZar, which is actually playing now. Win and it could define the way to a long and glorious path to the pinnacle of the CDC. Lose and the questions will begin again, the criticism will arrive and the flame will lick. Adacore needs the team to finish at least 2nd to break-even. Firstly however, he's going to need to unite these players into the singular cause that is SRP. Do this, and Dignitas and TLR need watch out.