How the London Spitfire can defend their title

The Overwatch League crowned their very first champions in the London Spitfire. The final game in the Grand Finals occured on July 28, when the Spitfire defeated the Philadelphia Fusion 3-0. This offseason for the Overwatch League has been drawn out, with the start of Season 2 being sometime in January or February of 2019. Many questions have been asked this offseason, including how London will defend their title. There are various scenarios that could play out, with many not being out of the hands of the Spitfire.

Come Out Firing

One scenario for the London Spitfire is that they will come out hot, and start Stage 1 how they did last year. In Season 1, they started the first stage 7-3, and ended up with the title for the stage. They defeated the New York Excelsior 3-2 in the finals. If the Spitfire can have a strong start to the season, and show teams early that they mean business, that will set a great precedent going forward. A strong start to any season can carry you through to the end. This was particularly evident for the Spitfire, when they missed the playoffs for Stages 3 and 4, with a combined 9-11 score throughout. Their strong start pushed them through to finish 5th in the standings, still in a playoff spot.

Courtesy of ESPN

A strong title defense starts in the first few weeks of competition. Though competing for a title is a season-long endeavor, starting strong is the key. If London really wants to show they are serious about Season 2, they will have to at least make the playoffs for Stage 1.

Create a Plan

There is no reason that London Spitfire cannot come out and dominate the first stage of Season 2. However, London should create reasonable goals for themselves to shoot for at the beginning. They need to buckle up for each game, and prepare accordingly. Each team plays very differently, and they will need to be wary of the new teams that they have not seen yet.

If the new head coach, Kwang-bok “Coach815” Kim, can organize and create an atmosphere of discipline, there is no stopping the Spitfire. They were one of the few teams to start with a full 12-man roster, then drop to only seven players. They have a very solid core that can compete with the best of them. Their DPS duo of Ji-hyeok “birdring” Kim and Joon-yeong “Profit” Park is a force to be reckoned with. The leadership of their tank ae-hee “Gesture” Hong, paired with fan-favorite Seung-tae “Bdosin” Choi, the Spitfire has one of the best teams, on paper, in the league.

Courtesy of the London Spitfire

Play to the Meta

Being able to adapt has never been London’s strong suit. After a number of managers, and frustrated fans, the Spitfire knew they needed to do something. With their current roster, they have a wide range of heroes that each player can confidently play. However, they may look to bring some new players in. This will both challenge current players for a starting spot, as well as provide support in case of injury or a sudden switch in the meta. The same heroes played in Season 1 may not be as popular in Season 2. London will have to quickly show that they have adapted, and can play their game. If they play down to the level of their opponents, that could spell their demise.

Need More?

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Featured Image Courtesy of the London Spitfire

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