JDG’s Disastrous Season
Although they did not win the 2023 Worlds, last year was by no means a failure for JDG. They secured 2 LPL titles and 1 MSI championship, affirming their leading position in the region. However, with key players like 369, Knight, and coach Homme leaving, the team has shown a rapid decline in the 2024 season.
Firstly, they only managed to secure 3rd place in the LPL Spring 2024, losing their MSI qualification to TES. Following that, they finished in 7th-8th place in the LPL Summer 2024 and almost lost their chance to participate in this year’s Worlds regional qualifiers if AL hadn’t defeated FPX. From being a championship contender, JDG has fallen too quickly and can only hope for a “lifeline” to the upcoming 2024 Worlds.
JDG “Calls for Help” from a Former Coach
A significant contributor to JDG’s success in 2023 was coach Homme. He had been with JDG for over 3 years, understanding the players’ habits and devising effective strategies for victory. His departure seems to have left Ruler and his teammates directionless in drafting and strategy implementation, resulting in a disastrous season just passed.
Now, during this challenging time, rumors have surfaced about coach Homme potentially returning to JDG. According to reports, former coach Hanyi mentioned that JDG has brought back a “contributing coach” to help the team overcome its difficulties. Given Homme’s extensive experience with JDG, there is a 99% chance this post refers to him, especially since he has not yet found a new team for the 2024 season.
LPL Community Finds This Move by JDG Extremely “Unbelievable”
Fairly speaking, changing coaches mid-season is a rare occurrence in the professional League of Legends environment. Moreover, the time for JDG to prepare for this year’s Worlds regional qualifiers is relatively short, with only about 10 days left. Therefore, the LPL community considers this move by JDG quite “unbelievable” and raises serious questions about the effectiveness of this deal.
With consecutive failures, this year has almost been a “throwaway” season for JDG, despite having stars like Ruler, Kanavi, and others. However, FPX’s loss to AL, which allowed JDG to regain their slot for the Worlds regional qualifiers this year, has sparked a glimmer of hope for the team. Perhaps this is why JDG decided to bring back coach Homme to salvage the 2024 season. If this coach can help Ruler and his teammates secure a “lifeline” to the Worlds with the limited time left, he would be nothing short of JDG’s “savior.”