Team Fortress 2 feels the turbulence as Team SQUALL picks up a revitalised Rejects
Luckily for me MGOs are still showing interest in European TF2, otherwise I’d be sitting here twiddling my thumbs. Another day, another acquisition and I’m a few Cadred Crew Points closer to my Malibu Beach House.
Today bears witness to the next phase of community hero, Simon “Loco” Evans’, master plan. The Guernsey islander has once again rebuilt his Rejects team from the ground up, having scouted out the upcoming talent across Europe like some sort of Football Manager obsessive with a third degree coffee addiction and a 4AM thousand yard stare.
Seriously though, Loco has an eye for potential and a never-say-die attitude that has seen him produce a string of worthy teams and has seemingly schooled vast swathes of our beautiful community at some point or other in their careers. Hell, I’ve even put in a shift with the old fart!
His most recent project, The Devils Rejects, has been through a few iterations already and competed in Division 2 of ETF2L Season 7, where they put in a solid performance despite being plagued by activity and roster troubles. The Class of Season 7 have all went their separate ways now, but Loco remained to rebuild and with a stable mix of old hands, in the guise of Waster and Chubbsta, and fresh talent, in all the rest, it looks like he’s on to a winner again.
Just five days ago SQUALL had made an unassuming post on the ETF2L forums “looking for a Team Fortress 2 team, to drive the organisation forward” and here we are. There aren’t many more forward-thinking leaders about than Simon, so hopefully the fit will be good. Apparently, current ETF2L champions idk? had also shown interest but failed to turn up for their meeting; their loss is our gain!
I had a good old chinwag with the man-legend Loco who also furnished me with a statement from Team SQUALL; you can read both below.
Statement from Joe "skii" Williams, Owner of SQUALL
"I am very happy to announce Rejects as the team to represent SQUALL in Team Fortress 2. With impressive results under their belt we feel that this team can only improve to become a top team within the EU. I look forward to working with this team, and observing their impact upon the organisation."
Q&A with Simon "Loco" Evans
Alright skipper! Seems like you’ve been busy since the end of Season 7, can tell me a little bit about your master plan?
Yes my plan is to get a capable team to play in Season 8; I have bought in some upcoming talented guys. One was ups, I was told by some of idk? that he had a lot of potential and would be good with some experience. However, I had removed him but re added him to the roster after a power struggle with some of my members, who pressured me to release him, but I wasn’t happy with this choice and bought him back.
I’m too old now to compete at the highest level so my main goal is to get a good standing in Division 2 and hope we can progress from there this season. I also bought in Anathema who also has been playing in iG in a lower division but shows some real potential with very good aim.
Firerain also has been around a short time; an ex CS player, but also has a lot of potential I’m sure with some time and experience he will do very well also, and he is a really good sniper. Waster played for me before so I take him back now as a soldier he was part of the original Rejects and a really smart guy, so that helps as I’m a little slow these days.
Chubbsta played with vertex had a great season with them last season there team disbanding was great for me to pick him up and he plays the same style as you, Admirable, can roam make things happen and always plays calm under pressure. Sraam had a season with Mister, he helped us draw SpA last season and has played for us since. He is taking a long summer break and will return in the winter.
For me this season will be time to get organised I would of had a lot longer to get the team work together but due to some roster changes, and some unreliable players I initially recruited it’s taken longer to get things going but hopefully now, once summer break ends, we can get going and push for a stable position in ETF2L.
Jesus Christ you old people can talk! What’s the pension scheme at SQUALL like anyway, gramps?
LOL! Well initially I was not looking for LAN support but for this Org they say it was important to get there team name recognised and out there in the LAN scene they feel TF2 is going to explode and want part of it. We made an agreement if our season goes well and we have a stable roster at the end of Season 8 they will fund our team to LAN which is really great.
So that is real motivation for us all to give 100% and drive to get a high finish in the ETF2L table. I think personally we can achieve it if we keep the team active and we don’t have any sudden issues with players and reliability.
So how do you fancy your chances for the ETF2L AFS Season?
Well, we will play AFS but I may have to bring in a soldier merc due to players taking summer break it will be tough to play with 2 players not available, but as it’s not that serious we will play it to just try and get in shape; I doubt we will win it but who knows.
Waster and Firerain will be away and Sraam is also on summer break, so it will be a challenge. Myself, Chubbsta, Anathema and ups will take part and I have a couple of potential players who are going to help us out.
That’s good to hear. I understand you personally will be attending i40, what’s the plan my man?
Well after so many years in the TFC scene I made some TFC events at Multiplay, but it will be really good to meet the players of TF2 at i40. My plan is to play with pukz, for his team at LAN, and have as much of a laugh as I can.
I’ll have to try and meet up with the SQUALL guys who will be there for the CS tournament :)
I will be up for some serious beer drinking with the guys, and just trying to have a laugh; anyone who wants to hit the town can message me and arrange something can. Give me a shout on IRC! Wai promised to share cocktails with me with 1 straw! I’ll hold him to that.
Haha! Maybe you can hold him closely later on if you play your cards right :D
It’s been a pleasure as always, I will treasure the time we spent together in Rejects forever. Any final thoughts?
Yeah just to say I’ve really enjoyed the TF2 scene overall; the banter, the passion of the teams who want to win and I really just want to thank everyone in the community for putting up with this OLD timer :D
Respect to them all... all players who have played for me and even the ones I didn’t always agree with.
Peace out brother.
Team SQUALL are
Simon "Loco" Evans
Wouter "Waster" Berkhout
Rob "Chubbsta" Hutton
Alexander "Firerain" van der Drift
Juozas "ups" Glezeris
Sergio "Sraam" Ruiz
"Anathema"
Originally published on Cadred.org on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:01:02 +0100 by James J. McDonnell.
Archived from Rejects caught in SQUALL as part of tf2esports.com's preservation of Cadred.org's TF2 coverage. All rights remain with the original author and Cadred.org; reposted for historical reference.