Ahead of the start of the 2021 Call of Duty League (CDL) season, numerous changes to the format, including a return to 4v4 competition, saw all 12 franchises undergo changes to their respective roster.
While some of the changes made were somewhat predictable, the UK franchise of the London Royal Ravens made arguably the most controversial roster move of the entire off-season.
Throughout the 2020 season, twin-brothers Matthew “Skrapz” Marshall and Bradley “Wuskin” Marshall were the faces of the Royal Ravens, generating plenty of support from the UK fans thanks to their contagious sense of humour and immense in-game talent.
Despite Wuskin receiving widespread acclaim for his incredible skill and Skrapz showing why he’s considered a top flex player, both twins were dropped for the 2021 season after an impressive fourth-place finish at the inaugural CDL Championship.
Was the roster move a step forward for the franchise, or will it regret ousting two incredible talents later down the line?
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London Royal Ravens CDL 2021 Roster
Joining the Royal Ravens in place of the Marshall twins was former Minnesota ROKKR sub-machine gunner Alex “Alexx” Carpenter. Joining him would be the returning trio of Sean “Seany” O’Connor, Trei “Zer0” Morris, and Thomas “Dylan” Henderson.
Towards the end of the 2020 season, Seany excelled as the main assault rifle player for the Royal Ravens, often swinging the momentum of a match on its head thanks to his supreme accuracy and expert positioning around the map.
The addition of Zer0 in the early stages of the season also bolstered London in the slaying department, with the former New York Subliner dropping a high number of kills on a regular basis.
Known for his incredible speed, Dylan burst onto the international stage during the Black Ops 4 season and since then, he’s been at the forefront of aggressive slaying for the Royal Ravens.
With Seany set to resume his role as the main assault rifle player for the Black Ops Cold War season while Zer0 enters the flex role, there’s a lot of pressure on the SMG players to excel in order for London to replicate its strong ending to 2020.
The full roster can be found below:
- Sean “Seany” O’Connor
- Trei “Zer0” Morris
- Thomas “Dylan” Henderson
- Alex “Alexx” Carpenter
Season Expectations
Will this be a regular occurrence during the 2021 season?
After a strong end to the 2020 season, expectations are high for the Royal Ravens, as they attempt to improve on what was a relatively solid debut season.
The early stages of the regular season could prove tricky for the franchise, as global travel restrictions have prevented Zer0 from travelling to North America. Will the Royal Ravens be able to find a suitable replacement until he can get across the pond?
Regardless of restrictions, 2021 is a real opportunity for London to show that 2020 was no fluke. Does the squad have what it takes to take on the North American juggernauts battling at the top of the league table? We will have to wait and see.
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