HenryG: "I'm going to have an active sixth player"

Cloud9's general manager revealed more details about the project that he is putting together on the latest episode of the 'HLTV Confirmed' show.

Cloud9 are looking to build a squad with six active players, Henry "⁠HenryG⁠" Greer announced on Monday. According to the North American organisation's general manager for CS:GO, the sixth player will be signed in the near future and will be working with the team on a regular basis.

HenryG, who appeared on the latest 'HLTV confirmed' episode, stressed that his plan is not to keep the players on their toes but to have a backup plan in case "anything goes wrong."

"It's a bit of a trend at this point, adding a sixth player when you need to, when everything starts to fall apart," HenryG said. "I plan to announce a sixth player as we open up shop. When we have things going, I'm going to have an active sixth player, who is not going to be on the bench. He's going to be actively playing, he'll be more of a brand ambassador while we're setting the operation up and getting the team stabilised.

"He'll be actively ready and working with us in practice. It's not to keep the players on their toes. The world has proven to be very unpredictable, so if we have travel issues, if we have someone who falls ill, I want to have a very competent player who knows the role and everything we're doing and is a very versatile player. That's my plan. I haven't signed that player but I have a shortlist of players."

HenryG went on to give more information about the profile of player that he will be pursuing. The retired commentator will be looking to bring in an experienced player who has competed at a high level but is not at the top of the pile.

"[It will be] someone who hasn't quite made it yet but has explosive talent and good experience as well," he said. "With a career that has potentially not gone the way they wanted to. But they've been to LANs, they've been to big tournaments, they've seen it but not quite made it."

HenryG's decision to build an expanded roster was applauded by Astralis' director of communications. In a Twitter post, Steen Laursen reaffirmed that this is a move "in the right direction", and drew parallels between Cloud9's vision and his organisation's strategy. Astralis currently field a six-man roster, with Andreas "⁠Xyp9x⁠" Højsleth expected to return to activity in the near future after taking a medical leave due to stress and burnout.

Alex "⁠ALEX⁠" McMeekin was last week announced as the first player of Cloud9's new team, who will be coached by Aleksandar "⁠kassad⁠" Trifunović. The former Vitality in-game leader has signed a three-year contract with the North American organisation in a deal worth worth $1.65 million, according to HenryG.