Goldenglue might be only North American mid laner in the LCS

TL;DR

  • Goldenglue may be the only North American-born mid laner in 2020 LCS season
  • Multiple pro players criticize teams for poor domestic talent scouting practices
  • LCS teams heavily favor imports from Europe, Korea, and Australia
  • North America lacks developmental infrastructure and amateur scene support
  • High ping issues and regional problems contribute to international underperformance

Greyson “Goldenglue” Gilmer’s position with Golden Guardians represents an alarming trend in professional League of Legends – the virtual disappearance of homegrown North American mid lane talent from the championship circuit.

As organizations complete their 2020 season preparations, the pattern of recruiting international players for mid lane roles has become overwhelmingly dominant. Teams are sourcing talent primarily from European leagues, Korean competitors, and even Australian regions to fill these crucial positions. While Evil Geniuses and Dignitas remain unannounced regarding their mid lane selections, the current trajectory suggests minimal domestic representation in this strategic role.

Goldenglue calls LCS mid lane situation “ridiculous”

The veteran mid laner publicly confronted the import saturation problem through social media channels, highlighting how the emphasis on foreign acquisitions creates significant barriers for qualified domestic competitors seeking professional opportunities.

“The current landscape where I potentially stand as the singular North American mid laner in the entire LCS is fundamentally problematic,” Goldenglue stated. “Numerous skilled domestic players are being systematically excluded from consideration for roster spots.”

This discussion has gained momentum throughout the League community, particularly following the All-Star 2019 event where Korean competitors represented North America after several top LCS players withdrew from competition.

Pobelter, Dardoch, and more criticize LCS roster decisions

Seasoned competitor Eugene “Pobelter” Park, recently separated from FlyQuest, expressed his frustrations through an extensive TwitLonger publication. He articulated feeling that his capabilities were being undervalued by organizations making questionable recruitment choices and prioritizing international signings over proven domestic performers.

Team SoloMid’s newly acquired jungler Joshua “Dardoch” Hartnett also voiced apprehension about how certain LCS franchises fail to properly identify and develop local talent when constructing competitive lineups. Even Rogue’s digital media team participated in the conversation through satirical commentary on the situation.

The community response extended beyond simple criticism of team management decisions, bringing attention to systemic issues within the North American competitive environment. The absence of robust amateur development pathways severely limits growth opportunities for emerging professional prospects from the region.

Competitive participants consistently report infrastructure challenges, including significantly higher latency compared to other global regions, creating additional competitive disadvantages.

These regional deficiencies contribute directly to underwhelming international tournament performances and create persistent challenges for the North American competitive ecosystem’s development.

The fundamental issue extends beyond roster construction to encompass developmental pipeline failures, where promising talent lacks clear progression pathways from amateur competitions to professional opportunities. This creates a vicious cycle where teams, facing pressure for immediate results, increasingly rely on established international players rather than investing in domestic development.

For players looking to improve their skills despite these structural challenges, our Complete Guide offers comprehensive strategies for competitive development.

Action Checklist

  • Analyze current team roster construction patterns and import ratios
  • Research amateur and academy league performances to identify promising domestic talent
  • Review scouting methodologies used by successful regions
  • Evaluate ping and infrastructure improvements for competitive parity

No reproduction without permission:Game Guides Online » Goldenglue might be only North American mid laner in the LCS LCS faces critical domestic talent crisis as imports dominate mid lane positions across teams