Transfers that catch you completely off guard don't happen often. Usually insiders drop news a week before the official announcement, and players tease with hints on social media.
The transfer of Electronic to VP didn't come with any of that. So the news hit many (myself included) with strong emotions, which can be summed up in the classic 5 stages.
Denial
The initial reaction to Electronic joining Virtus.pro was a predictable shock. Why this transfer, and who does it benefit? VP's structure doesn't seem to fit Electronic. Jame's style of leadership doesn't leave room for the aggression and freedom that Denis naturally possesses.
This transfer seems bad for Electronic personally, as he's going to a team with lower firepower. Look at FaZe with their 8 consecutive finals: in CS2, individual skill has a bigger impact than a systematic approach. Right now, it seems like this transfer is a change for the sake of change. Nothing more.
Anger
After the initial shock wears off, disappointment, anger, and incomprehension emerge.
A replacement was needed both in Cloud9 and in VP, but not like this. The most obvious choice would've been to replace Hobbit: insiders were linking Abay to VP, and his departure seemed logical. He would've made room for a sniper without breaking up the trio of Perfecto, Electronic, and Boombl4.
The dream with M0nesy, it seems, was dashed by Ilya's stubborn contract, but other snipers with Electronic in the roster would still have looked promising. Now, we're getting two raw, half-dead rosters in the Eastern European region.
Bargaining
Virtus.pro is a team with a strict structure: Jame constructs a game where teammates have little opportunity to play freely. Yet Electronic delivered his best performances in a similar structure under Blade's leadership during NAVI's 2021 era. Late-round plays, meticulously planned waypoints for each map – all of that will be in VP.
Jame understands that the team needs to refresh its style, hence the calculated risk. Electronic will bring aggression and freshness, but he might also take on too much.
Depression
Being a fan of esports is tough. Football fans have it much easier: you pick your favorite club and root for them. With 11 footballers in a team, it's not always easy to connect with someone specific, so you tend to evaluate almost every transfer from the perspective of the club, not the player. A fan (not a glory-hunter) won't stop supporting Real Madrid after Ronaldo leaves or Barcelona after Messi's departure.
In esports, few people have supported clubs for years. How does fandom form at all? A lineup of 5 people has to evoke personal sympathy in you: you watch vlogs, and listen to team chats – and the team becomes a bit more than just a tag for you. You root for the people and empathize with them.
Electronic's move to VP – another confirmation of this problem. The belief in their duo with Perfecto was strengthened after Boombl4's return. And now even that has been taken away from us.
Acceptance
Electronic's move is a done deal. We have to live with it. So what do we have in the end?
The transfer is a boon for both Electronic and VP. Denis gets a new challenge in a more stable and structured team. His last period in C9 was turbulent, but even there, Electronic was the standout player. And VP gets an aggressive and experienced star player to replace the faltering MIR. It's an ideal scenario for Electronic – a role as a free, aggressive player with a second voice. Jame knows how to utilize the aggression of his teammates. Yes, it didn't work out with Kyron, but Electronic's style is closer to Yekindar's, and Marek performed best under Jame's leadership.
Electronic will breathe life into the lineup. If phlegmatism were a team, it would be VP. Keeping cool at a distance is more beneficial than excessive impulsiveness. But in some games, the team lacks character and spark. In VP, Norbert is responsible for that, and now Electronic will add to it, giving emotions free rein. Such a role is organic for Denis.
The main question is their readiness to embrace change. Jame and Electronic need to adapt to each other's playing styles. Whether they're willing to change remains an open question.