Guides

• Icon (91) Torres review

  Dec 30, 2021 FutFifa 0 Comments

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  Overall

  Rating: 9.5/10

  Pace Rating: 9.5/10

  Dribbling Rating: 9/10

  Shooting Rating: 9.5/10

  Passing Rating: 9/10

  Physical Rating: 8.5/10

  Defending Rating: N/A

  Everything about this card is powerful… Powerful running. Powerful possession on the ball.  Powerful finishing … you get the point.  If you take the time to watch the video I am curious though if you can tell what I mean?  For me, I remember what those goals felt like at the moment… the way that Torres drove with the ball compared to other members in my squad and then the way that he hit the ball with venom beyond the keeper's grasp.  While not my normal style in terms of body type and movement, there was definitely something special about this card.   

  Main Statistic - Shooting

  Shooting Rating: 9.5/10

  Weak Foot: ★★★★

  Traits: Outside Foot, Finesse Shot

  Given the 186cm | 6’1 frame, there was really no escaping the need for an ENGINE chemistry style here.  While this card looks absolutely insane with a HAWK applied, it was certainly a good choice to go the ENGINE route and added a shifty feel that you wouldn’t really expect.  Regardless of the lacking shooting boost, this card still has zero issues finding the back of goal and 15 goals in 15 matches is up there with some of my best returns.  The 95 FINISHING was spot on and with the 4 STAR WEAK FOOT Torres performed as would be expected for a card with those qualities.  However, where I was really impressed was the 82 LONG SHOTS.  Maybe it has more to do with the FINESSE SHOT trait, but the way Torres cracks them from distance is extremely satisfying.  Even the 87 SHOT POWER performed above what the numbers suggest and really this category makes this card so special.  The ability to apply the ENGINE chemistry style and not give up anything in the finishing department really allowed this review to stand out overall.  

  Main Attribute - 4 STAR SKILLS

  Dribbling Rating: 9/10

  Physical Rating: 8.5/10

  Height: 186cm | 6’1

  Skills: ★★★★

  93 AGILITY and 93 BALANCE still didn’t seem like it would be enough to get Torres maneuvering around the pitch as I would normally like… but I was just about wrong in my fears.  There were certainly moments where a little more guile would have come in handy, but I can’t complain overall when considering the size of the card adds so much to the 78 STRENGTH (which should be 99 if you have seen the pictures of him lately) as well.  The 95 REACTIONS, 87 BALL CONTROL, 99 DRIBBLING and 4 STAR SKILLS are all working in tandem wonderfully to get the most out of the 99 ACCELERATION & 96 SPRINT SPEED.  All and all what I thought might be the undoing of Torres at the outset of this review, turned into another nice surprise on the way to a successful weekend.     

  Value/Coins & Good vs. Bad

  Value/Coins Rating: 3/5

  Good vs Bad Rating: 5/5

  1.3 million for this card is still too much.  The review was good, the returns were nice, the card was fun and overall outperformed a lot of the already quality looking statistics.  However, there are simply too many cards that can do the same and produce the same for only a fraction of the price.  While a card like Morales in the 55k range is nowhere close… There are cards that stand in the 500k-800k range that would easily climb to the 9.5/10 overall rating and production numbers that Torres achieved. 

  Certainly overpriced… but one of the key areas that goes a small way in justifying the body parts you will have to sell in order to afford Torres is the lack of real weaknesses in the Spaniards' game.  The 9 assists that Torres raked up in the 15 matches are again up there with some of my best reviews and combined with the goals just added to the enjoyment with the review.   

  Summary

  There is simply no way I can justify this card for the 1.3 million coins you have to pay to get him into your squad.  The only case I could make, and it is a stretch, would be for those of you who like a bigger striker leading the line.  I can not remember a card that was this big and powerful, yet felt so smooth when left stick dribbling.  But even then, 1.3 million is just so many coins.  So in the end this multi-review experiment yielded some interesting results.  The massive price difference definitely brought a massive difference in performance but actually left me with two polarizing issues.  Morales proved too lacking in quality to lead the line even for the insanely low price… while Torres had all the ability to lead a squad into solid Weekend League and Division Rivals finishes, but costs the price of some FUT Managers entire squads.  For me, the answer lies somewhere in the middle with the likes of POTM Vinicius Jr. and Signature Signings Ben Yedder who can produce like Torres and not break financial fair play rules.  The obvious ease in which you can link ICONs is certainly worth something… but not 500k. 

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• Winter Wildcards Fabinho review

  Dec 22, 2021 FutFifa 0 Comments

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  Overall

  Rating: 9.5/10

  Pace Rating: 9/10

  Dribbling Rating: 9/10

  Shooting Rating: 9/10

  Passing Rating: 9/10

  Physical Rating: 9.5/10

  Defending Rating: 9/10

  Thankfully, this card still performs as a CDM and in the holding role the only difference I noticed compared to the NIF version of the Brazilian was how much quicker this card feels in comparison.  If you have used the NIF then you will know as well as I do that there is hidden pace in that card.  The lengthy strides seem to eat up the ground on should be faster players and up until this weekend, I couldn’t replace him (both in quality, but definitely in coins).  However, this card went from strength to strength throughout the weekend and while the CDM performance was great, the CDM/CM box to box performance was good, and the CAM performance was absolutely fantastic.  The card is a beast, end of. 

  Part One: Stay Back CDM

  Defending Rating: 9/10

  Physical Rating: 9.5/10

  Height: 188cm | 6’2

  Due to the flexible nature of this card and the all around success this weekend I have actually decided to keep Fabinho in my squad for the time being.  The Party Bag SBC offered me the chance to sell some long standing informs in the club and came out to the roughly 400k you currently need for the Brazilian.  With the offensive focus of these reviews, it is no doubt that Fabinho will find himself in the CDM roles of my 4-2-3-1 (or one of your new suggestions from the Coman review) formation more often than not and I am perfectly okay with that.  With the SHADOW application, this card still has some respectable defending statistics to mix with the already solid 85 STRENGTH and 90 STAMINA that help make patrolling the midfield that little bit easier.  Of course there is more to it with Fabinho as his unique body type has the big man gliding around the pitch… his long legs intercepting everything and closing down space quicker than his smaller counterparts.  In the end, I just spent a Weekend League, Qualification, and 7 win Rivals tour with Fabinho primarily at the holding CDM… and long may the good times roll.

  Part Two: Get Forward Box to Box CDM/CM

  Pace Rating: 9/10

  Passing Rating: 9/10

  This was always a key area of improvement for Fabinho and I tried my best to add clips that not only showed off the 92 SHORT PASSING … but more importantly showcased the 99 ACCELERATION & 95 SPRINT SPEED.  It was clear all weekend that Fabinho would have the pace to hang with the top tier midfielders that you come up against, and thankfully the 90 STAMINA (as previously mentioned) held out for the box to box role as well.  I will say that of the three positions and assignments I gave to Fabinho this weekend, this would be the area that I noticed the Liverpool man the least.  While he still got forward and drove with the ball into the heart of my opponent's defenses, it just didn’t always feel like he was having the biggest impact.

  Part Three: CAM

  Shooting Rating: 9/10

  Dribbling Rating: 9/10

  Weak Foot: ★★★★

  Skills: ★★★★

  When I finished my Weekend League Fabinho had 13 goals and 13 assists in the 20 matches.  In my final four matches, this man came to play in the CAM position scoring 7 goals and 3 assists to help see off a strong finish.  The change to a HUNTER chemistry style saw the 99 FINISHING & 94 SHOT POWER come to the forefront… while the 95 POSITIONING meant the big man was always in the right locations.  In the end, I only tested the 86 LONG SHOTS a few times with zero goals to show for my trouble… but the power that he hits them with makes me think there is potential to open up those chances as well. Maybe the most surprising revelation of the entire review was the 89 AGILITY & 88 BALANCE that mix wonderfully with the 90+ remaining dribbling statistics that certainly help the big man get around the pitch.  Previously with  NIF Fabinho, it was always a win the ball, pass the ball formula that worked.  But in this case, you can win the ball, drive with the ball, make an opponent miss with the dribbling and then things really start to open up.  Of course, Fabinho is never going to rival the likes of Signature Series Renato on the ball, but he is far from the sluggish and clunky operator you might expect.   

  Summary

  Value/Coins Rating: 5/5

  400k is a steal.  The versatility alone is worth it and even for someone who can’t afford to keep players around for long, I have to in this case.  The options for my reviews are increased by the likes of Fabinho and Verratti in the midfield as are my chances of winning.  I am seriously curious how everyone else is getting on with this card?  Are you using him, was he the same quality for you?  What positions and formations are working? In the end, it is a must try from me, especially with the lowering price tag and unlimited options.

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• Winter Wildcards Coman review

  Dec 21, 2021 FutFifa 0 Comments

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  Overall

  Rating: 9/10

  Pace Rating: 9.5/10

  Dribbling Rating: 10/10

  Shooting Rating: 9.5/10

  Passing Rating: 8/10

  Physical Rating: 8.5/10

  Defending Rating: N/A

  This card looked juiced when it dropped and made this review an easy choice … the question is always, “will the performance match the numbers?”  In this case, the saying, “numbers don’t lie” rang true as Coman turned out to be one smooth operator… but then again maybe the numbers do lie as the 13 goals and 7 assists in 15 matches tells a tale, unlike the one I experienced throughout the weekend.  Now, if the totals had read 20 goals and 2 assists I think it would better represent the performance I witnessed, but in the end, the goal contributions were there and what more can you ask for in your lone striker.   

  Main Statistic - Dribbling

  Dribbling Rating: 10/10

  Pace Rating: 9.5/10

  Height: 180cm | 5’11

  Skills: ★★★★

  I don’t know if it was the 99 BALL CONTROL & 99 DRIBBLING from the MARKSMAN chemistry style?  Or maybe it was the already decent looking 94 AGILITY & 87 BALANCE?  But regardless of the reason, this category was always going to determine the fate of this review and thankfully Coman had just the right mix of statistics to pass every test with flying colors.  Standing at 180cm | 5’11 this card is just on the edge of where that clunky feeling starts to creep in and can completely undo a card's abilities in game.  But in this case I felt the quickness of the 97 ACCELERATION… that top end speed you would expect in 96 SPRINT SPEED… and all along the way the left stick dribbling was responsive and created nightmares for opponents throughout the review.    

  Main Attribute - 4★ Weak Foot

  Weak Foot: ★★★★

  Shooting Rating: 9.5/10

  Right there alongside dribbling, this category is always a key factor.  Of course without shooting you could still deploy Coman as a winger and truthfully I see more potential for his longevity in FUT Squads in wide areas (but in need of a passing boost)… but playing as a striker this weekend I needed Coman to be clinical and more often than not he rose to that challenge.  The 95 POSITIONING made sure that the chances were possible as Coman took up some fantastic areas on the pitch and found the soft spots in my opponent's backline beautifully.  At this point, the 94 FINISHING & 95 SHOT POWER took over and combined with devastating effect.  I even got to see some of the 92 LONG SHOT magic in action this weekend… including Coman’s first shot of the entire review, the first goal in the video, an absolute pearler of a left foot from just outside the box.    

  Value

  Value/Coins Rating: 4/5

  Good vs Bad Rating: 5/5

  This card has been on a roller coaster price wise.  The night I reviewed Coman I bought for 773k after seeing him for 855k only an hour before, which then turned into 715k half way through the review, before bumping back to 790k when I sold and onto 660k as of this writing.  While the card fluctuates wildly in price, the performances from game to game do not and ultimately makes this card an intriguing option for improving squads.  My less than perfect rating is definitely a by-product of the existence of Champions League Rodrygo whose card is eerily similar to Coman and currently half the price.  If Coman was closer to 500k this would be an easy 5/5 for me, but until that time I can’t help but feel there is some overpaying.    

  Going back to my words on the overall rating of this card, 2 assists would have been a total that better suited this card's ability in the passing department, which is severely lacking.  While the DEADEYE chemistry style would have been a viable option for this card, the addition to dribbling from the FINISHER had turned this card into a silky operator and I didn’t want to mess with that.  The 7 assists were more a result of the pace and dribbling that Coman possesses with tap-ins for teammates the final result.  While the passing was an expected deficiency, maybe the most disappointing area was the physical nature of this card.  I thought the 82 STRENGTH would match well with the card size and create a monster on the ball, but in the end, it had limited effect… while the 87 STAMINA felt more like 67 as this card was gassed at striker over 90 minutes and would be even worse in the wide areas should you choose to deploy the Frenchman on the wing.

  Summary

  Must try.  The card is a blast to use and minus a few areas with need for improvement this card can still perform at a crazy level.  Coman is a lethal goal scorer and even better can create the chances needed to score those goals on his own.  I for one enjoyed this review and for the most part, the surprises over 15 matches were good more often than bad.  If you have gone the way of the Bundesliga squad this would be a welcome addition (as is Sow if you are on the fence).  Regardless of your squad, it might be worth looking into fitting Coman into your plans, especially if Team 2 starts to drop the price any further. 

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• VERSUSFIRE Rashford review

  Dec 14, 2021 FutFifa 0 Comments

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  Overall

  Rating: 9/10

  Pace Rating: 9/10

  Dribbling Rating: 8.5/10

  Shooting Rating: 9.5/10

  Passing Rating: 8/10

  Physical Rating: 8/10

  Defending Rating: N/A

  Very interesting review with a range of emotions as random as the cards performances from match to match.  One match I would be on cloud 9 singing the praises of Rashford as he belted home goal after goal leading to a very impressive 18 goals in 15 matches.  A goal per game in this FIFA, in this format, with all that goes on, still marks the sign of a good card. However, it wouldn’t be long before another match loaded and Rashford became a shell of the card I had previously used… my mood moved to something resembling Sarri when he tried to sub Kepa.  Giving up possession (dribble or passing), slow movement, invisible in the match and generally apathetic about the fact we were down 2-0.  The card is an enigma and moves from unplayable (for opponents defenders) to unplayable (as in if you play him you are definitely going to lose) without rhyme or reason.    

  Main Statistic - Pace

  Pace Rating: 9/10

  Height: 186cm | 6’1

  Normally I reserve this category for the statistic that has the biggest impact on card performance and generally would be a key reason to buy.  In this case, I wanted to point out that 88 ACCELERATION & 95 SPRINT SPEED are not blowing defenders away… but are certainly not sluggish.  The key here is that this allows the application of a chemistry style such as a FINISHER to better improve areas that are vital to Rashford’s success.  The point here again is not to confuse pace with dribbling speed… This card can cause serious problems for opponents going in a single direction… it was any change in direction where issues started to arise.      

  Main Attribute - Power Free Kick

  Weak Foot: ★★★

  Skills: ★★★★★

  Shooting Rating: 9.5/10

  How can a card have 9.5/10 Shooting with only a 3? WEAK FOOT?  The answer… isn’t quite as simple as, “he scores a lot of goals and finishes quality chances,” but it isn’t far off.  It all starts off with the fact that this card does not feel like a 3? WEAK FOOT at all and resembles something closer to a 4.5? missile launcher.  If this card was hidden from me prior to this review I would have told you the Versus promo included some form of weak foot boost because there were zero issues during this review.  Next, you have the very nice looking 99 FINISHING & 99 SHOT POWER which both seem to make up for the 84 LONGSHOTS (disclaimer: I only scored two outside the box, but for me that is huge).  But maybe above all else considered in this rating are the free kicks you can blast with this card.  Truthfully, I had three this weekend… one is highlighted in the video, the second destroyed a crossbar, while the third most definitely decapitated one of the supporters behind the goal. In all three circumstances, it was pure power, with a hint of accuracy, and a ton of satisfaction watching the ball cannon off the Englishman’s right boot.

  Value

  Value/Coins Rating: 4/5

  Good vs Bad Rating: 4/5

  This card is currently all over the place in terms of value, which unfortunately cost me dearly in trying to bring you this review.  However, if you managed to grab one for 510k then it is currently GG to you given the 580k price tag.  To me, even for a 9/10 overall rating, this seems high… the reason, this card NEVER performs as a 9/10 in matches.  You seriously either get a borderline 10/10 goal busting performance… or an extremely mediocre 7/10 that will leave you pulling your hair out. Thankfully, it is more of a two good for one bad situation… but for 580k, I personally want 4 out of 5 at the very least and therefore drops the value/coins rating in my mind.

  As I said, when it works, it works with this card.  But when it doesn’t there are some usual culprits for Rashford’s undoing.  1. Passing: 83 SHORT PASSING was always going to be a struggle and I can see why some are going the ENGINE route… playing as a striker I needed potency in front of goal and therefore was a non-starter for me.  2. STAMINA: The lad looks more like a streamer in a charity match than a professional footballer come about 75 minutes… and that was as a stay forward striker.  3. Heading Accuracy: For standing 186cm | 6’1 this card is underwhelming in the air… with the 77 JUMPING and 72 HEADING ACCURACY not helping matters.

  Summary

  If you only read the Value/Coins or Good/Bad section of this review then you are 100% not buying this card and for 580k I don’t think I blame you.  However, I see a lot of FUT Managers lamenting missed chances in different spaces online and this card could absolutely help you with this issue.  The variety of finishes that equaled the 18 goal tally was impressive and saw everything from thunderbolt free kicks, contorted circus shots, potent piledrivers, fantastic finesse and of course the odd “have to be in the right spot” tap ins.  It is a statement I continually repeat, but goals are at a premium in FIFA 22 and Rashford found ways to contribute throughout and rightly earns the 9/10 rating overall despite hiccups along the way. 

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• TOTGS Vinicius review

  Dec 8, 2021 FutFifa 0 Comments

  Starting formation:

  

  In-game formation:

  

  Overall

  Rating: 9.5/10

  Pace Rating: 10/10

  Dribbling Rating: 9.5/10

  Shooting Rating: 9.5/10

  Passing Rating: 9/10

  Physical Rating: 8.5/10

  Defending Rating: N/A

  Crazy. Magnifique. Superb. I could go on and on about the weekend I had with this card.  Honestly, the 16 goals and 7 assists in 15 matches tells a very limited story about what this card can do.  Had the Zola experiment worked out better (I seriously was not a fan) and Vinícius been able to play entire matches at striker I have no doubt he would have set a new Weekend League goal record for my reviews.  The amount of weapons at your disposal to hurt opponents with this card feels like a cheat code and much like the Brazilians real life season, Vini always found the key moments in matches to be a gamechanger.  

  Main Statistic - Pace

  Pace Rating: 10/10

  Height: 176cm | 5’9

  Between Vinícius, Salah & Chiesa it was a pace merchants dream this weekend as my counter attacks broke away with lethal pace.  The perfect base statistics of 99 ACCELERATION and 99 SPRINT SPEED not only feel accurate in game… they also allow for chemistry styles such as a DEADEYE or MARKSMAN that provide noticeable improvements to other key offensive areas.  In the end, I opted more for a passing boost based on a lack of linkup ability in recent reviews, but whatever your choice, it will be backed by some serious quickness and top end speed.  This card feels like a 176cm | 5’9 card in pace and movement, yet provides a sneaky strong 70 STRENGTH that you might associate with bigger strikers.     

  Main Attribute - 4 ★ 5 ★

  Weak Foot: ★★★★

  Skills: ★★★★★

  Shooting Rating: 9.5/10

  Dribbling Rating: 9.5/10

  I normally don’t like to say “you have to watch the video” … in fact I think the closest I have come to that is suggesting you watch a clip or two… but this video has some of the best goals I have scored this FIFA and all of them are at the feet of Vini. The left stick dribbling is a dream as the 99 AGILITY feels like it has broken the barrier of 99 into something beyond what is possible… while the 86 BALANCE might as well be 99 as well.  This card is responsive, quick, elusive and as I previously stated even boasts some hidden strength that creates added difficulty to dispossess.  

  Yet, all of that would be useless if Vinícius couldn’t finish… and I am happy to report that he did so in a relentless and ruthless fashion.  The 4 STAR WEAK FOOT feels undersold as I didn’t notice the slightest difference on either foot throughout the review.  The 99 SHOT POWER is much like Chiesa in terms of leaving keepers flat footed and praying the ball misses the goal… while the 91 FINISHING was just about flawless (especially in the box) with only a few frustrating misses across the review.  The 99 POSITIONING might even be the best of the lot as Vinícius made some impressive runs in any of the positions I played him. 

  Value

  Value/Coins Rating: 5/5

  Good vs Bad Rating: 5/5

  I have used a lot of the players in the 500k to 700k price range in FIFA 22… and so far there is not one that I would take over Vini if given the opportunity for a free addition to the squad.  If I had to buy them with my own coins I might just lean in the direction of IF 90 Sadio Mane and us the extra 100k to strengthen other areas, but it would be difficult knowing that I am leaving out Vinícius who could take over any match in the blink of an eye.

  If I had to title this review I would call it…  Vinícius Júnior: Even the Passing Was Good! … Finally, a card that has all the abilities on the ball and can move it on to teammates as well.  The passing was seriously put to the test as I dropped Vini back into the CAM position in matches and I can say he “passed with flying colors”.  Could it have been a little sharper? Sure. But on the whole, I had zero complaints.  

  By now the question should be why only a 9.5/10 if this card was perfect… and that is of course the issue… it wasn’t.  While the video boasts a very nice finesse shot that obliterated the crossbar on the way in, in general, I felt the 85 LONG SHOTS to be a little “short” during the review.  The 90 STAMINA does not always provide the legs to produce sustained quality when moved to the CAM/RAM/LAM position across 90 minutes.  And of course, the 70 STRENGTH, which does feel solid, is still not the same as other options that boast higher statistics. 

  Summary

  Close.  That would be my reaction to a perfect review for this card.  If we still did more intricate ratings this card has a 9.7/10 written all over it.  The scary thing is that at the rate  Vinícius is going, we are going to see some unplayable cards from this lad in the very near future.  In terms of right now… I can’t do any more than writing the review, show you the video, and strongly suggest you find a way to get this card into your squad.  I realize for many FUT Managers that this is the type of card that will involve serious coin saving, liquidating squads or tedious consumable selling … and so I want to be sure that the card would seriously change squads for the better.  In this case, I can’t recommend the Brazilian more.  The card has serious quality, can play anywhere in attack and is seriously a fun time to operate. 

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