Objectives
Squad Battles
English 
français / French 
Español / Spanish 
中文 / Chinese 
العربية / Arabic 
Deutsch / German 
Dansk / Danish 
Dutch / Nederlands 
Italiano / Italian 
עברית / Hebrew 
Português / Portuguese 
Россия / Russian 
Česká / Czech 
日本語 / Japanese 
Türkçe / Turkish 
Norge / Norwegian 
POLSKA / Polish 
Sverige / Swedish 
TOTS Live 
Fantasy 
RTTF 
Thunderstruck 
FC Pro live 
RTTK 
I do not review often, when I do it’s because I believe in a card, I am excited and I want others to get the same experience, John Barnes 89 is a phenomenal card and is worth you time and investment.
That said if you are a meta whore, and all you want from a LW player is pace this is not the card for you your review is over, there are better options.
If you are still here great! Gratz on liking football and playing the beautiful game to its potential, and boy oh boy will you love John Barnes.
John Barnes is the reason I love football, he was the superstar in the first ever football match I ever saw standing on the Spion Kop at Anfield, the anticipation of what would happen when Barnes got the ball from the crowd was other worldly, Barnes was the first player who in action caused the hair to stand up on my neck, in real life he was electric, in FIFA he is an absolute beast.
I have posted a link to the team my son & I tested the Barnes loan card, he managed 12 goals in 3 games, two of which were in Division Rivals 5 and 1 in squad battles on legendary difficulty as I wanted to see how he would hold up vs perfect AI defending and constant pressure. Defense opponents were META defense and featured in all games Allison, Varane, Mendy, Gomez and Walker/Tavernier and Courtois once.
We converted Barnes loan to LF and slapped an engine on him for the extra dribbling and pace boost with a limited game sample to try him we wanted to see his best and judging by what we found on youtube engine seemed to be optimal choice, will also try Hunter later when we get the card for real.
Formation started as a 4-2-2-2 switching to 4-2-3-1 (2), Barnes in second striker role was partnered with Rush (87) and in second formation as central CAM behind Rush with RTTF Wijnaldum and Griezmann’s 87 supporting. We will play Barnes centrally and see him as a longterm CAM solution or 2nd striker option.
Barnes in game is a real presence, he is quick, feels good on the ball, his passing is precise over short and long distances and his shooting is elite, he will find the net inside & outside the box, his goals we’re all different from cut in finesse on right foot, pile drivers, flip and volley’s, free kicks into top corners, low drive, outside of the foot placements – he can do it all, he is quick enough to skill anyone and has the physicals to hold of the best defenders. Composure is a standout 90 on the card as base stats and reflects in game he is ice in front of goal. 87 positioning was fine he makes good runs in and around the box and always found space to receive the ball and make an effective move.
Barnes SBC would be a big investment for our team so the biggest question we had is does he improve our team and the answer is a definitive yes, he is a great option on the pitch and be a fantastic play maker who surrounded with good players will contribute on the score sheet. Barnes has high attacking work rates and medium defensive work rates but with 82 aggression is very proactive out of possession and will press and win the ball back high up the pitch when needed, he certainly plays for the badge and did not go missing in any matches.
If you support Watford, Liverpool, Newcastle, Charlton or England, get this card, if you want a fun card who will score fantastic goals and make amazing passes he is worth your coin.
Shooting - he can do it all, with finesse, flair and outside the foot traits we can and does score from anywhere with either foot short or from distance
Passing - on point, precise, defense breaking Barnes doesn't give it away and has great vision and playmaking to make the killer ball or keep possession moving. He did not get many assists in our trial as we were having too much fun scoring!
Physical - he is strong, hard to knock of the ball and keeps possession when under pressure
Composure - he will make the play under pressure
Movement - he finds space well and makes intelligent runs
Aggression & Presence - he plays for the badge
Traits - finesse, flair, outside the foot shot
Position - to get the best out of the card he will not be playing LW, LM in your team to get the best of the card my opinion is he needs to be central in LF or CAM position, he could also do a job as a CM if needed
I used this card in Fifa 20 with a Marksman and he was really good. With EA changing the marksman Chem Style, I went for an Engine to improve his Pace, the passing and his dribbling.
Pace
Really really fast. We are not talking about a Mbappe level, but he definitely has a decent amount of pace ingame.
Shooting
You can argue to slap a Hunter or Finisher on him, but even without a Chem Style boost his shooting was good. Not to a whole new level, but still very decent. And you know what? He got both shooting traits, which is a huge W.
Passing
For a striker amazing! His short passing is extremely consistent and his long passing is decent as well. With Engine you can play him as a CAM as well.
Dribbling
I can imagine that this is the Stat a lot of people are looking at because of his height and Balance. That's the reason I went for an Engine btw. And I have to say, he felt amazing on the ball. Obviously he can't be compared to a Neymar type of player, but still very very good.
Physical
The combination of Pace and strength is simply good. He can challenge the Mendy's and Adama's in that wing position, but also a lot of CB's with decent strength. His Stamina did last for the whole 90 minutes as well.
All in all: He's got everything you want! Pace, shooting, dribbling and passing. BUT: None of them is really "endgame". Nevertheless it's still a great card.
Worth the coins?
- SBC? No. Maybe if you have half of his price as fodder. Then go for him.
- Market value? Yes. Great card with great stats.
- Can play in different positions
- Both shooting traits
- Great Pace, shooting, passing and dribbling
- No stats that are really "endgame"
First of all, i created a futbin account just for writing this review.
I never thought i could get near elite in fifa 21(because of all the rats in this game), but this man made my dream come true last weekend.
John Barnes is an absolute beast of a man and here is why
- He has Usain bolts pace
- Anthony Joshuas strength
- Cristiano Ronaldos shots
- Ousmane Dembeles weakfoot.
When you are through on goal with this beast, make sure to fire the cannon nearpost, even if pope is already licking the nearpost he wont stand a chance, because i promise you, that Johns nearpost cannon is the most satisfying thing, you will ever experience and the closest most of you will ever come to a sexual experience.
He doesnt fit the meta and he wont turn in a split second, but if you choose to use him correctly, you will fall in love with this man.
This SBC is a hidden gem and can be done with red players instead of in-forms, a very cheap gamechanger! You can ask every opponent i have met in the last 2 weekends, and if any of you are having trauma from meeting my barnes in champs, i am so sry.
Pace
Strength
Shots
Weakfoot
Skills
Passing
I wont write anything here, cause it would be disrespectful to this legend
So I did an mid/prime icon pack and first were disappointed when seeing barnes walking out, but I gave him a chance and I have to say that this card is unbelievebly good.
I play him as a striker because I think as a LW he is a bit too slow and clunky. With his med/high work rates he fits perfectly into the ST position. His pace is perfect and he will score bangers from 7m,15m or even 25m. I use a hunter on him so both pace and shooting are literally perfect. With bad gameplay his dribbling can feel a bit clunky but if you have a good connection he feels so good on the ball. The fact that he has 85 physicality and is 6'0 high, he'll be able to push away some defenders. Especially when using a fake shot to move into the box. There's no need to improve his passing.
All in all, the only problem I see with this card is that he is a LW so you will most likely play him on 6 chemistry as a ST or switch him with a striker in-game. Also his agility can be a bit annoying sometimes.
He is definetly not meta but I think it's a card you can have much fun with.
-pace
-shooting
-weakfoot
-physicality
-agility (with bad gameplay)
Got him from my prime icon pack, it is clearly an L, but i decided to try him on my weekend league because his stats are not so bad and i had to have an icon in my team for chemistry, Does he done it well? Yes, he definetly is not the meta i mean, by his stats you could say that yes but his physics and body type are definetly not meta. I would recomend him for silver 1 or gold 3 players if they need an atacking icon for that price, because i think that he is the best attacking icon for that price, or one of the best.I would not reccomend him for gold 2 or highest players because he dont fit the meta so well. One of the problems is that if you need an icon you may need a central one, one that plays on the middle of the pitch not one that plays on the wing. Try him in game as a striker because as a lw he will be shit because of his balance and bodytype. Sorry if my english is not well, i am not english speaker.
- Workrates
- Pace: It feels slower but the combination of pace and strength goes so well against the defenders
- Shooting is great
- Dribbling is nice
- Passing it is also well
- He will last a full match with any problem with that stamina
- Balance
- Headers and jumping
- Long passes
- Body type is not so nice but the good thing of this is that he is strong
- He will be definetly bad as a lw
lI did his SBC during TOTY event and did it for a few reasons. First, I had a ton of fodder after doing so many upgrade SBCs. Second, I needed another link to Moments Dybala. Third, his stats look overall very decent. Fourth, I was tired of using the 'meta' in that position.
All I can say at this point is that even though he's probably not 'endgame' good, he certainly is a very solid player that I will keep using for maybe at least a couple more months. Before him I was using gold Rashford but was honestly tired of using him as my rival often had him also. I decided that I would use my fodder to do his SBC to give my team a bit more variety and give my moments Dybala 10 chem. So far I am not disappointed, although I will admit it took me about 10 games to get used to him.
PACE
His base card displays a good 90 pace. I applied engine to his card so that jumps up to about 95. In-game he feels fast, but not meta fast. He has just the perfect amount of pace to become a real danger with a good through pass.
DRIBBLING
This stat is beatitful, 91 base dribbling that becomes 95 with chem style. He does very very good with the ball at his feet. I will say that sometimes because of his body type and balance he may feel slightly clunky (not Harry Kane level clunky), but its not enough to make me have a negative view. Anyway, on top of the solid dribbling he has 4* skill moves which is enough for most of us players.
SHOOTING
His shooting is solid. At 87 base shooting and all round good stats (except for penalties) and 4* weak foot he can score from just about anywhere. What I do have to note is that his shots are very very powerful so don't overcharge his shots and you'll do great.
PASSING
This might just be my favorite stat of him. With a base 85 passing that goes up to 91 with chem style he is simple a maestro moving the ball around. The vision in his passes is spectacular and his crossing is on point. Most wingers have low passing stats, but Barnes has it all.
PHYSICAL
This dude is a monster, just look at his card, with base stats of 90 pace and 85 physical. You don't often find fast players that are physical strong. He isn't someone who will get easily bullied by Varane, Gomez or Van Dijk. On top of that he has 88 stamina so he'll be running the whole game (and can even help defensively without sacrificing much energy).
- Pace - dribbling combo
- Workrates
- Shooting
- Strong physical and stamina
- All round stats
- 4* / 4*
- May ocassionally feel slightly clunky due to meh balance and body type
I was 9 games into my weekend league when I decided my squad needed a change. I had too much fodder and wanted to do an Icon SBC, something to spice up my games. Right before submitting the squads for Okocha I came across this legend and said to hell with the man so good they named him twice. Let me tell you, this guy is an absolute UNIT. He makes Varane and Mendy look like my toilet after 3 chipotle chicken melts from taco bell. I went from d5 to d2 within a week of having him. The only downside is towards the end of the game he can get gassed but that's it. If you're thinking about doing him this is your sign.
Pace
Shooting
Dribbling
Passing
Strong AF
Stamina
I got Barnes from fodder from my 83x25 pack and I decided to do his SBC. An extremely average card who is not worth your coins. I used him for over 300 games and only got 120 goal contributions which only 70 were goals in Division 2. I am a regular gold 2, sometimes gold 1 player. He was consistently outperformed by FB Robben.
- Pace
- SM+WF
- Cheap for an icon
- Green link to EOAE Rooney, HL Tav, etc.
- Fake dribbling (is not 91 in game)
- Shooting in game is subpar
- Passing is accurate but feels so slow and weak
- Strong but not 85 physical
Lowest Bin
LowestBin
