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SHADOW (80%) 
ENGINE (5%) 
When I woke up this morning to my red picks I was a little anxious about getting trash this week. The cards overall aren't that great except for 3 or 4 players. Boy was I excited when I opened my first player pick and saw this man pop up. He slotted right into my team after a little work. Yes, his league is terrible but he does have a few notable links. Most will link him with Rulebreakers Talisca but my team couldn't support Talisca so I sold some assets along with my Gattuso card to buy base Socrates. Along with Alex Telles at LB I was able to get him to 10 chem with a shadow in no time. When I got into my first game I realized how much of a beast this card is. He intercepts so many balls even more so than my base Gattuso whom he replaced. He feels awesome overall and does everything well from passing to defending to even shooting when necessary. His pace isn't noticeable with the right chem styles and he is fairly agile with great balance. His in game stats are fantastic coming in at 2367 with no chem style and 2432 with a shadow. I'm sure with a catalyst or hunter this card could be an above average CAM but I am leaning more towards either pure CM or CDM in terms of usage. Overall, I highly recommend you try this card out if you have the coins to get him.
- Can play CAM, CM, or CDM
- Great stamina
- Well balanced stats
- Always intercepts balls
- Good nation
- True box-to-box
- Great heading
- Poor league
- Slow without chem styles
- Can struggle in 1v1 tackles
- Expensive
When I got Paulinho, it was a red pick at the beginning of the year. My club was pretty empty, so I built my team around him. After using him for over 350 games (mostly weekend league) I can fully recommend him, even in the latter stages of this game. I use him as the central mid in a 4-3-2-1. He is very good at winning the ball back, and even though I do not play with high pressure, he is always charging down the ball carrier. When he wins a tackle, his well rounded stats allow him to advance the ball with a good pass or some dribbles. If passing percentage was tracked, I would not be surprised to see that it was 95%. Positionally, he can work immensely as a cdm or cm. Anywhere else his slight heaviness would have a bit of impact. The most unexpected thing is how frequently he wins headers. Almost every goal he has scored has been on a corner. At 6 foot tall he is no vvd, but the 94 jumping feels like 994. Even on goal kicks against target men I have come to expect Pauly to win everything. All in all, I would describe Paulinho as a rover. He's everywhere on defense and never seems to tire. Compared to most defensive mids he is very good going forward as well
Short Passing - His passing in close quarters is very reliable. Good for a tiki taka style of play
Ball Control - The ball stays close to him when dribbling, and his 4* skills means he has a last resort to escape from defenders
Stamina - This guy can put on the pressure for a full 90 minutes plus extra time
Set Pieces - He is extremely deadly on corners, rises over defenders and causes havoc
Heading - He wins them. A lot of them. Keepers beware of launching the ball upfield
Interceptions - With the shadow, he gets 92 interceptions and you really feel the boost. Paulinho is always running around cutting off passes (even without the tactics!)
Work Rates - Do not let high/high scare you away from using him cdm! If he gets forward, rest assured that you will see him flying back
Heaviness - He is not the most agile, and sometimes has trouble dribbling in the final third. Passing the ball when getting close to goal is recommended
Shooting - Although 84, his shot id never really threatening to the opposition inside and out of the area. In Pauly's defense, I dont shoot lots with him, but when I do I was not blown away
In form Paulinho is absolutely CRACKED! I used him in a creative fun to use squad in the weekend league and sropped at gold 3. During the weekend i played him as a box to box and for the last 30 game mins i played as a defensive midfielder. This guy is so fun to use and i applyed a catalyst on him. Can he pass the ball? You bet ya Can he win the ball back? with ease Can he score? well in about 20 games for me he scored about 10. and thats what i like most about him he can win the bal back he can run and he can pass but a lot of players can. But what you dont see every day is a central midfielder that has the finishing of a striker if the ball falls to him within range you already know hes putting it into the back of the net. He brought me so much joy over the weekend but i had to reluctantly sell him. I ook foward to using some more of his cards in the future. Well hopefully.
really strong, mental finishing good defensively and is really responsive.Insane stamina
Rarely his 74 pace will be noticeable when up against a really fast team.
With my man Mr.Anderson tucked away nicely in my squad , I waited until I could open my WL rewards on My App . I'm very relieved to say that I indeed got him . Being completely honest I wouldn't have minded Zaha and waiting on this guys price to drop.
I want to start off by saying some of these things about this card. He is not a Rule Breakers card. I have judged him on his peers at his position on field effect , not on value for coins . ( Rare Radja ( Very Similar w/o Heading )) . I choose Engine as my Chem Style as I dont require my CM's to have 99 pace if they have a inkling of quality about them.
Chem Style : Engine - Key Stats: 97 Balance 94 Dribbling 94 Stamina 94 Jumping 90 Vision 90 Short Passing .
Why His Agl is 80 with the boost , he needs it to be able to turn at a competitve level. I suppose if you played him at Striker or Pure Attacking CM you could choose hunter for a Bargain Lothar. I don't really need the long shots boost. Depending on my next setup I will run him with Hunter
Position : 4312 Div 2: Preparing for WL
Notable Squad Mates : RB A Talisca , Alex T , IF Sergio Santos , Fred , Wendell . ( I like cheap teams )
I really want to stress how close a card this is to Rare Radja . The price difference will be talked about .
Pace : 7 / 10
Look if we put his pace in a vaccum , I'd reckon it would be a 6.5 / 6.75 . He feels slightly faster than his rare card but it isn't game breaking . His strength these past 2 years has been his combination STR and Stamina meaning late in game he would still be running his normal speed that is rare for a starter card . Especially when that card can shield defenders and has a 4 star WF.
For me I had no problems with his general pace or feeling like he was left behind on the counter even without the boost to reactions , the extra +5 pace . His 90 Balance nullify most attempts to win the ball back on his trips upfield or on a late arriving 1-2 . His next inform in game will be scary if it has even a +2 . Lets hope !! I want to put a disclaimer that his pace is very near the bottom of what would call acceptable for competitive play if you need pace the only way he will work for you is with one of the more expensive chem styles with a +10 pace upgrade. Also this cards pace man mean in a month from now his card may borderline a handicap . Think Emre Can .
Shooting : 8.75 / 10
I feel like alot of other players here will use hunter as he already can dominate most CM's with his current stats . While viable it just makes what is arguably the best technical aspect of this card shine even bright it didnt matter . He knocked in 5 goals as CM in 7 games for me . In a team fielding players who could have a go from anywhere he was a drop down from talisca . In all honesty the goals he scored were absolute crackers across the goal keeper from outside the box . His middle of the road attributes in dribbling ( Reactions / Composure / 80 Boosted Agility ) meant for me his runs ups for strikes werent something out a horror movie where they take 3 hours to shoot after being glitched off the ball. The fact he did this unboosted is what surprised me . What kills the shooting from being immaculate is lack of a CONSISENT finesse shot . The closest you will get those are Holy Rollers ( Little Curved Tap Ins ) in terms of consistency . He will range the gambit from Crazy Van Persie Top Bins to probable throw in for your Rival. Finesse Shot saves this card ability to even try those OP High Fin / Curve / Shot Power curlers that have made a comeback.
Long Shot Taker and Power Free Kicks are nice as well . For me one of his goals was off a free kick roll from talisca which is always nice to see as its yin or yang ( Curve / Power Specialist ). Also on FK's make sure you choose him , he is often marked by a much less physical matchup.
Passing : 8 / 10
Yes , he has it. With engine he is 90/90/90 in Vision , Long Passing , Short Passing . He simply has that it factor in passing . Whether you need a pass Straight down the middle or long driven through ball to your winger on a sprintout . He is capable , 90 balance and composure in the 80's means he is able to get those double tap passes where you lose possession and need to pass again to make your intended pass or to just retain control of the ball. Again even more so than talisca he suffers from the annoying missed pass on the switch of play . It's actually quite embarrasing that an 85 midfielder is going such things. Ergo that takes away that he is still a great passer of the ball more so than average . Curve is huge miss on long passes that require that little bit of knuckle ( KDB / Silva / Modric ) on them . No passing traits either :(
Dribbling : 8 / 10
Do you like holding hands ? Why ask that because you are going to be holding hands and dragging defenders with you . Funny as it is Futbol is a game of inches in FIFA . If you get in front of your rival with the right type of player there is NOTHING you can do . Press L2 a fraction a second too early and your goal chance is gone or given up . These 50/50 balls often comprise what is know as a sorry excuse for defending in most modern FIFAs. He wins 90 percent of these . He has what players call the ability to suck you in and run past you . Even at his pace his ability to hold off defenders is second to only ICONs lol .With the boosted dribbling I found most NEEDED skill moves crisp. Ill admit there is NO speed boost out of turns like you get with alot of these other players . He is a dribbler who carries the ball down the field with the ability to beat his man with skill when needed. But isn't going create beat multiple defenders at a time and his turns aren't as bad as you would expect. And you are expecting him to be quite a truck. Technical Dribbler is extremely helpful .
Defending: 9 / 10
I often change in game to 41212 to provide more cover in the form of an anchor man as CDM . I played multiple spurts with him during some important periods of play where I had to have a stop. He got that stop . Every Single Time. I cannot say enough about the fact this is where in my opinion you feel the modest upgrade of +2 of every stat . Defending is Pace , Reactions , Strength , Balance , Composure , Agility . As CDM / 3 CB ( Stay Back ) he perform like a charm . He dealt with alot of those annoying crosses to back post and swept up through balls against the more narrow teams . You will eventually feel more comfortable knowing his pace in terms of how much ground he can cover because of his stamina remaining near half full at the end of the gam even after youve tried to setting a record for miles ran in a game with him. His High / High Work Rates were nice for me even when did play him at CDM stay back because he would always help at least start the 1st transition of a succesful counter attack .
Physical: 10 / 10
94 Jumping 94 Stamina Mid 80 Strength and Agility
This mans so strong he can aggressively leap over buildings for weeks on end .
I'm sorry but no in depth discussion to be had here .
My thoughts:
This card is great but for how long ?
1. He could get an IF or 2 or 3 .
2. His lack of Speed and Agility and Curve mean players such as De Jong fit the meta much better .
3. He is like Radja with heading . Thing is Radja got a RB card and this is FIF .
Would I buy this card if I didn't pack him but tried him out for 150k. Thats a negative .
His ability to do everthing is amazing for the here and right now but I don't see him having half the self life as a player such as talisca.
In Game Rating - 8 / 10
Value for Coins - 4.5 ( Only reason its not lower is because its at least relevant choice in a competitive midfield )
He is Jack of All Trades
Rockets in his Pocket
Runs and Defends All Day
Good Nationality
Links to OP Cheap Talent on Offense
Pace is not looking good for a 150k investment .
Bad Links to Elite Defenders
No to 7 Chem
No COMP Alternative Yet .... Price remains high
Modest +2 non selective upgrades we were promised . 146k price difference again for a similar player to radja
First when is saw this card my thoughs were "oh my gosh, that´s my boy". i had luck and this guy was in my WL rewards. Played 6 games with him and what can i say.... just terrible. Lot of fumbles, wins no header, slow(used him with shadow), turns like a truck and shooting is weak as f.... . Damn, sold him after the 6 games and i will never play him again. Sad, because my Talisca Rulebreaker was amazing in starting 11.
- He is brazilian and a perfekt link for Talisca.
- Passing is okay.
- lots of fumbles
- dribbling (turns like a truck)
- heading is bad
- too slow
- shooting is bad.
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