Player Review
89 - Icon Moment
For Context: Low D1/High D2 player (~1900 SR), Average 14-16 wins in WL
Tactics: 4222 Defensive - Balanced, 5 Width, 8 Depth Attacking - Fast Build Up, Width 8, PIB 6, Corners 1, Free Kicks 1
Instructions: Basic Defensive Support, Get Into The Box For Cross, Free Roam, Normal Interceptions
Chem Style: Engine
Given the sweatfest FIFA has become at this point of the year, I’ve given up with building typically meta teams, and instead have decided each weekend to try some underused Icons and hybrids for Weekend League! This weeks candidates were PIM Nakata and Mid Beckham, who both showed their class as they pulled me to a 17-12 record.
Nakata slotted in the team as my central CM for those sweet sweet links, and was playing in game as my RCAM in the 4222. He had big boots to fill, as last week this role was played by Base Jay Jay Okocha, whose touch, passing and finishing had been sublime, and I was scared that the Japanese Pele might not live up to my expectations.
I was wrong.
Nakata was a demon all weekend long, banging in 24 goals, and providing 24 assists, leading the team in goal contributions, which isn’t something I normally see from that position. In attack, whilst lacking the absolute burners that certain players (cough Mbappe cough) have, his pace was sufficient that once through on goal, he was unlikely to be caught, and as you can see from the stats, in front of goal, he was clinical with both feet. I found his finishing excellent, and he had some naughty whip on his finesse shots as well, which is something you always like to see. As well as this, with his attack positioning on ‘Free Roam’, he would often drop into the gaps between the strikers, and make excellent attacking runs, or be in a position to spray the ball around to an open man, which his passing stats allowed him to do with aplomb. However the true highlight of this card for me was the dribbling. Nakata had the responsiveness that you look for in a creator, which meant that even in muddy Friday gameplay, he could manoeuvre his way around defenders with jinking touches and occasionally dropping the shoulder, leaving centre backs in the dust. The only downsides I identified in Nakata going forwards were the obvious ones, strength and aerial threat, with his lean 5”9 frame being easily bullied off the ball by the likes of Shaw and Dias, however I aimed to mitigate this by keeping distance, and utilising quick passes to avoid a pressing defender as I advanced forwards.
Defensively, as expected, Nakata faltered, again due to his size and strength. Whilst he occasionally would win the ball up the field, he was often a liability, as he couldn’t outmuscle players like Neymar off the ball. However, this was to be expected, and didn’t influence my grading.
Overall, for 205k (the amount I paid on Thursday), I was delighted with Nakata, and would certainly consider him for future teams. He’s quick, responsive, and a demon in front of goal, as well as getting icon links, which for 205k is hard to pass up, and I reckon this card will hold its own through TOTS and maybe beyond.
- Excellent Dribbling
- Very Good Finishing
- Tidy Passing
- Lacks Strength against defenders and attackers
- Not lightning quick