Reviews

The world record fee breaking player of summer '96, EA recently released Alan Shearer's FUT Icon version in the latest FUT Birthday promo as one of the regular token 'swaps' SBC's. Today I hope to offer some insight as to whether or not Tyneside's cult hero is a COP or a FLOP.

After a what can only be described as yet another mixed promo where EA looked to indulge their bank accounts with players hard earned cash in order to break the bank for some new players, we were also provided with yet another set of swaps SBC's. Similar in concept to the world cup swaps promotion, players could complete a daily log in SBC alongside SBC's and Objectives in order to gain tokens which they could ultimately trade in for a series of deals. Big Al' was one of these aforementioned deals and like moths to flames, I can bet a mortgage, the wife and possibly also the kids on the fact that every Newcastle fan would have completed this SBC regardless of the cost or stats.

Stats:

Weak Foot: 4*

Skill Moves: 5*

Work Rate: High/Medium

Height: 6"0

Foot: Right

With strong face card stats and very desirable attributes at a first glimpse this is a card that really excites the player.... until they see that it is in fact Shearer. Admittedly Shearer has been one of the more unusable Icons throughout the last few iterations of the game, HOWEVER if you look past the player and take a closer look into the stats, this is a card is like a Friday night down the local curry house. Spicy, different and maybe a little bit naughty. In all honesty this card is unlike any other version of Shearer that has ever been released. Where his normal card usually boasts 2* SM and 3* WF along with painfully average stats, this card has received a bumper upgrade from EA. Along with a plethora of new traits including; Outside Foot Shot, Finesse Shot and Long Shot Taker alongside the existing Power Header and Power Free Kick Traits, the 20 Token offer on this card begins to look more and more appealing.

Amidst a lot of sour responses on the comments section on this card comparing the fact that we went from Vieira to Shearer as swaps SBC's, I must be recognised that World Cup Swaps Tokens took hours upon hours of grinding in order to accumulate enough tokens to cash in on the Vieira option. In contrast, through EA's rather indulgent FUT Birthday Promo, tokens took very little work to come by with some tokens even featuring in Promo Packs in the Store. I personally believe taking these factors into account and given the cards stats, it is actually an incredibly good value for money option that provides players with a very likable card that is right on the power curve until TOTS comes around. I don't think it would be a delusion of grandeur to suggest that such a card of the market would fetch in the region of ~600-700k.

So how does he play?.... Well.... Incredibly !

Across one weekend of FUT Champions along with some Division 2 FUT Rivals, this card bagged me 36 goals and 13 assists in 46 games. I won't insult your intelligence with claims that I am playing adaptive, expansive and creative football by using the new 5-2-1-2 formation and will simply admit that this has been one of the filthiest formations to use all year. Back to Alan though, he can comfortably play in either a dual striker or lone striker and winger combination. He admittedly struggled in a lone striker role without close assistance and therefore really proves his value when he has other players close by to play off.

Overall I really liked the balance of this card. He has near perfect shooting along with strong pace and physical, but also provides really smooth dribbling and competent passing. Given his stature and range of finishing based traits he can pretty much score from any position in the final third but crucially can also be used as a good hold up player for a potentially pacier winger or forward. Similar cards both statistically and in terms of feel to Shearer are FUT Birthday Rooney and probably FS De Ketelaere. Beyond this, he really is a 'one of a kind' player. I would also remind users that this card is like an Ibra or Ronaldo and not an Mbappe or Alissandrini. If your game is as narrow as camping your index finger on your right trigger this game and abusing the ability to play through balls to your fidget spinner cards like Al Owiran then this card is not for you. If this is not you though you may chuckle at those remarks and continue reading as this card is indeed for you.

Other than potentially the prime icon player pick I think this is the FUT Birthday swap to go for. The card itself is about as rare as the rain down in Africa (pun intended) and also allows players to complete a number of the smaller swaps SBCs on the side in order to stock up on fodder before we all go blue for TOTS. Very, very solid card.