FC 24 TOTY Sam Kerr Player Review

Perhaps the biggest power shift in the entire cycle has finally arrived with TOTY and while many hold their pack nerve waiting for the entire team to be released, I have zero will and completely opened the lot… Deservedly getting nothing.  Was it too much to ask for a replica of the TOTY ICON R9 / TOTY Messi pack that is making its rounds?

Having successfully packed absolutely no one it was clear that a more affordable option would be the best card to consider and hopefully shine some light on cards within more Ultimate Team Manager’s budgets.  First up, Sam Kerr, who received a very healthy +5 (at least) boost on every base statistics from her Radioactive version… While also combining her previous two PlayStyle Plus options in the POWER HEADER (from her non-inform) and RAPID (from the aforementioned Radioactive version).

Kerr was always going to lead the line in my 4-3-2-1 formation and I was interested to see if the Chelsea attacker could dethrone King Kenny as the most effective card at leading the line that I have used.  The ENGINE Chemistry Style just slightly beat out the benefits of the HAWK and all was set to dive into yet another weekend… And what a sweaty start it was.

Kerr provided the buzz around the goal all weekend long in the following squad:

Overall 

Overall I think the ENGINE Chemistry Style delivered exactly what I hoped it would in allowing Kerr to both link up play and provide devastating potency in and around the box.  However, I can see the arguments and merit for the HAWK application and the near perfect 99 SHOOTING is fantastic viewing.  In the end I wouldn’t want to give up any of the ENGINE benefits in exchange for the Shooting and Physical boosts given Kerr’s already fantastic Shooting and inevitably that a 168cm | 5’6 card will be bullied off of the ball.

Main Statistics – Dribbling

Dribbling Rating: 10/10

Pace Rating: 10/10

Skills: ★★★★

PlayStyles: Rapid Plus, Quick Step

Depending on your commitment to following these reviews you may know my long time love of FIFA 20 FUT Birthday Griezmann, who remains the epitome of the perfect card (for my style of play) in every way.  Cards can often match the Shooting or the Dribbling individually, but never seem to throw it all together and maintain the same overall feel.  TOTY Sam Kerr was deadly close to doing so.

The smaller frame, 97 ACCELERATION with Quick Step PlayStyle, and 95 SPRINT SPEED with RAPID PlayStyle Plus just about says it all, but was incredibly enjoyable to use in game.  Once you get a step with Kerr it is extremely difficult for opponents to catch up without overcommitting to the line and opening up a variety of other options for cutting back into the box.

Yet it was the Dribbling that really stole the show during this review and I have yet to use a card that felt as responsive and quick thus far.  The 99 AGILITY, 95 BALANCE and 99 DRIBBLING are sublime in the extreme and consistently create spaces to accelerate into or accelerate out of depending on location on the pitch.

Value/Coins

Value/Coins: 5/5

The 1.3 million coins as of this writing feels like robbery and honestly this market is something to be studied.  Borderline perfect card in one of the most important positions on the pitch and without many equals in the game, and it wouldn’t surprise me if she fell even further into TOTY.  The one area I would caution is the links.  I realize it would break the game to see TOTY cards also receive additional link connections, but getting Kerr into my squad proved more difficult than I anticipated.  The addition of Versus Fire Lawrence all but lit my back line on fire as she proved to be one of the poorer defenders I have used… period.

Good vs. Bad 

Good vs Bad Rating: 5/5

While the Pace and Dribbling get you where you want to go, Kerr thankfully continued to deliver the end product you would expect from a card in the TOTY promo.

+ The Shooting with this card is outrageous and could just as easily fit in as a main statistic.  Up until now I have used 3 or 4 truly two footed players and Kerr certainly enters that category.  The left footed finesse might have been the most satisfying, but the overall velocity behind everything Kerr hits is what ultimately takes most keepers out of the equation.  Again, the HAWK starts to look unbelievable in this category but I can safely say there is more than enough ammunition from the outset.

+ The 94 VISION & 93 SHORT PASSING is another area where the ENGINE drove the results and between the quality and general space created by the dribbling it was quite easy to link Kerr into play throughout the review.  While Kerr generally provided the finishing touch on the majority of my attacks, it was the play leading up to the final blow that caught the eye and impressed throughout.

There was always going to be a lack of physicality with this card and it loomed heavy throughout the review… Intensifying as the matches became more difficult.

- Essentially if you allow any defender near Kerr at all, you are losing the ball.  Strong gusts of wind are also a hazard and the 96 STRENGTH could be 1000… You simply aren’t stopping Van Dijk from taking the ball off you in a tackle.  The Dribbling and Pace are the biggest weapons here and it is possible to simply not allow these types of defenders to get anywhere near a tackle, but if they do it is back to square one.

- Not so much a weakness as a wish list.  With the Trivella meta continuing to prevail it would be nice to see Kerr with a few more Shooting based PlayStyles.  The POWER HEADER Plus +  AERIAL combination just doesn't contribute the quality you would want around towerlike defenders.

Closing Words

The price is too cheap and if you can make the squad chemistry work you are looking at a year end card in January for 1.3 million coins.  The performances were that of a significantly more expensive option and the movement alone was worth every coin.  Then you add in the 16 goals in 5 matches and you get a snapshot of the fantastic performances that lead the line and my squad to victory during this review.  Certainly a card I will be considering a return to when the dust settles on TOTY and a card I would 100% recommend.  Especially for those that rely on left stick responsive dribblers and even more so for those in search of truly two footed options. Kerr is a game changing card and certainly one that both surprised and impressed this weekend.

Hoping you are well.  Cheers for reading