IF Mbappe

I am going to apologize before I even get started on this review; I know a lot of FUT Managers put numerous coins and players into the TOTW upgrades last weekend and this is a story to make your blood boil.  I have always fallen into the trap of guaranteed TOTW packs and this year I made a decision to avoid them at all costs.  I will indulge in one or two, but just laugh at the poor results and move on.  Except, this time I was doing more than laughing, as my very first TOTW Tradeable pack dropped none other than Kylian Mbappé himself.  I feel bad even saying it knowing the amount of packs that were opened during the Black Friday Promo, but I have been on the other side of things and it was just my turn I guess.

I do need to make a quick comment that I packed Mbappé right in the middle of my Mahrez and Barnes reviews last weekend, and so I couldn’t fit him in the starting squad (as some of you noticed him on the bench) but had to get him into the match at half time.  His initial 25 games would be off the bench with a return of 20 goals and 8 assists… so if we turn to the 50 game stats, Mbappé netted 40 goals and supplied 14 assists in the 25 games I used him as a starter… Mbappé was the crème de la crème in the following squad this weekend:

Overall

Rating: 9.5/10
Pace Rating: 10/10
Dribbling Rating: 9.8/10
Shooting Rating: 9.8/10
Passing Rating: 8.5/10
Physical Rating: 8.8/10
Defending Rating: N/A

You really cannot go wrong with any attacking chemistry style with Mbappé, he is ready to use out of the packaging and adding accessories is a minor bonus.  However, I will say that any boost to pace is not needed as he flies around the pitch with his stock 97 SPRINT SPEED & ACCELERATION.  I went with FINISHER as I liked the look of 99 SHOT POWER and 95 LONG SHOTS in addition to the qualities he already has in attack, finally adding in a small physical boost to top it all off. Additionally, the dribbling on this card surpasses the surface stats and was a welcome surprise.  There is really nothing better than watching Mbappé enter into the box and seeing your opponents Militao quivering as he knows he is about to get his pants pulled down, his lunch money stolen, and have to pick the ball out of the back of his goal… oh, and then has to watch the Mbappé crying image at kick-off.  Is it just me or has EA decided Mbappé will be everyone’s trigger this year with these dynamic images?

Linkability

Rating: 3/5

These Ligue 1 cards pose such a challenge to me, I find it incredibly difficult to make teams that flow together when forced to include them.  I am kicking myself that I did not complete UCL Live Gueye (my whole avoid SBCs this year coming back to haunt me) as well, but that is how it always seems to work.  In the end, Ben Yedder did offer a nice link, but there are not a ton of viable options and so a lower rating seems appropriate.

Current Game Strength, Value/Coins & Good vs. Bad

Current Game Strength: 5/5
Value/Coins Rating: 5/5
Good vs Bad Rating: 5/5

This review has already been a bit long, and you can see the writing on the wall, so let’s get to it.  This card is obviously a class option and worth every coin of the million coin price tag.  As of this writing, I see that the Paris man has gone down a bit in price and I wonder how long that will last?  I realize the argument “he is a million coin card, what a pointless review” will surface.  But at the same time, there are numerous options out there in these price ranges that just do not reach their cost/value potential.  Mbappé, however, is an example of a player eclipsing his value and more.  
There is maybe only one downside to this card and that is a small issue with passing, but with all of the other tools in his locker, I can more than live with this.  One of these tools I was not expecting is the strength this card has.  It is crazy to see Mbappé holding off some of the most physical center-half in the game.  82 STRENGTH after the FINISHER chemistry style is a solid number and makes me wonder why I didn’t expect Mbappé to be a presence on the ball in the first place… but just the nature of his style and size made me overlook the fact.  Not John Barnes strong … but who is?

Closing Words

Don’t hate me for my luck, I promise you it is not normally the case… but I can’t blame you if you do.  If you are in the market for a game-changing card and have a healthy budget I can do no more than implore you to give this card a run-out.  While Mbappé is no longer a “Teenage” Mutant Ninja Turtle, he can still be the hero in a half shell for you next Weekend League. Cheers for reading.
 

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