Summer Heat Ivan Perišic

Lockdown not over for all… Well, they are definitely turning up the Heat with this Summer promo so far.  We are barely a week into the madness and it is already feeling like the best promo we have had in a LONG time.  For me, the Ivan Perišic SBC sums up everything that we have been asking for as a community all year, and really was a step in the right direction (if only for the sake that FIFA 21 is on the horizon).  Right away I removed the Value for Coins rating for this review; because 130k for a 4 STAR SKILL, 5 STAR WEAK FOOT is beyond insane value.  Everything about the card looked good on the surface and having been a huge fan of Storyline Perišic, I was hoping that this would just feel like that card… but on steroids. I initially tried Perišic as a ST at the top of my normal 4-4-2 to good effect.  After 10 matches Perišic was at a goal and assist per game … an excellent return, but I just felt he could be better served in the attacking CM roll.  On one hand, I was right. Perišic is a fantastic CM… but my goal totals immediately suffered and after a 3 match experiment, it was back to Perišic leading the line.  In an attempt to boost this card even further I went with the Pace and Shooting of the HUNTER chemistry style and really felt it complimented this card perfectly.  In the end, Perišic was the gliding gazelle all weekend in the following squad:
 

Overall

Rating: 9.3/10  
Pace Rating: 9.5/10
Dribbling Rating: 9.2/10
Shooting Rating: 9.8/10
Passing Rating: 9.5/10
Physical Rating: 9.5/10
Defending Rating: 9.5/10

Not sure why I am getting one match a week where my opponent looks at my squad and backs out/or we lose connection. But again I need you to imagine that this is 20 matches after one was incorrectly counted without being played. Additionally, the 3 matches at CM resulted in 0 goals and 2 assists… not bad, but of course are slightly skewing the ST performance.  16 goals and 9 assists in 17 matches are good… and if you follow me on Twitter: @IVIaeday you will know he kept it going at about this pace over 30 matches.  The first weapon that puts Perišic into the upper tier of players I was not expecting: PACE.  “but he has 99 PACE how did you not expect that?”  The taller body type has suffered significantly in FIFA 20, with CR7 being one of the few exceptions, and now Perišic.  The north to south pace in this card is crazy… he just glides past defenders and when I called him a gazelle I meant it in the best way, he looks like a majestic beast out on the pitch. Until… you try to turn this Titanic.  I still went for a 9.2/10 because there is a lot more to dribbling than just turning at speed, but Perišic is heavily lacking in that category. 

Linkability 

Linkability Rating: 4/5

Just a carbon copy of the past 6 – 7 reviews here.  These top tier squads have player after player after player that is useable… the league is always stacked full of useable options… but without one of the major nations, the hybrid options start to fade fast without ICONs.  However, the list of Croatian players is growing… and a crazy upgrade to a Rakitic, Brozovic, or Lovren could really start to open up the additional leagues for hybrid options.

End Game Strength

End Game Strength Rating: 4.5/5

The reason I went for a 9.3/10 despite the higher category ratings come down to comparisons with previous reviews. Perišic is not really a ST.  His shot is maybe the best I have used on both feet since Griezmann, and dare I say it, I think Perišic eclipses the French Prince.  He finished EVERYTHING, from EVERYWHERE, with both feet, and regardless of pressure.  However, the slower turning really took away from the potential chances he could have created.  As a CM this card was a beast again and really took over the game from a defensive perspective, which really surprised me.  Going forward I really missed the agility of other cards I have used and again lowered his creation rate.  So finally, on the wing, this card could do a job… but there are loads of other options that could do the same.  So I go with a 4.5/5 based on the fact that Perišic is so good at all positions, but amazing at none.

Good vs. Bad 

Good vs Bad Rating: 5/5

Can this card be a little clunky on the turn? Yes.  Were there moments where I found myself wishing I could just move back to a more FIFA 20 friendly card? Yes.  Did this card rise to the occasion and lead me back into the Elite 3 mix?  If you follow me on Twitter you would know the answer is again. Yes.  We touched on blistering pace, on the suspect dribbling, on the tremendous shot, a bit on the quality defending, so we move on to the passing and physical.  These are two categories that I find don’t pop up unless there is an issue.  With Perišic there was absolutely none and the statistics speak for themselves. Everything from 90 SHORT PASSING, to 99 STAMINA, back to 95 CROSSING, and on to 86 STRENGTH allows Perišic to operate without hiccups that could derail a player.  One word I would use for this card is reliability… and I really liked that I always knew what I was going to get with this card.  He fights for the badge, and you cannot ask for anymore.

Closing Words

This was one of the most interesting reviews I have had in a while… and I feel it is ending that way as well.  During the review, I struggled to find the right position for Perišic or at least questioned if playing him ST was the best option to reach Elite and thankfully he proved me wrong.  But overall there are plenty of better options at ST for sure. As a CM he was capable but nowhere near the likes of Modric… and you wouldn’t really want him as a super sub.  So where does that leave Perišic? … Still with only a 130k price tag.  That is where this review began… and where I feel it has to end.  There are maybe 5 – 10 cards that can compete with Perišic in terms of value for coins.  If this review has accomplished anything it is this…  I finally have my mind wrapped around what I want to advise with this card.  My advice… You won’t regret it.  It has taken me half an hour of sitting here to come up with that, and while it is not the best words of wisdom… I honestly think it sums up this card perfectly.  At the very best you have found a game-changer… a ST who finishes everything… or that powerful CM you have wanted… or the LM that will replace Leroy Sane’s inconsistency for good.  At the very worst, you overpaid 22k for a 94 rated fodder.  Cheers for reading.  
 

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