IF Ansu Fati

We’re back!! If you are new and want to follow how these players perform once Weekend League starts come and follow on Twitter: @IVIaeNine  … and if you are a returning reader, welcome back!  New game, new cards, new META?  I have to be honest, with how 2020 has gone so far it wouldn’t have surprised me if FIFA 21 was an unplayable disaster that only amplified the plight that we have all experienced this year.  However, having played for 5 hours so far I am quietly confident that this year’s FIFA could be a vast improvement on those prior.  Early days of course, but I have enjoyed the gameplay so far and after you get used to the mechanics it is … dare I say it, fun!  If you haven’t tried Co-op it is a welcome addition and can be hours of enjoyment as well.  But I digress, let’s get started.  What more can you say about Ansu Fati’s start to the La Liga season that hasn’t already been said?  At 17 years old he is taking the league by storm and his fantastic start to the season earned him a spot in the coveted FIFA 21 TOTW 1.  Having decided I wanted to get the full experience of the card I played Fati as the ST in my 4-4-2 formation (sticking with last year’s formation for now until I have more time to try others). Then, given the need for improved finishing, I went with the FINISHER chemistry style (bet you didn’t see that coming). Finally, the stage was set to kick start another year, with Ansu Fati leading the line in the following squad:
 

Overall

Rating: 8.5/10
Pace Rating: 9/10
Dribbling Rating: 9/10
Shooting Rating: 8.5/10
Passing Rating: 7/10
Physical Rating: 7/10
Defending Rating: N/A

Obviously, at this point in the game, the ratings are always tricky.  So far I have used the players in my squad and completed one draft.  However, this has provided some clarity in relation to the quality that this card has.  The pace, dribbling and weak foot all “feel” really good compared to other options I have tried.  While the passing & physicality were both lacking.  Below are just some immediate observations on the card based on what I have experienced so far.  Note: the two new categories focus on the main statistics and attributes of a card… replacing the Linkability and End Game Strength (which will return after Christmas when we can actually see some end game cards).
    

Main Statistic - Pace 

Pace Rating: 9/10

Only 20 games into FIFA 21 and so far it appears that once again pace will be a major factor moving forward.  To be honest, I was completely caught off guard the first time I sent Fati through on goal, and you won’t believe it … the 60 pace CB on the opponent's squad could not keep up!  In fact, I even missed the chance as I was so thrown off by the turn of events.  Now, we may still see patches to this, but for now, pace can be a killer; and Ansu Fati is the Grim Reaper.  The pace on this card can absolutely destroy opponents who are not reading the quality runs that gameplay can produce.  In the end, Fati created a fair portion of his 15 assists by simply sprinting into the right positions to put the ball on a silver platter for his teammates.

Main Attribute - 4 STAR WEAK FOOT

Another classic attribute of FIFA beasts gone by, the 4+ weak foot.  I was incredibly impressed with the 4 STAR WEAK FOOT on this card and Fati scored a nice balance with both feet on the way to 22 goals in 15 matches.  Also worth noting was the variety of types of goals that you can score this year as I noticed a nice balance of near post and far post strikes.  It would appear that the near post curse of FIFA 20 has been lifted and you are now rewarded for picking the right option when finishing.

Value/Coins & Good vs. Bad 

Value/Coins Rating: 4/5
Good vs Bad Rating: 4/5

Running at 38k I would suggest that Fati remains one of the cheaper beasts available at the moment.  Granted, 38k is a nice chunk of change this early in the game… but after you receive the reward for Division Rivals qualification you should have the coin to pull the trigger on a card of this quality.  The Spain/La Liga combination also makes him an easy link for hybrids if you move in that direction.

As I touched on already… the passing and physicality with this card just ain't it.  The intricacy and one-twos that are required to break down defenses in this game need a pin point pass; and Fati can not deliver these passes with any consistency.  I will admit that 15 assists in 15 matches is indeed a fantastic return.  But a lot of these assists had more to do with Fati’s pace and simply squaring the ball across goal or back into the path of my midfielders than the quality of the passes.  Secondly, the physicality, which is borderline non-existent is a huge concern.  While Fati’s goal scoring and movement made me really enjoy him as a ST… the lack of physicality makes me certain he is destined to end up on the wing in many squads.

Closing Words

I can not put into words how good it is to be back.  This month has felt more like a year and getting back behind the sticks and keyboard to bring you these reviews has me really enjoying life at the moment.  I hope this review has brought some small ideas about the current state of the game and illustrated the level of quality you can find with IF Ansu Fati.  Let me know if you pick him up, how he performs, and keep an eye out for the next review: Gabriel Jesus.  Cheers for reading.
 

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