Rulebreaker Lukaku

Rulebreaker Round 2 came onto the scene last Friday and I honestly cannot remember any promo with cards as overpriced as that.  Of course, these prices came crashing down on Saturday and I was fortunate enough not to have started with my review.  But if you bought for your team Friday… my condolences for your loss.  After the dust settled on the prices it could really only be one option for me… none other than Big Rom himself… Romelu Lukaku.  Why Lukaku?? For a variety of reasons actually.  One, I love the fact that he was basically written off at Man U; and while he has prospered since the move, United have… well, you know.  Two, Lukaku is constantly calling out EA and believes he is often overlooked for special cards because of this fact, so based on his logic I figured this might be my only chance to review him.  Three, I wanted to continue my previous comments about EA attempting to make more cards playable this year… in FIFA 20 this card would have been an obsolete striker, and I wanted to keep experimenting to see if this has changed.  With all of this in mind, I dove head first into this review placing a HUNTER chemistry style on Lukaku for the added Pace and Shooting boost.  If you did not check out my tactics review it is here and once again I stuck with the 4-4-2 chemistry style; Lukaku taking up the position of my left striker.  In the end, it was another Elite 3 finish with matches to spare this weekend, as Big Rom dominated opponents defenders leading the line in the following squad:    
   

Overall

Rating: 8.9/10
Pace Rating: 8.8/10
Dribbling Rating: 9/10
Shooting Rating: 9.7/10
Passing Rating: 8/10
Physical Rating: 9.5/10
Defending Rating: N/A

If you follow me on Twitter: @IVIaeNine you might have caught my post about my WL finish and the fact that Rulebreaker Romelu was eventually sold after the 20 match review to make way for IF Werner… and honestly the fact that you can buy one or the other for virtually the same price speaks to the crazy coin total Rulebreaker cards demand.  But before I start a rant I should say that Lukaku certainly was a quality option and fought for the badge during his 20 match trial.  No seriously, if there is a card that you want to go to war with… this is it.  At 191cm (6’3), 94kg, with 90 STRENGTH and 88 BALL CONTROL you could stand at the top of the box shielding off opponents for 90 minutes if you wanted.  While the top of the box example is not practical, what I did find was how easy you can break down the full team press using Lukaku as the target when playing out of the back.  Time and time again I simply fed it to the big man, held up play, turned opponents, and the counter-attack was on.

Main Statistic - Shooting

Shooting Rating: 9.7/10
Weak Foot: * * * *

While the HUNTER chem style was certainly to boost the Pace of Lukaku, the added Shooting statistics created some fantastic results.  While Lukaku lasted the 20 match review, I was also forced to sub him out at half time the last 4 of those matches as well.  So the 30 goals in 20 matches are not poor by any means and are made better when you consider the minutes he played.  My problem came in the form of chance creation and the more difficult my opponent the more impossible it felt.  However, the area I could never fault Big Rom was in the finishing department.  This card is borderline automatic on his left whether it be finesse, power, outside the box or a sweetly timed volley it did not matter; and Lukaku is just about as lethal from the right.

Main Attribute - Size

Trait: Power Header

I don’t want to restate what was already obvious but it was nice to use a different build and archetype of card for once. While CR7 has always broken the mold when it comes to player archetypes, FIFA 20 was a real struggle for the rest of the big men up front.  I am happy that FIFA 21 has tried to address this problem… although since the patch I feel it trending towards FIFA 20 gameplay… unfortunately.  However, with a few headers from corners courtesy of the POWER HEADER trait … the knockdown headers from goal kicks… the hold-up play in general… I just appreciated what a new form of card had to offer and it was enjoyable to be trying something different this weekend.

Value/Coins & Good vs. Bad 

Value/Coins Rating: 3.5/5
Good vs Bad Rating: 4/5

When you search FUTBIN for players between 300k - 400k you start to realize that Lukaku has been placed in some tough company by the Rulebreaker hype.  The likes of Mane and IF Werner are simply superior options bringing the Speed (especially), Shooting and 4 STAR WEAK FOOT of Lukaku… while providing strength on the ball in their own way.  Perhaps 3.5/5 is a bit harsh given the goal returns that Lukaku provided, but then I look at the 9 assists (a relatively low return) and I am reminded that I feel strongly about this card being overpriced.

The two areas justifying my poor Value/Coin Rating come in the form of 91 ACCELERATION & PASSING as a whole.  
I know … complaining about 91 ACCELERATION is borderline ludicrous, but I am not complaining about the number.  Oh no, what I am complaining about is the fact that it feels more like 71.  Big Rom just cannot get his legs moving out of the blocks and it caused the issues I spoke about earlier in creating chances.  Don’t get me wrong, when this locomotive is up to speed Lukaku can wheel and it is his 98 SPRINT SPEED that keeps him barreling down the tracks.  Throughout the weekend if I played Lukaku through on goal, even from half, there was no one catching him.  However, much like a locomotive, it takes a push to get this lad moving.  As for the passing, it just is not great.  The statistics speak for themselves… especially given the hold-up play you can pull off with this card, it would be amazing if you could then facilitate other players with more accurate and consistent passing.

Closing Words

This card is a victim of its own hype honestly.  Not Lukaku specifically, but the entire Rulebreaker promo has been farcical with the price tags and if you were not careful you might have been stung by a few of those examples.  However, I would be more supportive of giving this card a go if he drops closer to the 300k mark.  In the end, I do have to admit that it was nice to be reviewing a card outside of the EPL and outside of the traditional fast and agile speedster that is normally the sought-after option.  I will say that I am kicking myself for not popping in a few more crosses during the weekend, but as I said gameplay is sadly already feeling more like FIFA 20 for me.  In the end, I am curious to know if he is doing the business for any of you?  Don’t take this article as a destruction of a perfectly fine card, it just simply isn’t worth the coins in my books. Cheers for reading.
 

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