FUT Birthday Thiago Review

FUT Birthday has always been a personal favorite of mine… some of my favorite all-time cards have come from this promo and with my own birthday at the end of March it has always just been a good time of year.  I will never forget 5 STAR Griezmann who couldn’t miss and caused me issues with future reviews as I refused to sell him despite needing the coins. Then there was CM Florenzi in FIFA 18 who dominated the center of the pitch for my squad well into the closing stages of the game.  Regardless of your experiences and coin totals, it seems that everyone has “that card” from a previous FUT Birthday that brings us all back to better, less laggy times.  This time around… I think that many FUT Managers will be struggling more than ever to find the FIFA 21 version of “the one.”  However, for myself, I was hoping that Liverpool’s newest midfield maestro, Thiago Alcântara, just might be that card for me in FIFA 21.  Much like FUT Birthday Team 1 there has been a lot of debate on the true value of the Spanish sorcerer since his arrival, but one thing is for certain if the statistics performed up to their potential… this was always going to be one enjoyable review.  Playing in the CAM role of the 4-3-1-2 (Tactics now live on YouTube: MaeNine) Thiago was afforded the freedom and space to truly display each and everyone one of the weapons in his arsenal... while the HUNTER chemistry style tried to fill in some of the gaps that could have separated Thiago from other elite FUT options.  Combined with a workhorse midfield and clinical strikers, Thiago truly flourished all weekend in the following squad:       

Starting Formation:

Overall

Rating: 9.5/10
Pace Rating: 8/10*
Dribbling Rating: 9.5/10
Shooting Rating: 10/10
Passing Rating: 9.5/10
Physical Rating: 9/10
Defending Rating: N/A

This card is something special in the CAM position… and while I am sure there are people getting decent output from Thiago as both a CM or CDM, it was immediately clear to me that this card is a one position specialist and the main reason comes in the form of pace or lack thereof.  I even had to put an asterisk next to the pace rating for this card to draw further attention to my findings.  The 99 ACCELERATION on this card feels like 150 as Thiago literally burst out of every dribble like he was fired from a slingshot.  The time and space that this pace injection creates in an otherwise congested midfield can not be overstated and allowed me to unlock opponents throughout the weekend.  The issue is that after those initial 4-5 lightning-esque strides, you can actually see the 81 SPRINT SPEED (which feels more like 60) initiate and pull Thiago back like a parachute.  For the majority of my review, this was a non-issue, but there were two or three instances where breakaways with Thiago ended in comical losses of possession.  In the end, this all but limits Thiago to a CAM role in specific formations where acceleration far outweighs overall speed… and you should read the rest of this review with that in mind.  

Main Attribute – Shooting

Pace Rating: 10/10
Weak Foot: *****
Traits: Outside Foot Shot

There has been a bit of a trend with my past few reviews… cards that suggest they have a certain level of weak foot and then when the time comes, can not live up to those levels.  Judging by the rating you can already tell that this review was certainly a complete 180 as Thiago put on a finishing clinic that many strikers would envy.  It is a bit mad to say that with 90 FINISHING, 91 SHOT POWER, 84 LONG SHOTS & 5 STAR WEAK FOOT that I was not expecting a lot from Thiago… but with recent reviews in mind I simply expected mediocre results.  However, if the 18 goals in 20 matches from CAM doesn’t provide enough proof, I think the video will, Thiago has a large variety of different goals in his locker.

Main Attribute – Height

Height: 174 cm | 5’9
Dribbling Rating: 9.5/10
Skills: *****

I already went in on the acceleration… but then add 95 AGILITY & 94 BALANCE to a smaller player build and you have an extremely difficult player to defend.  I found Thiago’s ability to beat his opposing midfielder and then accelerate away was the true catalyst for my attacks throughout the weekend.  The close control and abrupt direction changes create a constant need to back off of Thiago or find yourself chasing.  In either case, the space created can then be exploited with the previously mentioned clinical finishing… or the soon to be discussed pinpoint passing.  Either way, your opponent is now scrambling and in serious trouble.

Value/Coins & Good vs. Bad 

Value/Coins Rating: 4.5/5
Good vs Bad Rating: 5/5

570k.  I am conflicted with this rating I won’t lie.  On one hand, you have one of the best CAMs I have used in the game. Period.  Honestly, I would choose Thiago 10 games out of 10 over Moments Dybala if I was in a must win match. However, I just find it difficult to fully suggest Thiago is perfect value when he is so limited in the formations and position he can play.

It is a hard sell to say a card is a 4.5/5 in value and then follow that category by saying a card has next to no weaknesses… but here it goes.  Beyond the sprint speed, Thiago seldom put a single foot wrong and everything just seems to work so well together in this card's design.  First, the responsive dribbling opens up space, then the 95 SHORT & LONG PASSING is inch perfect moving the ball into dangerous areas, followed by the 91 STAMINA allowing Thiago to arrive in terrific areas all match long, if needed the 75 STRENGTH is enough to protect the return pass, and then it comes down to a 5 STAR finish or one more pass to finish off a terrific move… entirely revolving around Thiago’s many skill sets.  With 14 assists from CAM it is clear just how involved this card was throughout the weekend, and was ultimately key to the success I experienced 

Closing Words

570k is a lot for a one position card… but if you are only good at one thing you better be fantastic at it, and Thiago certainly checks that box. Overall, if you play a formation with a CAM I can’t recommend Thiago enough, a must try... and without CAM, there will be just too many occasions when the lack of pace will leave you frustrated and wanting more.  On one final off-topic note, I have been hearing the requests for more “affordable” options in the comments and on Twitter @MaeNine_  … so on my YouTube: MaeNine this week watch for Inaki Williams vs. Persic in the 300k player showdown coming soon … along with some real budget options with Moses Simon and Hwang Hee Chan also coming later in the week.  Hoping you are safe and well.  Cheers for reading.

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Game Highlights: