VersusFire Rashford Review

Take me back to October 2020, one of the few red picks in FUT that not only made it into my squad but was a game changer for weeks to come.  86 IF Rashford was so fast, so strong, dynamic and potent on both feet … terrorizing defences well into the winter months.  Flashforward to 2021 and what can only be described as an interesting promo that just fell short in terms of delivery.  However, I still had high hopes that a much improved VersusFire Rashford could fill the shoes of the Ghost of Rashford Past.  It is not too often that you see four chemistry styles so equally matched in terms of application. The FINISHER, HAWK, ENGINE & HUNTER could all play their part in giving Rashford just that little bit extra to push him over the top.  In the end, I went with FINISHER due to the fact that I assumed (rightly so) that Rashford would feel a bit clunky and could therefore benefit from the AGILITY and BALANCE boosts… while also taking into consideration that I would be playing the Manchester United man as the lone striker in my 4-2-3-1 formation this weekend.  After 10 matches I decided to try a HUNTER boost as the pace just didn’t have the pop I wanted to, but soon after had to come back to FINISHER as the clunky feeling worsened with a HUNTER.  After that charade was taken care of it was on to the matches as Rashford added the finishing touches to the following squad:  


Starting Formation:

Overall

Rating: 9/10
Pace Rating: 9/10
Dribbling Rating: 8.5/10
Shooting Rating: 9.5/10
Passing Rating: 8/10
Physical Rating: 8/10
Defending Rating: N/A

Very interesting review with a range of emotions as random as the cards performances from match to match.  One match I would be on cloud 9 singing the praises of Rashford as he belted home goal after goal leading to a very impressive 18 goals in 15 matches.  A goal per game in this FIFA, in this format, with all that goes on, still marks the sign of a good card. However, it wouldn’t be long before another match loaded and Rashford became a shell of the card I had previously used… my mood moved to something resembling Sarri when he tried to sub Kepa.  Giving up possession (dribble or passing), slow movement, invisible in the match and generally apathetic about the fact we were down 2-0.  The card is an enigma and moves from unplayable (for opponents defenders) to unplayable (as in if you play him you are definitely going to lose) without rhyme or reason.    

Main Statistic - Pace

Pace Rating: 9/10
Height: 186cm | 6’1

Normally I reserve this category for the statistic that has the biggest impact on card performance and generally would be a key reason to buy.  In this case, I wanted to point out that 88 ACCELERATION & 95 SPRINT SPEED are not blowing defenders away… but are certainly not sluggish.  The key here is that this allows the application of a chemistry style such as a FINISHER to better improve areas that are vital to Rashford’s success.  The point here again is not to confuse pace with dribbling speed… This card can cause serious problems for opponents going in a single direction… it was any change in direction where issues started to arise.      

Main Attribute - Power Free Kick

Weak Foot: ★★★
Skills: ★★★★★

Shooting Rating: 9.5/10

How can a card have 9.5/10 Shooting with only a 3? WEAK FOOT?  The answer… isn’t quite as simple as, “he scores a lot of goals and finishes quality chances,” but it isn’t far off.  It all starts off with the fact that this card does not feel like a 3? WEAK FOOT at all and resembles something closer to a 4.5? missile launcher.  If this card was hidden from me prior to this review I would have told you the Versus promo included some form of weak foot boost because there were zero issues during this review.  Next, you have the very nice looking 99 FINISHING & 99 SHOT POWER which both seem to make up for the 84 LONGSHOTS (disclaimer: I only scored two outside the box, but for me that is huge).  But maybe above all else considered in this rating are the free kicks you can blast with this card.  Truthfully, I had three this weekend… one is highlighted in the video, the second destroyed a crossbar, while the third most definitely decapitated one of the supporters behind the goal. In all three circumstances, it was pure power, with a hint of accuracy, and a ton of satisfaction watching the ball cannon off the Englishman’s right boot.

Value/Coins & Good vs. Bad

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

This card is currently all over the place in terms of value, which unfortunately cost me dearly in trying to bring you this review.  However, if you managed to grab one for 510k then it is currently GG to you given the 580k price tag.  To me, even for a 9/10 overall rating, this seems high… the reason, this card NEVER performs as a 9/10 in matches.  You seriously either get a borderline 10/10 goal busting performance… or an extremely mediocre 7/10 that will leave you pulling your hair out. Thankfully, it is more of a two good for one bad situation… but for 580k, I personally want 4 out of 5 at the very least and therefore drops the value/coins rating in my mind.

As I said, when it works, it works with this card.  But when it doesn’t there are some usual culprits for Rashford’s undoing.  1. Passing: 83 SHORT PASSING was always going to be a struggle and I can see why some are going the ENGINE route… playing as a striker I needed potency in front of goal and therefore was a non-starter for me.  2. STAMINA: The lad looks more like a streamer in a charity match than a professional footballer come about 75 minutes… and that was as a stay forward striker.  3. Heading Accuracy: For standing 186cm | 6’1 this card is underwhelming in the air… with the 77 JUMPING and 72 HEADING ACCURACY not helping matters.

Closing Words

If you only read the Value/Coins or Good/Bad section of this review then you are 100% not buying this card and for 580k I don’t think I blame you.  However, I see a lot of FUT Managers lamenting missed chances in different spaces online and this card could absolutely help you with this issue.  The variety of finishes that equaled the 18 goal tally was impressive and saw everything from thunderbolt free kicks, contorted circus shots, potent piledrivers, fantastic finesse and of course the odd “have to be in the right spot” tap ins.  It is a statement I continually repeat, but goals are at a premium in FIFA 22 and Rashford found ways to contribute throughout and rightly earns the 9/10 rating overall despite hiccups along the way. Hoping you are safe and well.  Cheers for reading. 

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