ICON Moments Cantona Review

With TOTS looming there is no better time to examine a possible game changing SBC… The pack openings often bring fodder to new lows while the TOTS FUT Champions picks lead to some excellent high rated fodder in most squads.  With all of that fodder there are opportunities to complete some of the PIM SBCs and possibly take your squad to the next level… having used the 3-5-2 of late I couldn’t help but think… “What if I had the perfect CAM to link play together and finish off chances when they fell his way?” The result, none other than the French legend, Eric Cantona.  First off, the dynamic image alone is probably worth a million coins but that is a discussion for another day.  The statistics, weak foot and of course the skills had me optimistic that I could do some damage in the middle of the pitch with Cantona orchestrating the offence.  As the CAM in my 3-5-2 I felt the ENGINE would be perfect for obvious reasons and all was set for another leap into the Weekend League octagon.  In the end Cantona truly became the enigma all weekend long in the following squad:            

Starting Formation:

Overall

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

This is one of those reviews where you have a card that does a lot right… and I mean a lot.  There were moments when I was truly shocked at the outcome when Cantona was shooting or passing the ball.  However, there was also a key deficiency that drastically affected the outcome of the overall performance and with that the overall review.  Maybe the most damning fact to touch on immediately was that I started this review with images of Cantona running my midfield… and within 5 matches was forced to replace the Frenchman and move him further up the pitch as a ST for the majority of the review.  The 8/10 Dribbling was a key factor and the constant frustration across the 15 matches, ultimately leaving Cantona as a target striker role at the top of the pitch.  

Main Statistic – Accuracy

Shooting Rating: 9.5/10
Passing Rating: 9.5/10
Weak Foot: ★★★★
Traits: Outside Foot

This is certainly the wow factor with this card and rivals some of the better Shooting and Passing on cards that I have reviewed… and I mean this individually.  It is not often that a card is capable of producing both the Shooting and Passing on this high of a scale and to this level of consistency.  If anything I was even more frustrated that my CAM hopes were dashed given how much quality Cantona should have brought to this position. 96 FINISHING, 96 SHOT POWER, 95 LONG SHOTS and the 4 STAR WEAK FOOT really do tell the story and is a tale about a card that is lethal from anywhere.  The word pure comes to mind and illustrates the flight of the ball off of Cantona’s boot with every kick of the ball.  Even the 97 SHORT PASSING, 93 LONG PASSING, 99 CROSSING & 99 VISION felt incredibly accurate and quick to find their targets with minimal fuss.  With 14 goals and 5 assists in 15 matches, I think it does justice to how this card performed and paints a good picture of what you get in this card.

Main Attribute & Good vs. Bad - Size

Height: 188cm | 6’2
Pace Rating: 9/10
Physical Rating: 9.5/10
Dribbling: 8/10
Skills: ★★★★★
Traits: Power Header, Flair

Combining these two categories for the first time in a long time but I don’t think a review better exemplifies how impactful one attribute of a card can be.  The good thing about Cantona’s 188cm | 6’2 frame is the sheer size of the card on the pitch, which of course came with the benefit of winning headers, ironically with minimal goal results.  However, the presence is noticeable and the 93 STRENGTH is extremely effective when shielding the ball from tackles.  While I would expect any FUT Manager would expect these benefits, what they might not expect is just how fast the 96 SPRINT SPEED felt when this card was in full motion.  It is actually remarkable how quickly this card can move as the long strides glide past defenders that I would imagine are not expecting that level of speed from the big man.  All huge positives because of this card's size.

The issue with all of those positives is the equally growing list of negatives in relation to the same attribute.  The trade off for the strength and power was extremely sluggish movement as the 93 AGILITY, 97 BALANCE & 5 STAR SKILLS felt absent in game.  I had been slowly formulating a concept about cards with the FLAIR trait and how they felt on the ball, which has been completely destroyed by this experience.  The aforementioned high end speed was hugely impacted by the myth that this card has 95 ACCELERATION, which was maybe the most frustrating part of this review as even good dribbling moments didn’t mean that I was escaping any defenders.
 

Value/Coins

Value/Coins Rating: 4/5

1.4 million coins for PIM Cantona is where FIFA 22 has gone.  In truth, it brings me back to “that tweet” that so many have referenced in the past as EA suggested that ICONs had become too expensive.  The result was ever increasing prices and unobtainable ICONs for well over two years but here we are and perhaps there has never been more of an opportunity to try the cards you have always wished you could.  In the case of Cantona the price is nice but the difficulty when turning and accelerating from opponents really limits this card to the striker position… and at that point, I can think of quite a few options I would be taking over the Frenchman.  However, I will say this.  The 1.1 million price tag for this SBC is only going to decrease with TOTS and if you start to use some of those high level red picks that I all pray you get… this card starts to fall into ridiculously good value.  Something to consider moving forward if you have your eye on this legend of the beautiful game.

Closing Words

Reading back over this review I don’t think there is much left to say.  Didn’t really work out as a CAM… extremely potent as a ST… The size is both his “strength” and weakness in the FIFA 22 meta.  I myself would pass at this point in time, but if you are dead set on getting this man into your squad I would highly suggest waiting for the TOTS rewards to start flowing in and seriously look at the SBC over buying straight from the market.  Certainly a lethal card… but not enough opportunities to apply those finishing touches due to the size and movement.  Hoping you are safe and well.  Cheers for reading.

Game Stats:
 

Game Highlights: