TOTS Fred Review

If you have competed in some of the various iterations of the current TOTS Cup then you know the requirements… all gold teams with a few TOTS or FUT Champions sprinkled in for good measure and you are all set for three matches per day.  Whenever I set out to build any NIF focused squad there is always one card that immediately secures a spot, Fred… and I won’t lie that Kimpembe is right behind him in line.  The reason that I constantly gravitate towards Fred is that I definitely feel there is a “Renato-vibe” and meta playstyle to the way he operates.  The pace is always dynamic while the card is extremely well balanced in the box to box role.  Flashforward to the TOTS version and not a lot has changed in terms of positioning, but the massive shooting boost has certainly added some additional threat to this card's toolkit.  Even still it was always going to be a CDM role for Fred in the 3-5-2 formation and this was certainly aided by the application of the SHADOW chemistry style.  Additionally,  the shiny new upgrade to FUT Fantasy Tonali offered a fantastic comparison as the start of the Weekend League sweat feast kicked off.  Fred was the turbine powering the ship all weekend long in the following squad:       

Starting Formation:

Overall

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

It was inconceivable to think that this card would disappoint this weekend but you just never 100% know in FIFA. Thankfully it was abundantly clear just how big of an impact player I had signed within minutes of the first match.  It is worth mentioning that even RTTF Fred was a big favorite of mine this year as I was quick to select him in any drafts that he appeared in.  The word dynamic truly encapsulates everything that this card can provide and if you like this type of midfielder then I have not used many better.  I mentioned Fantasy Tonali as a good bar to judge Fred on, but that only lasted a match or two before it was obvious just how superior Fred felt in the game.          

Main Statistic – Pace

Pace Rating: 10/10
Dribbling Rating: 9.5/10
Height: 169cm | 5’7
Work Rate: High | High

You can’t call a card Renato-like without having a ton of pace to back it up, and this card has it in abundance.  The 99 ACCELERATION & 94 SPRINT SPEED are fantastic on this smaller card and are facilitated perfectly by the HIGH | HIGH work rates and 99 STAMINA.  The biggest takeaway from this review is how consistent the presence of Fred is on the pitch. One second he is in the opponent's box and creating chances or finishing the odd move in the final third… the next second he is intercepting a key pass at the edge of your own 18 yard box.  This card is the epitome of box to box as Fred carries a lot of high end quality with him up and down the pitch for 90 mins… plus extra time after your opponent equalizes with seconds remaining.   

Main Attribute – Defending

Defending Rating: 9.5/10
Physical Rating: 8.5/10

Of course, the pace is playing a massive role in the way that Fred closes down opponents and provides support defensively, but there is a lot more to like.  99 INTERCEPTIONS is probably the key detail as Fred simply sniffs out chances and arrives in the right place to cut them off throughout the match.  However, he can also get it done against opponents with his 99 STANDING TACKLE & 96 SLIDING TACKLE, both of which were incredibly effective throughout the weekend.  I did give Fred an 8.5/10 for physical during this review but it is important to note that this was only an issue when dribbling with the ball and being caught up himself… interestingly there was never a moment defensively where I felt the 78 STRENGTH was impacting effectiveness at all… the card just gets the job done. 

Value/Coins & Good vs. Bad

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

I should point out that this card is certainly not to the elite midfielder level of the likes of Future Stars Bellingham… and in the end not many cards are.  However, if you look at the statistics it is uncanny just how close these two cards are with the only discrepancy coming in the shooting category.  For only 470k I think this puts Fred in fantastic company given RTTF Renato is setting you back 650k… while Bellingham himself is double Fred in the 950k range.  The total is not only fair, it feels like a bit of a steal if I am honest. 

88 SHOT POWER & 4 STAR WEAK FOOT… 94 SHORT PASSING & 91 LONG PASSING… 98 AGILITY & 97 BALANCE… These are just some of the serious statistics upgraded on this card and certainly make you sit up and take notice of what this card can bring to the table.  In truth, I was seriously hoping to see Fred in my red picks and would have welcomed him into the mix with open arms. 

Closing Words

I was, and am, a huge fan of this card.  The TOTS upgrade has helped bring Fred up to the current power curve and I am all here for it.  I would love to know what others are doing with this card… what formations are working and how are you getting on with the Brazilian in your own squads?  For me, it was the workhorse nature of the card mixed with the qualities at both ends of the pitch that brought enjoyment and impacted matches across the weekend.  Could he be a little stronger on the ball?  Yes.  Would some improved shooting take him into another category of elite box to box midfielders?  Certainly. But for 470k this card is doing a lot right for a bargain price and I couldn’t recommend him more for those looking to upgrade their current midfielders.  Hoping you are safe and well.  Cheers for reading.
 

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