Premium SBC Insigne Review

The most recent installment of EOAE cards certainly has nostalgia flowing.  For many FUT Managers, these cards provide one final chance at getting club legends and FUT favorites into their squads before they are lost to the sands of time.  For this review there were really only two options in my mind as Di Maria, for me, represents one of the most tried and tested FUT cards.  Gifted with a left foot from the Gods, Di Maria is a constant focus of ‘if only’ conversations.  “If only Di Maria had a stronger weak foot he would be…” the idea of a card with the automatic finesse shots of his cards combined with a strong weak foot is almost too much to fathom.  However, I have been down that road and had those conversations and already knew the results… and it was with this in mind that I went down a different path, choosing the Italian Mighty Mouse, Lorenzo Insigne.  This card, on the surface, was the dream card for those that like to left-stick dribble.  The size, statistics, 5? and traits, all welcoming those of us who rely on responsiveness… the hope being that all would deliver an end result worthy of the hype.  With my heart set in Naples, I set off creating a 4-2-2-2 squad for this weekend and quickly realized that it would be a shift at ST for Insigne… the HAWK chemistry style providing the compliments needed to squeeze the potential out of this card across 15 matches.  Throughout one of the sweatiest weekends to date, Insigne was a cold blooded warrior all weekend long in the following squad: 

Starting Formation:

Overall

Rating: 9.5/10
Pace Rating: 10/10
Dribbling Rating: 10/10
Shooting Rating: 9/10
Passing Rating: 9/10
Physical Rating: 7/10
Defending Rating: N/A

With hopes high, and the possibility for failure even higher, Insigne delivered on everything I could have imagined and more. Whenever I complete these SBC style reviews my hope is always that at the very least, I can use the card as a future super sub when the weekend is over.  With Insigne, I am left with a different problem, how can I get away with fitting this card into my squad for the foreseeable future?  Of course, he will be a potent super sub now and moving forward… but for now I can’t picture my squad without him.   

Main Statistics - Shooting/Passing

Shooting Rating: 9/10
Passing Rating: 9/10
Weak Foot: ★★★★
Traits: Outside Foot Shot, Finesse Shot

It would have been a travesty if this card was not a magician on the ball.  Thankfully everything comes as the packaging suggests and this card was lights out from a dribbling standpoint.  However, all of that would have been undone if this card did not have an end product.  But with 20 goals and 9 assists and a near 2.0 goal contribution across 15 matches, I think it is safe to say that this card delivered on all fronts in the end.  The 99 POSITIONING, 98 FINISHING  99 LONG SHOTS are a golden trifecta that produced some devastating end results … but more importantly, it was the 99 SHOT POWER that was the star in this case.  Insigne unleashes the ball with some serious venom that is notable in game, even on his less favorite left foot.  The 4 STAR WEAK FOOT doesn’t seem to deter the little magician from cannoning balls towards unsuspecting keepers.  However, it was that tiny bit of guile and accuracy on that same left foot that ultimately led to a slightly lower shooting rating.  Similarly in the passing categories, the ridiculous 96 VISION, 98 SHORT PASSING & 95 LONG PASSING are near perfect and if not for the odd moment would have warranted a higher rating.   

Main Attribute - 5 STAR SKILLS

Dribbling Rating: 10/10
Pace Rating: 10/10
Skills: ★★★★★
Height: 163cm | 5’4
Traits: Flair

There are moments in FIFA where versions of Mbappe simply phase through tackles and end up scoring goals that he has no business scoring.  I am not sure if you call this dribbling quality or broken mechanics, but it is worth noting.  Outside of these random FIFA events, I have not witnessed a more effective dribbler this season than EOAE Lorenzo Insigne.  The card has responsiveness that is unmatched, left-stick dance moves, turbo jet acceleration, powerful running & a sneaky strong center of gravity.  This all makes sense given the smaller frame, 97 AGILITY, 99 BALANCE, 99 BALL CONTROL & 98 DRIBBLING… but it just doesn’t always work out this way.  With the boost of the HAWK chemistry style to the perfect 99 ACCELERATION & 99 SPRINT SPEED, there are not much defenders can do to contain this firecracker of a card… and that is all without mentioning the 5 STAR SKILLS and complementary FLAIR trait.  A nightmare to defend and a dream to control.

Value/Coins & Good vs. Bad

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

210k for this card feels like jewel theft and even as a super sub seems a small price to pay.  I would never go quite as far as saying I get FIFA 20 Ryan Kent vibes because that card just simply didn’t miss and was ultimately what made him so good. But, the often overlooked fact was just how dominant the pace and agility of Kent were when coming off the bench against leggy defenders.  Insigne has both the skill and power to mimic this impact, and if you can put up with the odd miss on his left could still be a game changing factor coming off the bench.

55 STRENGTH on a card that would get mixed up with the pre-match youth players walking out onto the pitch doesn’t scream physical specimen.  However, there are cards that simply ride challenges better than others and I know there were certainly some of my opponents who were left dumbfounded by this card's “strength” this weekend.  I can hear them now, “okay EA.. how is my VVD getting outmuscled by his Insigne?!?” as Lorenzo once again managed to avoid losing the ball in dire situations.  There were of course times when stronger defenders sent me flying into the 5th row with a simple shoulder to shoulder.  But there were also times I simply rode the wave and fashioned chances and goals despite their best efforts.

Closing Words

Must complete.  Either as a serious contender for the ST, winger, or even CAM in your squad… or as the game changing super sub.  However, you deploy him I truly think there is something in this card for everyone.  Anytime you have a card that is this responsive in any FUT it is game changing and this card couldn’t come at a better time.  Even mixed in amongst the highly boosted TOTS options this card not only stood his ground but carved out areas where he simply does it better.  I would love to hear other experiences… beyond the odd left footed frustration and a lack of physical presence, it was near perfection for me.  Hoping you are safe and well.  Cheers for reading. 

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