TOTS Bellingham Review

Hey Jude, this gameplays bad,
Take this FIFA, and make it better.
Remember to tackle with all of your heart,
Then you can start to make it better.

Hey Jude, the coins were paid,
You were bought for a costly transfer.
The minute you led my team to the win,
Then you began to make it better.

It seemed only fitting that this card receive his own song after the battles fought throughout this past weekend.  If you have followed these reviews then you already know about my love for Future Stars Bellingham and that I have been waiting patiently for the opportunity to test out the upgrade.  The issue was that this card could really only disappoint in the end. Future Stars Bellingham is one of the pinnacle cards I have used and with the boosts to the TOTS I was only expecting more. With the SHADOW chemistry style applied it was a spot in the midfield of my 4-2-2-2 formation set out in front of the English youngster.  Bellingham proved to be the driving force all weekend long in the following squad:   

Starting Formation:

Overall

Rating: 10/10
Pace Rating: 10/10
Dribbling Rating: 10/10
Shooting Rating: 9/10
Passing Rating: 9/10
Physical Rating: 9/10
Defending Rating: 10/10

Not many perfect ratings for cards in this FIFA, and if you examine the ratings it was not perfection across the board for this card either.  However, when you consider the consistency, capacity to play through challenging gameplay, ability to impact a match and the overall quality difference between Bellingham and other midfield options… he is as close to perfection as I have used this FIFA.  

Main Statistics - Shooting

Shooting Rating: 9/10
Weak Foot: ★★★★

If there was going to be a chink in the armor of this card it was going to come in the offensive third of the pitch.  Bellingham has defensive attributes in spades and so the question around his attacking ability was all that remained unanswered.  If you are paying a hefty fee for a card in this version of FIFA with this market then they had better deliver.  The idea that most FUT Managers would want TOTS Bellingham for a box to box weapon was on my mind and so I deployed the youngster in a similar role in my squad.   While 4 goals in 15 matches do not scream offensive powerhouse, it is a decent return based on how I operate the 4-2-2-2 formation.  In all four occasions (and in my qualification and Div Rivals after) the 93 SHOT POWER, 90 FINISHING & 90 LONG SHOTS all did the trick when needed… The 4 STAR WEAK FOOT provides the confidence to get the job done on the left as well.  The lack of traits and the fact that I chose a SHADOW over HUNTER chemistry style both contribute to the fact that the shooting with Bellingham is not lights out, but is not worth writing off by any means.      

Main Attribute - Body Type

Height: 186cm | 6’1
Pace Rating: 10/10
Dribbling Rating: 10/10
Defending Rating: 10/10
Physical Rating: 9/10 
Skills: ★★★★

If the Gods fashioned a midfielder in their image and granted him their abilities to protect your goal from demons and intruders, then Jude Bellingham would be the result.  The card is tall and slim on the screen but has a power about him that is notable in various situations.  The 99 ACCELERATION & 97 SPRINT SPEED is gazelle-like and helps the Dortmund starlet fly around the pitch with the winged feet of Hermes.  The pace only helps exaggerate the effectiveness of the 97 AGILITY & 93 BALANCE as Bellingham dances on the ball to the tune of Apollo’s music.  Ultimately what I love about this card is that you get these moments of class and finesse mixed in with a tenacity in the tackle and a battle worn attitude.  My squad followed Bellingham’s leadership into battle as he harnessed the power of Ares and struck down would be attacks.  The 99 INTERCEPTIONS, 99 STANDING TACKLE, & 99 SLIDING TACKLE all combining with the 87 STRENGTH for devastating results.

Value/Coins & Good vs. Bad

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

1.2 million coins is an exorbitant price to pay for a card in this FIFA.  But I look at it from the perspective that you are essentially getting a card that can complete the job of multiple cards at once.  You get the cleverness of the most expensive forwards, the power of the most sought after midfielders, and the tackling of the most broken defenders… all rolled into one neat package.  The Good vs Bad??  It is a one way street.

Closing Words

There was a level of hope and expectation going into this review that was not only met, but exceeded.  TOTS Bellingham does everything just that little bit better than the Future Stars version, which is all I could ask for.  The price tag is high and therefore will deter a lot of FUT Managers… but I think this is the type of card that you could be saving for as a keystone to improving your squads.  In the past, you might have looked to certain ICONs as the end goal for improving squads to finish out the season.  I would put TOTS Bellingham right alongside those conversations as a card that could drastically improve your squad overall.  If you can fit him in, and don’t already have a dominant box to box midfielder, then this card will blow your mind.  Hoping you are safe and well.  Cheers for reading.
 

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