FIFA 23 Future Stars De Ketelaere SBC - Cop or Flop?

After giving us one of the closer player pick options earlier this week in Quentin Timber’s SBC, EA have followed up with one of the most one-sided Player Pick SBC’s ever released!

The former Club Brugge behemoth, and sounding like an exotic suitor from Downton Abbey, Charles De Ketelaere Future Stars is here. Both cards are 90 rated but only one of them really earns it. 

And whilst I’m under strict instruction not to make any jokes that may not be considered PG, it is nice that EA has released an SBC that may tempt Wroetoshaw back to FIFA…

Check out the cards! - LW De Ketelaere 90 & ST De Ketelaere 90

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Future Stars De Ketelaere SBC Requirements

Here are the following SBC Requirements you’ll need to complete for Charles:

#1 - Serie A
Serie A Player - Min 1 
IF Player - Min 1
Squad Rating - 83
Reward - Small Electrum Players Pack

#2 - Top Form
IF Player - Min 1
Squad Rating - Min 84
Reward - Mixed Players Pack

#3 - 85-Rated Squad
Squad Rating - 85
Reward - Jumbo Premium Gold Pack

#4 - 86-Rated Squad
Squad Rating - Min 86
Reward - Rare Gold Pack

Total Cost from scratch ~ 331K
Estimated Return From Packs ~ 21k

This is just outside the top 100 most expensive non icon cards in the game at the moment. For this price EA had to deliver an absolute banger of a card, and in the Striker version, they absolutely have. You should be able to knock off the first section with what you have in the club and you may even have most of the 84 rated squad too. But 250k of this SBC is in the 85 and 86 rated squad, for that, you may need some fodder packs from swaps. 

Future Stars De Ketelaere SBC In Game Analysis

OK, let’s get this out of the way immediately here. 

The striker is the only choice anyone should be taking unless you are the most skillful 5 star skill user on the face of the planet. If you want to know why, check the How Does He Compare section below.

As such, this review will be on how the Striker played in game. And what a joy he was to use.  

If you had the pleasure of using his TOTS from last year, this card feels almost identical to that except now he has a 5 Star weak foot. On new gen, a marksman makes him Lengthy and I would go with this option there. On old gen, honestly, take your pick. For me an Engine is the one. It boosts his 80 balance to a respectable 88 and brings his pace into the 90’s. But I could just as easily make a case for a Hawk or even a Hunter. 

He is an absolute goal machine. The 5 star weak foot easily makes up for the lack of shooting traits and allows you to unleash from all over the pitch. From distance, to close range, to heading, there are very few players that get near him for finishing at this price point. He reminded me of World Cup Hero Keane. His pace and strength meant he bullied defenders out of the way and the moment he was behind a defence, not even Van Dijk could muscle his way back to make a tackle. 

His positioning has to be mentioned too. It’s an often overlooked stat, alongside Defensive Awareness, but the effect it has is massive. Combined with High attacking work rate, he always absolutely steamed into the box at exactly the right moment. I haven’t even mentioned that he’s 6’4 yet! Like a more mobile Ibrahimovich.

If you are being tempted by his 5 star skill move option at right wing, the one negative I had with the card was that his skill moves felt slow to execute. He didn’t have the glitchy execution the low centre of gravity players tend to have. This is not a player blessed with finesse, he’s a blunt force instrument designed to bludgeon your opponent into submission. 

How Does He Compare?

Well let’s compare him to himself. 

The obvious difference between the two versions is that the left wing has 5-4 whilst the striker has 4-5. Outside of that, both can play LW, CF and ST, with the left wing having LM as an extra position. The left wing version however, has High/High work rates compared to the strikers much more appealing High/Med. 

When we get to the card stats themselves, it quickly becomes apparent that the Striker is a far superior card. With 72 extra in game stats, even with the Left Wing’s extra 19 defending stats, the striker is far more well rounded. 

Take physicals for example, 11 extra strength and 19 extra aggression immediately put these two cards in different stratosphere’s when it comes to attacking durability. Even in dribbling, where the left wing is better by 2’s and 3’s, the most important stat, composure, is won by the striker with 5 extra composure! 

Even in passing, the striker is a better passer and crosser than the left wing version. Shooting is outstandin across the board. And a measly 3 pace difference for the left wing fades into insignificance when you consider how chemistry styles can boost the two cards. 

The left wing is a marginally better dribbler and slightly quicker. But is worse at literally everything else that matters. The striker is a clear choice. 

When it comes to comparing the striker to those around him in terms of price range. It’s either incredibly unfair (Lewandowski POTM) or is 2 very different types of card (Ben Yedder Centurions). I had to actually look much more expensive to find a comparable striker. 

First is 90 Eto’o, currently 690k, with arguably worse links than Charles and only 4/4. He does have more pace at 91 than Charles 88, but as with the left wing, this is easy to make up for with a chem style. Shooting is almost a dead heat, Eto’o has better positioning and penalties, but loses in Shot Power, Long Shots and Volleys. Passing is a pasting by De Ketelaere, 49 extra stats for him over Eto’o here. Dribbling swings towards Eto’o with much higher reactions but when we get to physicals it’s another stomping for the Belgian. You would never say one of these cards is twice the price of the other. 

The most obvious comparison however is Ibrahimovic’s Centurions card. Same club, worse nation for links and same rating. Ibra is 5/4 and has the extra inch on Charles but he is Med/Low instead of High/Med. He is quicker and a better dribbler but that’s where the clear wins end for Ibra. CDK has 3 better finishing which counters Ibra’s 2 extra positioning and long shots. He has 4 better stamina, countering Ibra’s 5 extra aggression. And then absolutely wipes the floor with him when it comes to passing. Oh and did I mention, Ibra is TWELVE times the price? 

Future Stars De Ketelaere - Cop or Flop?

This SBC has 38% upvotes. I get it. It’s expensive and he’s not a flashy name (Downton Abbey aside). But this striker card is crazy good. 

Vukm sums up my feelings almost perfectly.

I have been accused in recent weeks of only siding with the way the community votes on an SBC. It turns out, the community tends to get it right most of the time. But I feel like today is the day I disagree. I don’t think a card this good has any right being any cheaper. 

I was going to make some crass Charles De Copelaere joke. Instead I’ll just say, this Belgain’t too bad!

COP

SBC Rating: 7/10