FIFA 23 MID ICON JOHAN CRUYFF PLAYER REVIEW

The FUT Ballers promo literally came out of nowhere.  The hype for yet another FUT Birthday Extravaganza was building momentum and speculation was growing on what EA would have in store for us this time around… and then, FUT Ballers.
The concept seems really interesting and has the potential to be great… However the execution is not quite there and so far seems to have just missed the chance to really build on a unique idea.  The Cop or Flop review on 88 Luis Diaz highlighting the Columbian as a “sidegrade” along with so many cards recently.

Despite the potential for FUT Ballers to fall into the growing pile of FUT promos that simply missed the mark, there was another piece of content fro this weekend that certainly caught the eye.  The ICON SBCs this year are another area with some head scratching decisions on when cards have been released in the cycle… but with 91 Johan Cruyff, the timing might just be right.

Johan Cruyff is a card that simply suits my playstyle to a tee.  The left stick dribbling is often smooth and responsive and the pace ample enough to make any successful dribbles into quality chances.  I have yet to get my hands on Cruyff in FIFA 23 and so I was certainly looking forward to the opportunity to walk down memory lane this weekend.

After increasing success in the way my team feels and Weekend League results I have officially returned to the 4-2-2-2 formation for the time being, and Johan Cruyff slotted in perfectly as the Left Striker.  The HUNTER chemistry style was applied to aid with this fact and worked beautifully towards getting the most out of the Dutch Legend.

Johan Cruyff was the dazzling dancer with stunning speed and ferocious finishing all weekend long in the following squad:

Overall 

There is a general feeling in FIFA 23 that many of the latest cards have been simply stacking up for the past few months in a 9/10 black hole.  They get there in different ways that will suit different playstyles and so it is still important to know what you are getting into and what to expect from the way Player A operates compared to Player B.  But unless you are paying millions, there are not a lot of gamebreaking players available.

91 Cruyff is a game breaking, outstanding, carry your squad to victory type of player.  Yes he costs millions.  Yes he has been out for a long time now.  But this SBC offers a new and grindable opportunity to bring one of the current best players in the game into your squads.

Main Statistics – Shooting

Shooting Rating: 10/10

Weak Foot: ★★★★★

Traits: Outside Foot Shot

We love to highlight cards in these reviews that have a 4 STAR WEAK FOOT but feel like they are closer to a 5 STAR WEAK FOOT in performance.  With Cruyff, it honestly feels like a 5 STAR WEAK FOOT card that is performing closer to something indescribable.  There is literally no difference between either foot and the quality of finishing is ridiculous.

99 FINISHING never looked so good.  The 86 SHOT POWER plays a huge factor in the ability to  beat keepers and reward the hard work your squad put towards creating chances in the first place.

Despite not having the FINESSE Trait Cruyff scored two brilliant finesse goals during this review.  Both finishes utilizing the 90 LONG SHOTS to produce some top quality goals in key moments of the match. 

Value/Coins-Fodder

Value/Coins-Fodder Rating: 5/5

So much to talk about in terms of quality that the statistics have not been mentioned.  15 goals and 1 assist barely scratches the surface of this review.  Another pair of 0 - 0 quits skewing results, and when you consider a 7 game total the 2 goals per game ratio is fantastic.  Yet, even still there were at least 3 or 4 early rage quits really underselling the quality of this card.  The montage of quality passes to teammates followed by missed chances also showing where the assist column could have looked better as well.   

The fact that you can now grind one of the better cards in the game, mixed with some decent SBCs to work towards better fodder only enhances my thoughts on this card and leaves me with a huge decision to make along with all of you.  Prior to this SBC Cruyff has been 2.5 million coins for a long time and this SBC coming in at 2 million coins is about as fair an evaluation as could be expected.

Good vs. Bad 

Good vs Bad Rating: 5/5

Truthfully this is about as easy as it gets.  It is the negative comments that will take some time to consider.

+ HUNTER chem style working wonders on the 99 ACCELERATION & 97 SPRINT SPEED… The EXPLOSIVE AcceleRATE and height only added to the pop of pace and sustained sprint speed in game.

+ 180cm | 5’11 with 5 STAR SKILLS and the FLAIR Trait. While the skills are a huge seller for some, it is the left stick responsiveness and quick step out of dribbling that really sells this card for me and literally sets Cruyff apart from other options.

+ In the 4-2-2-2 I need my strikers to keep the ball and bring my wingers and wingbacks into the game.  Cruyff was fantastic in this area and benefitted from the 90 SHORT PASSING.  The through ball weight and angles were all on point and again the assist totals were certainly not from a lack of trying or quality.

The negatives don’t even move the scales with this one.  But here they are anyway.

- I would put it down to the EXPLOSIVE AcceleRATE, but once or twice the best of the defenders in the game were able to catch up with Cruyff at a dead sprint.  Chances that went missing, but only on a few occasions.

- Even the 68 STRENGTH somehow held up for this card and although the Physical statistics are not ideal, they were hardly a limitation.  The actual area that does concern me is the 81 STAMINA.  Not for me playing Cruyff as a striker, but any FUT Manager playing Cruyff slightly further back will need to consider this before expecting a 90 minute long masterclass.   

Closing Words

This review has completely ruined me.  How can I go back to POTM Ben Yedder after experiencing this level of quality?  It really would make my untradeable squad into an entirely different animal.  I sometimes avoid players like this on purpose because I know once they have entered my squad, the thought of them leaving is a difficult pill to swallow.

Perhaps the only way to end off such a fun review is by coming up with a creative title to summarize the experience.  I am liking… Johan Cruyff: The cost is huge, but so are the performances. A FUT Biography. 
Hoping you are well.  Cheers for reading.