628: Back From The Brink

[00:00:01] [SPEAKER_02]: Hello, footies. Welcome along to your latest dose of Ultimate Team podcasting goodness.

[00:00:07] [SPEAKER_02]: We are FUT IN REVIEW, powered by footcoaching.com. We are recording this on Tuesday, the 8th of October, 2024.

[00:00:16] [SPEAKER_02]: It's episode 628. Thank you very much, everyone, for being with us. We've got lots to come on the show.

[00:00:24] [SPEAKER_02]: With myself, Dan Wimbush, otherwise known as Wimby, I am joined by the scout, Nathan Downs, and my main man, Shaka Tak,

[00:00:30] [SPEAKER_02]: for our usual Tuesday club proceedings. And hold on to your headsets, because especially two-thirds of this group have got a few gripes with FC25 to voice.

[00:00:41] [SPEAKER_02]: We will also be rounding up the content from Monday. We've got a mailbag, as usual, and we've got a few little news and notes,

[00:00:48] [SPEAKER_02]: including details of a bit of a server upgrade that should be fixing a few people's issues.

[00:00:53] [SPEAKER_02]: Let's get into all of it then. Shaka, my friend, how are you? You're on Team Angry today, I understand.

[00:00:59] [SPEAKER_01]: I am on Team Angry. I think after the kind of weekend league I've had, I've experienced, I probably did better than I thought I would do.

[00:01:07] [SPEAKER_01]: Let's put it that way. I thought I did better than I would do, but did I enjoy it? Not really, but we'll get into it.

[00:01:15] [SPEAKER_02]: Nathan, you're the peacekeeper today. You're trying to bring the balance to the show.

[00:01:20] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I think I'm one of the very few people that are still quite enjoying it.

[00:01:23] [SPEAKER_00]: I didn't do weekend league, so that's probably why I still have my sanity and I've not gone fully white in my beard and my hair.

[00:01:29] [SPEAKER_00]: But I will have those splinters reinserted yet again for sitting on the fence.

[00:01:34] [SPEAKER_02]: Well, I am very much in Team Shack at the moment to make my position clear about this,

[00:01:39] [SPEAKER_02]: because, yeah, weekend league, and especially what I then encountered on Monday playing this game,

[00:01:45] [SPEAKER_02]: led me down a very frustrated path.

[00:01:49] [SPEAKER_02]: But we'll get into all of that. But before we get into that, let's very quickly round up the content.

[00:01:52] [SPEAKER_02]: Again, if you heard it, John and Nathan recorded a bit earlier on Monday, so they missed the content from Monday.

[00:01:59] [SPEAKER_02]: So we'll very quickly round that up.

[00:02:01] [SPEAKER_02]: Shack, not too much to sing about. We had an 80 plus combo upgrade,

[00:02:05] [SPEAKER_02]: which gets you one 80 plus rated player and one rare player for the cost of 11 goals, six of them rare.

[00:02:12] [SPEAKER_02]: We had the One Nation friendly with some pretty decent objectives out of that.

[00:02:17] [SPEAKER_02]: And then we had the Liga F Player of the Month, Ajibade, who looks a good card.

[00:02:22] [SPEAKER_02]: So out of the three things, what excited you the most?

[00:02:24] [SPEAKER_01]: I think the Ajibade really does look like a good card.

[00:02:27] [SPEAKER_01]: I think she was pretty good last year as well, if I'm not mistaken.

[00:02:30] [SPEAKER_01]: She had the blue hair in game, if I'm not wrong.

[00:02:33] [SPEAKER_01]: She was quite interesting last year.

[00:02:35] [SPEAKER_01]: I haven't used her, admittedly, this year, but that card does excite me.

[00:02:38] [SPEAKER_01]: If I had any fodder left in my club, I would certainly consider completing her.

[00:02:43] [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, four-star, four-star, only 35k.

[00:02:46] [SPEAKER_02]: Again, Lynx slightly tricky being Nigerian, but there are lots of Liga F players and Atletico players as well.

[00:02:51] [SPEAKER_02]: Likes of Griezmann, Llorente and co.

[00:02:54] [SPEAKER_02]: So plenty of ways to get her into the team.

[00:02:56] [SPEAKER_02]: Quick step, rapid.

[00:02:57] [SPEAKER_02]: She's very fast.

[00:02:58] [SPEAKER_02]: I saw Nepenthes' little review.

[00:03:00] [SPEAKER_02]: I think he used her for a few games in Russia.

[00:03:02] [SPEAKER_02]: She did seem genuinely quick.

[00:03:04] [SPEAKER_02]: I mean, Nathan, are you going to be completing it?

[00:03:05] [SPEAKER_00]: I probably won't, but that's because I've been SBC happy over the last few days.

[00:03:11] [SPEAKER_00]: Done the three Serie A ones, so I think I'll need to stay away.

[00:03:14] [SPEAKER_00]: But it does look good.

[00:03:15] [SPEAKER_00]: And her gold card was really good in the opening week or so of the game.

[00:03:20] [SPEAKER_00]: So I can imagine if you used her, she would be tremendous and very fast.

[00:03:24] [SPEAKER_02]: And I know you've delved as well, Nathan, into that One Nation friendly.

[00:03:28] [SPEAKER_02]: What's the experience been so far?

[00:03:29] [SPEAKER_02]: Golden goal?

[00:03:30] [SPEAKER_02]: Is it sweaty?

[00:03:31] [SPEAKER_00]: No, it's quite chill.

[00:03:32] [SPEAKER_00]: It's golden goal in the hole.

[00:03:33] [SPEAKER_00]: I think I'm four games in.

[00:03:35] [SPEAKER_00]: I've won three.

[00:03:37] [SPEAKER_00]: I was the only one person probably not doing golden goal because I battered a guy.

[00:03:40] [SPEAKER_00]: He scored.

[00:03:41] [SPEAKER_00]: And I was like, no, I'm not having this.

[00:03:42] [SPEAKER_00]: So I carried on.

[00:03:44] [SPEAKER_00]: I don't mind it if I'm getting outplayed and they score.

[00:03:47] [SPEAKER_00]: I'm like, yeah, fair enough.

[00:03:48] [SPEAKER_00]: But not when it's a complete fluke.

[00:03:51] [SPEAKER_00]: And I did end up winning that game, which was great.

[00:03:52] [SPEAKER_00]: But no, it's quite chill.

[00:03:54] [SPEAKER_00]: I think the rewards are fairly decent.

[00:03:56] [SPEAKER_00]: Quite onerous, I think.

[00:03:57] [SPEAKER_00]: To get 12 goals if it's golden goal will be quite difficult because obviously it's more

[00:04:03] [SPEAKER_00]: games as well.

[00:04:03] [SPEAKER_00]: But I think it's fairly chill, especially compared to obviously you guys in Rivals and Weekend

[00:04:08] [SPEAKER_00]: League, sorry, and everyone's Rivals experience at the moment.

[00:04:11] [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, there's 1,000 XP's worth of rewards in there as well.

[00:04:15] [SPEAKER_02]: There's an 81 by 2, an 81 by 3, an 82 by 3, an 83 by 2, and an 84 by 2 as well if you

[00:04:22] [SPEAKER_02]: win 10.

[00:04:23] [SPEAKER_02]: And the group reward is an 83 by 5.

[00:04:24] [SPEAKER_02]: So yeah, decent opportunity to pack some cards.

[00:04:26] [SPEAKER_02]: I think it's well worth doing.

[00:04:27] [SPEAKER_02]: Remember, it's form-based matchmaking.

[00:04:29] [SPEAKER_02]: But also remember as well, if you quit games, it will not impact your skill-based matchmaking,

[00:04:38] [SPEAKER_02]: your form-based matchmaking.

[00:04:39] [SPEAKER_02]: So if you go and win two and then you are playing golden goal and you lose one, you will

[00:04:44] [SPEAKER_02]: still be seen as plus two.

[00:04:46] [SPEAKER_02]: You have to complete the full 90 minutes for your rating to be affected.

[00:04:50] [SPEAKER_02]: So if you are finding yourself facing nothing but hard opponents, you might just have to

[00:04:55] [SPEAKER_02]: stick out for a little while and lose a few games by going the distance.

[00:04:59] [SPEAKER_02]: Not that I endorse it, but again, for your mental health, if you have to rub a band or

[00:05:03] [SPEAKER_02]: whatnot, just do that rather than just quitting out.

[00:05:06] [SPEAKER_02]: So worth paying attention to.

[00:05:08] [SPEAKER_02]: Just on the combo upgrade as well, Jess, I mean, what have you two been doing in terms

[00:05:11] [SPEAKER_02]: of your fodder?

[00:05:12] [SPEAKER_02]: Because for me, everything under 80 has gone.

[00:05:15] [SPEAKER_02]: I am not holding on to anything.

[00:05:16] [SPEAKER_02]: If it's untradeable and it's 80 or under, or even 81, I've been throwing it into these

[00:05:21] [SPEAKER_02]: upgrades trying to get goals.

[00:05:22] [SPEAKER_02]: But are you being a bit more selective with your upgrades, Shaq, or is everything must go

[00:05:27] [SPEAKER_02]: for you as well?

[00:05:27] [SPEAKER_01]: Well, everything must go.

[00:05:29] [SPEAKER_01]: I have to pack the next shiny card that I can use in the squad to be frustrated on the

[00:05:32] [SPEAKER_01]: weekends.

[00:05:34] [SPEAKER_01]: Everything's just gone into SBCs.

[00:05:36] [SPEAKER_01]: I have barely anything left in the club.

[00:05:38] [SPEAKER_02]: Nath, you are a notorious dragon that likes to hoard onto players and everything.

[00:05:43] [SPEAKER_02]: Are you going for glory in these upgrades?

[00:05:46] [SPEAKER_02]: Or are you waiting for something better coming on?

[00:05:48] [SPEAKER_00]: I've not been as hard as you guys so far, but I will probably put everything under 80

[00:05:52] [SPEAKER_00]: in.

[00:05:52] [SPEAKER_00]: I think the change to the rival's rewards, I think, makes it a lot easier to throw a lot

[00:05:58] [SPEAKER_00]: more into these SBCs.

[00:06:00] [SPEAKER_00]: I think the fact that you get, I think we're Division 3, so it's 75 times 40 and 75 times

[00:06:07] [SPEAKER_00]: 20 or something like that.

[00:06:08] [SPEAKER_00]: So it's quite easy to restock very quickly.

[00:06:11] [SPEAKER_00]: So especially if with marking matchups, I used to hold some back for marking matchups.

[00:06:16] [SPEAKER_00]: But now I think it's just kind of throw in what you can.

[00:06:19] [SPEAKER_00]: And obviously my dupe pile was completely full.

[00:06:22] [SPEAKER_00]: So I've used a lot of my dupes in that as well, just to clear that for some of the higher

[00:06:26] [SPEAKER_00]: ones to store.

[00:06:27] [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I even spent 25k on one of the provision packs that I think got me 40 common golds.

[00:06:34] [SPEAKER_02]: Just on the base of, I had no commons left and have quite a few rares.

[00:06:38] [SPEAKER_02]: So I just thought, do you know what?

[00:06:40] [SPEAKER_02]: If I spent 25k, and I think that with the cards I've got, it gets me the best part of

[00:06:45] [SPEAKER_02]: sort of eight upgrades or whatever it is.

[00:06:48] [SPEAKER_02]: So why not?

[00:06:50] [SPEAKER_02]: Because again, we're already getting to the stage where 25k is not going to make actually

[00:06:55] [SPEAKER_02]: that big of a difference.

[00:06:56] [SPEAKER_02]: So yeah, I did do that.

[00:06:58] [SPEAKER_02]: But yeah, worth a go.

[00:06:59] [SPEAKER_02]: I don't think it's the greatest value in the world.

[00:07:01] [SPEAKER_02]: But at this stage, there is so many more players to pack in these upgrades that will actually

[00:07:05] [SPEAKER_02]: make a difference to your team.

[00:07:07] [SPEAKER_02]: So I think it is worth a bit of a go.

[00:07:09] [SPEAKER_02]: So that rounds up the actual content.

[00:07:11] [SPEAKER_02]: One other news note I wanted to get to is EA did announce they've released it.

[00:07:14] [SPEAKER_02]: And I think this is weird.

[00:07:15] [SPEAKER_02]: I think, Shaq, I don't know.

[00:07:17] [SPEAKER_02]: This is the first time we've ever seen them announce it as a server patch, because I don't

[00:07:21] [SPEAKER_02]: seem to remember server patches being a particular thing before.

[00:07:24] [SPEAKER_01]: Do we remember last year, I think it was last year, where they said that they could do some

[00:07:28] [SPEAKER_01]: sort of updates without having to, or they could do updates on the fly for certain things,

[00:07:33] [SPEAKER_01]: for certain, I can't remember if it was just game mechanics, or certain things that

[00:07:36] [SPEAKER_01]: they could upgrade on the servers and not really gameplay end.

[00:07:39] [SPEAKER_01]: So we didn't really have to download anything.

[00:07:41] [SPEAKER_01]: It would just happen automatically in the back end.

[00:07:43] [SPEAKER_01]: I can't remember exactly what they fixed with those sorts of things.

[00:07:46] [SPEAKER_01]: But they did say that things can happen automatically.

[00:07:48] [SPEAKER_01]: And we were a bit dubious when things started changing in gameplay.

[00:07:52] [SPEAKER_01]: We started to get a little bit judgy.

[00:07:53] [SPEAKER_01]: But I don't even know anymore.

[00:07:56] [SPEAKER_01]: But yeah, it can happen.

[00:07:57] [SPEAKER_01]: It has happened before.

[00:07:58] [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, well, they've released details for this server patch.

[00:08:01] [SPEAKER_02]: And it just is a couple of key issues that people have been talking about, which also

[00:08:05] [SPEAKER_02]: feeds in some of my frustrations, which I'll get to.

[00:08:07] [SPEAKER_02]: They've addressed instances of Evolution player actually upgrades not matching their preview

[00:08:11] [SPEAKER_02]: numbers.

[00:08:12] [SPEAKER_02]: Joe Gomez and the power surge Evo was, I believe, one of the big things about this, where Gomez

[00:08:18] [SPEAKER_02]: should have been coming out as an 84 and he was coming out as an 82.

[00:08:22] [SPEAKER_02]: They directly addressed the fact that they're going to be looking into how to rectify people

[00:08:27] [SPEAKER_02]: that have already done glitched Evos.

[00:08:30] [SPEAKER_02]: They say the issue will be addressed for previously impacted players in the coming days.

[00:08:34] [SPEAKER_02]: EA's famous coming days.

[00:08:36] [SPEAKER_02]: Have you got your FIFA FC24 corrected weekend league rewards yet, Nath?

[00:08:41] [SPEAKER_02]: No.

[00:08:42] [SPEAKER_02]: Well, not as far as I know.

[00:08:44] [SPEAKER_00]: I can't imagine I will.

[00:08:45] [SPEAKER_00]: It'd be nice for them to transfer him across to here.

[00:08:47] [SPEAKER_00]: But no, it still doesn't fill me with confidence.

[00:08:51] [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.

[00:08:52] [SPEAKER_02]: Coming days, you know, very, very loose phrasing there.

[00:08:55] [SPEAKER_02]: They always said the transfer market average price user in space element did not always display

[00:08:59] [SPEAKER_02]: as intended.

[00:09:00] [SPEAKER_02]: And also they fixed the squad updates occurring every time when entering Ultimate Team.

[00:09:04] [SPEAKER_02]: So still plenty of bugs to squash.

[00:09:06] [SPEAKER_02]: Of course, we went over lots of them last week.

[00:09:08] [SPEAKER_02]: This has nothing to do with gameplay, at least not that they've stated.

[00:09:11] [SPEAKER_02]: But the Evo glitch is something that is good.

[00:09:14] [SPEAKER_02]: As mentioned, my frustration, big frustration at the moment, gents, is Evos.

[00:09:19] [SPEAKER_02]: I think the Evos they've been pumping out for the last week have been utter, utter garbage.

[00:09:24] [SPEAKER_02]: They promised us that it was going to be less restrictive, allow us to build.

[00:09:28] [SPEAKER_02]: But, you know, releasing ones that are specifically designed for Spanish players and then silver

[00:09:34] [SPEAKER_02]: left backs and then just right wingers, not even right midfield.

[00:09:37] [SPEAKER_02]: Anyway, I could go off an entire show rant, but I'll let that feed into the overall frustration,

[00:09:43] [SPEAKER_02]: which we may as well get to.

[00:09:44] [SPEAKER_02]: So Shaq, you kind of teased it at the top.

[00:09:47] [SPEAKER_02]: I mean, we're now a good two, three weeks into this game.

[00:09:51] [SPEAKER_02]: Where are you sitting with it and how have your feelings changed since we spoke last week?

[00:09:55] [SPEAKER_01]: I think there is a little bit of frustration on my end as well, in the sense that I'm still

[00:10:00] [SPEAKER_01]: yet to figure out the tactics and every single time I think that I found the masterstroke

[00:10:04] [SPEAKER_01]: and everything is working, humming exactly the way I want.

[00:10:07] [SPEAKER_01]: But I come across an opponent that's genuinely good.

[00:10:11] [SPEAKER_01]: And then you start to question, is it me?

[00:10:13] [SPEAKER_01]: Is it the tactics?

[00:10:14] [SPEAKER_01]: Well, all that set aside, I thought I was doing pretty well.

[00:10:18] [SPEAKER_01]: I qualified really easily.

[00:10:19] [SPEAKER_01]: I was playing pretty well in rivals through the week.

[00:10:22] [SPEAKER_01]: And I thought, I'll just jump to champs.

[00:10:24] [SPEAKER_01]: And firstly, first off, I don't know if you experienced the same thing, Dan, but for me,

[00:10:28] [SPEAKER_01]: champs was a completely different gameplay.

[00:10:30] [SPEAKER_01]: It wasn't even the same game that I was playing.

[00:10:32] [SPEAKER_01]: It felt much slower than normal, very different.

[00:10:36] [SPEAKER_01]: And the second thing that really annoyed me was this is, again, a me problem where I came

[00:10:41] [SPEAKER_01]: across three Mbappes in my first five games.

[00:10:43] [SPEAKER_01]: And if you heard the podcast last week, I spoke about playing Mbappe in the normal couch play

[00:10:48] [SPEAKER_01]: and using that guy was a cheat code.

[00:10:51] [SPEAKER_01]: So I got it in my head that I just couldn't beat.

[00:10:53] [SPEAKER_01]: And even you hold these kind of cards back the whole game, all it takes is one flashy

[00:10:58] [SPEAKER_01]: moment.

[00:10:58] [SPEAKER_01]: And that just brings your morale down.

[00:11:00] [SPEAKER_01]: That's all by the by.

[00:11:01] [SPEAKER_01]: That happens.

[00:11:02] [SPEAKER_01]: But then one of the things that I really struggled with is I really could make the game fun.

[00:11:07] [SPEAKER_01]: Whatever I tried, I had to be extremely patient, extremely slow, extremely conservative.

[00:11:12] [SPEAKER_01]: And that's not how I like to play.

[00:11:15] [SPEAKER_01]: And to the detriment of my enjoyment, I went ahead and did that and got to I got I finished

[00:11:20] [SPEAKER_01]: with eight wins.

[00:11:21] [SPEAKER_01]: I started I was at at one point I was two wins and five losses.

[00:11:24] [SPEAKER_01]: I ended up at eight wins and seven, I mean, eight wins and seven losses.

[00:11:27] [SPEAKER_01]: So I did OK in the end.

[00:11:28] [SPEAKER_01]: I was my goal was to get six wins.

[00:11:30] [SPEAKER_01]: But did I have fun?

[00:11:32] [SPEAKER_01]: Not at all.

[00:11:33] [SPEAKER_01]: Really?

[00:11:34] [SPEAKER_01]: I think my fun was so badly hampered that I'm really, really questioning whether I

[00:11:38] [SPEAKER_01]: even do qualifying this time.

[00:11:39] [SPEAKER_01]: I just want to take a break.

[00:11:40] [SPEAKER_01]: The rewards were crap anyway.

[00:11:42] [SPEAKER_01]: So it doesn't really matter.

[00:11:43] [SPEAKER_01]: I'm not feeling left behind.

[00:11:45] [SPEAKER_01]: Nate hasn't done champs and he's actually he doesn't feel like he's been left behind.

[00:11:49] [SPEAKER_01]: So I just want to take a break and just start to get the enjoyment back.

[00:11:52] [SPEAKER_01]: I think this is really I'm really it's a learning lesson for me.

[00:11:55] [SPEAKER_01]: I really want to start enjoying the game more before then more than just jumping in and

[00:11:59] [SPEAKER_01]: just trying to get all these rewards.

[00:12:01] [SPEAKER_02]: So, Nate, as the balance that I mean, I heard the the mini show you did with John yesterday.

[00:12:06] [SPEAKER_02]: I know you haven't done weekend league yourself.

[00:12:09] [SPEAKER_02]: I mean, are you still enjoying this game?

[00:12:12] [SPEAKER_02]: Are you enjoying it the more as you go along or are the problems and issues sort of starting

[00:12:16] [SPEAKER_02]: to creep in for you?

[00:12:17] [SPEAKER_00]: I go through waves.

[00:12:19] [SPEAKER_00]: I'm a bit like Shaq where sometimes I think that it's working well and then it's not.

[00:12:24] [SPEAKER_00]: I also think that your team has a lot to do with it.

[00:12:27] [SPEAKER_00]: So I've done done the Tutu Ram SBCs and the Varane SBCs.

[00:12:30] [SPEAKER_00]: So my whole team has now gone from being a Prem La Liga hybrid.

[00:12:34] [SPEAKER_00]: It's now La Liga, Prem and Serie A hybrid, which has 32 chem somehow.

[00:12:40] [SPEAKER_00]: So I've managed to join the dark side.

[00:12:42] [SPEAKER_00]: I have gone to 5-3-2, but I've managed to make quite an attack in 5-3-2 where my left

[00:12:49] [SPEAKER_00]: back inverts.

[00:12:50] [SPEAKER_00]: My right back's like a winger.

[00:12:52] [SPEAKER_00]: One of the centre mids is a half winger.

[00:12:54] [SPEAKER_00]: So it doesn't actually feel like it's 5-3-2, but it still has the solidity of my centre backs

[00:12:59] [SPEAKER_00]: at the back.

[00:13:00] [SPEAKER_00]: And I've played the first time I used it.

[00:13:02] [SPEAKER_00]: I think I lost because of total glitchy gameplay.

[00:13:06] [SPEAKER_00]: But then I've won four in a row, my two games this morning.

[00:13:08] [SPEAKER_00]: I won 7-0 and 3-0.

[00:13:10] [SPEAKER_00]: So it's not like it's a 1-0 sit back and hit on the counter.

[00:13:13] [SPEAKER_00]: It's quite adventurous.

[00:13:14] [SPEAKER_00]: And I have to say, I do enjoy it.

[00:13:16] [SPEAKER_00]: You have to bring into your head, like we keep saying, we're not using the same players

[00:13:19] [SPEAKER_00]: at the end game last year.

[00:13:20] [SPEAKER_00]: So once I realised that when I was playing Darwin up front, if you try and bounce a ball

[00:13:24] [SPEAKER_00]: off him, his passing's terrible first time and it would always go behind.

[00:13:28] [SPEAKER_00]: But now I'm using like Paul Scholes in the middle, his passing's tremendous.

[00:13:31] [SPEAKER_00]: I can use one touch passing and even the new Turam card and Loftus Cheek, they're solid.

[00:13:37] [SPEAKER_00]: So once I've started to take into account their skills and their positives and obviously try

[00:13:43] [SPEAKER_00]: and negate their weaknesses, then I'm enjoying it a lot more.

[00:13:46] [SPEAKER_00]: And I still feel it is a little bit more realistic than we've had in the past.

[00:13:50] [SPEAKER_00]: I know we do have these terrible bounces and stuff.

[00:13:52] [SPEAKER_00]: I can't say the keepers issues that I see online has been an issue for me.

[00:13:56] [SPEAKER_00]: I'm not getting many bounce back goals like that, but I do think it's quite realistic.

[00:14:00] [SPEAKER_00]: And I quite like the fact that not every game's the same, whereas last year everyone would

[00:14:04] [SPEAKER_00]: just go down the wing and cut back or whatever.

[00:14:06] [SPEAKER_00]: I think there's variety in it.

[00:14:08] [SPEAKER_00]: And I have to say, I am enjoying it for the whole, not, you know, I still have my moments

[00:14:12] [SPEAKER_00]: where I could throw it out the window like everybody else.

[00:14:15] [SPEAKER_00]: But I don't think it's, I'm not on the negativity train that I'm seeing on socials for sure.

[00:14:20] [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, look, I think I sit very much in both of your camps and I think you both made really

[00:14:26] [SPEAKER_02]: good points on it because I think it encapsulates the whole experience.

[00:14:29] [SPEAKER_02]: I think, Nate, the thing that you said that made, had a bit of a light bulb moment for me

[00:14:34] [SPEAKER_02]: playing a bit of co-op with John was leaning into actually getting players that play how

[00:14:42] [SPEAKER_02]: you want to play the game, not just sticking a player in and thinking, oh, they'll be able

[00:14:46] [SPEAKER_02]: to do X or Y.

[00:14:47] [SPEAKER_02]: It's like, no.

[00:14:48] [SPEAKER_02]: So for example, having played with John's team in co-op yesterday, I suddenly realized

[00:14:53] [SPEAKER_02]: actually having defenders with a good passing stat is actually important for how I want

[00:14:59] [SPEAKER_02]: to play because I want to build up from the back.

[00:15:01] [SPEAKER_02]: And if I'm having players with 50 passing, you know, and the same with having someone

[00:15:06] [SPEAKER_02]: with say like Rodri and actually utilizing that ticker tacker plus, realizing that they can

[00:15:11] [SPEAKER_02]: keep the play going and make those first time passes.

[00:15:15] [SPEAKER_02]: But I absolutely understand what Shaq says because it's so much slower.

[00:15:18] [SPEAKER_02]: You really have to think about every pass.

[00:15:22] [SPEAKER_02]: You can't no scope anymore.

[00:15:24] [SPEAKER_02]: You can't just default into a pattern of ping ponging it and getting it to the wing and

[00:15:28] [SPEAKER_02]: then for the cutback or whatnot.

[00:15:30] [SPEAKER_02]: You just have to be patient.

[00:15:32] [SPEAKER_02]: Now, like Nate, it's really rewarding when that patience pays off and you play well and

[00:15:36] [SPEAKER_02]: you're like, you know, you beat somebody properly and you can hand on heart say, I've outplayed

[00:15:40] [SPEAKER_02]: that person.

[00:15:41] [SPEAKER_02]: But is it fun?

[00:15:43] [SPEAKER_02]: And as Shaq said, in Weekend League, it was, I think Grandpa Mac had the analogy of, I

[00:15:48] [SPEAKER_02]: want to play pool, but this game is like snooker.

[00:15:50] [SPEAKER_02]: And I think that was a really good analogy.

[00:15:52] [SPEAKER_02]: And it's up to us as players to actually sit there and say, look, if you want to play at

[00:15:57] [SPEAKER_02]: the high levels, you've got to play this game or you've got to adapt your team to play the

[00:16:02] [SPEAKER_02]: way you want it to.

[00:16:03] [SPEAKER_02]: You can't just go in with the FC 24 mentality or whatever FIFA you played in the past because

[00:16:09] [SPEAKER_02]: it will just bite you in the ass.

[00:16:10] [SPEAKER_02]: And I was guilty, but I'm just trying to force stuff.

[00:16:13] [SPEAKER_02]: I'm trying to force through balls.

[00:16:14] [SPEAKER_02]: I know through balls are trash this year or mostly trash and I'm trying to thread the

[00:16:19] [SPEAKER_02]: needle.

[00:16:19] [SPEAKER_02]: I'm having the ball on the edge of the box and then I'm getting frustrated and bored with

[00:16:23] [SPEAKER_02]: myself.

[00:16:24] [SPEAKER_02]: And then I play a stupid through ball, give the ball away.

[00:16:26] [SPEAKER_02]: And what happens?

[00:16:27] [SPEAKER_02]: My team is pushed up.

[00:16:29] [SPEAKER_02]: I'm getting hit on the counter attack.

[00:16:30] [SPEAKER_02]: Couple of long balls, ping pong goal conceded.

[00:16:33] [SPEAKER_02]: I hit my low ebb with this game last night on Monday night because I went two and three

[00:16:38] [SPEAKER_02]: in playoffs.

[00:16:38] [SPEAKER_02]: It's the first time I think I've ever done a playoffs since they came in and I failed to qualify.

[00:16:44] [SPEAKER_02]: And in the deciding game, I was 2-0 up cruising and the guy scored just an absolute BS goal.

[00:16:51] [SPEAKER_02]: A long launch through ball that somehow his gold Pajor managed to out jump Militao and nod

[00:16:59] [SPEAKER_02]: in.

[00:17:00] [SPEAKER_02]: And that was it.

[00:17:01] [SPEAKER_02]: My head had gone and I was like, I'm at the point where I'm just going to install this

[00:17:05] [SPEAKER_02]: game because I can't play the game I want to play.

[00:17:08] [SPEAKER_02]: So why am I bothering?

[00:17:09] [SPEAKER_02]: Talked to John and if he had been needed an advert for foot coaching and we talk

[00:17:13] [SPEAKER_02]: about this all the time.

[00:17:15] [SPEAKER_02]: The same way that, as I said, if you're frustrated with your golf game, if you're frustrated with

[00:17:20] [SPEAKER_02]: something at work or anything, you go out and you seek teaching and outside views and

[00:17:25] [SPEAKER_02]: help.

[00:17:26] [SPEAKER_02]: And John was able to go, look, this is it.

[00:17:30] [SPEAKER_02]: And he immediately noticed things like you're rushing your players out to try and win the

[00:17:34] [SPEAKER_02]: ball too much.

[00:17:35] [SPEAKER_02]: And I don't even realize I'm doing it myself until somebody actually sits there and goes,

[00:17:38] [SPEAKER_02]: OK, you're doing that.

[00:17:40] [SPEAKER_02]: And that is leading to this.

[00:17:41] [SPEAKER_02]: That's why you're getting caught on the counter so much.

[00:17:44] [SPEAKER_02]: And also you're guilty of trying to force openings when they're not there.

[00:17:49] [SPEAKER_02]: So that's a very long winded, rambly way of saying I am annoyed that this game forces

[00:17:55] [SPEAKER_02]: you to play slower.

[00:17:58] [SPEAKER_02]: And I think that, again, some of the things we talked about in previous weeks, like the

[00:18:01] [SPEAKER_02]: bugs, like Evos and things like that, are just not acceptable for a game that is coming

[00:18:06] [SPEAKER_02]: up for a month old already.

[00:18:08] [SPEAKER_02]: But now that I'm down from the, you know, from standing on the brink of uninstalling and

[00:18:14] [SPEAKER_02]: after that session with John, I won six games in a row and got promoted to Division 3.

[00:18:20] [SPEAKER_02]: But also the thing that helped me do it, and Shaq, I know you've touched on this in the

[00:18:23] [SPEAKER_02]: past as well, is I actually went and invested in my team.

[00:18:26] [SPEAKER_02]: I just went and spent 500k, bought Haaland, bought Miedema, bought Rudiger, bought Kyle

[00:18:32] [SPEAKER_02]: Walker, and the difference between trying to fudge my way through with Trent at right

[00:18:38] [SPEAKER_02]: back and just, you know, other players like that just made such a huge difference.

[00:18:44] [SPEAKER_02]: So I'm really torn, Shaq, on is this a game that I'm now going to enjoy as I learn it?

[00:18:50] [SPEAKER_02]: Or am I, is it so annoying that you have to play a certain way and spend a certain amount

[00:18:55] [SPEAKER_02]: on your team?

[00:18:55] [SPEAKER_01]: I think it's a really tricky question because let's break it down.

[00:19:00] [SPEAKER_01]: For example, I find dribbling extremely hard in this game, right?

[00:19:05] [SPEAKER_01]: If I, as you probably heard at the start of the first day of the game, I packed an Aymar,

[00:19:11] [SPEAKER_01]: amazing card in the box, but I couldn't dribble with him.

[00:19:14] [SPEAKER_01]: It's a Aymar that I love.

[00:19:15] [SPEAKER_01]: He's the card that I look forward to every single year.

[00:19:18] [SPEAKER_01]: Even if I do a skill move, which I'm pretty good at skill moves, even if I do a skill move,

[00:19:23] [SPEAKER_01]: as soon as I'm done with the skill move, he doesn't have the pace for me to go away from

[00:19:26] [SPEAKER_01]: the defender.

[00:19:27] [SPEAKER_01]: And the defensive animation just picks him up, just sweeps the ball away from Neymar,

[00:19:31] [SPEAKER_01]: even though he's gotten past the defender.

[00:19:33] [SPEAKER_01]: And that's the sort of thing I can't really dribble.

[00:19:36] [SPEAKER_01]: I can't really pass because you can't really do one touch passes.

[00:19:39] [SPEAKER_01]: None of your attackers have a tiki-taka plus, so you can't necessarily pass your way through

[00:19:43] [SPEAKER_01]: the ball.

[00:19:44] [SPEAKER_01]: The defensive AI is so boosted that it's extremely hard to get away.

[00:19:48] [SPEAKER_01]: So then you start to dribble.

[00:19:49] [SPEAKER_01]: I start to question yourself, what do I do?

[00:19:51] [SPEAKER_01]: One of the things you think of, should I do a speed boost?

[00:19:53] [SPEAKER_01]: Because it is effective.

[00:19:54] [SPEAKER_01]: It is certainly effective.

[00:19:55] [SPEAKER_01]: But again, as we discussed last week, it's not something that you can always do.

[00:19:59] [SPEAKER_01]: You can't just keep spamming them.

[00:20:00] [SPEAKER_01]: So there's a whole variety of things that you, and I went into this quandary, should I actually

[00:20:04] [SPEAKER_01]: learn this broken mechanic or should I try and play my way that I want to play?

[00:20:08] [SPEAKER_01]: And it came to a stage where I just got so confused as to what I had to do to break down

[00:20:13] [SPEAKER_01]: my opponents that I just did a hodgepodge of everything just to get the wins.

[00:20:16] [SPEAKER_01]: And that's where I got to.

[00:20:19] [SPEAKER_01]: I'll be honest, I had really good players.

[00:20:20] [SPEAKER_01]: I'm not complaining that, oh, I had a poor team.

[00:20:23] [SPEAKER_01]: I spent money on a team.

[00:20:24] [SPEAKER_01]: But because it was so hodgepodge, as one of the things that you learned talking to John,

[00:20:28] [SPEAKER_01]: my team was just a mishmash of good players where I was trying to do something that I

[00:20:33] [SPEAKER_01]: potentially couldn't have done.

[00:20:35] [SPEAKER_01]: So yeah, that's where I was.

[00:20:37] [SPEAKER_02]: Nath, do you think that, again, for people like me and Shaq and others out there that

[00:20:41] [SPEAKER_02]: might be struggling, that things like burnout and overcompetitiveness are impacting our

[00:20:47] [SPEAKER_02]: judgment?

[00:20:47] [SPEAKER_02]: Because it does feel...

[00:20:49] [SPEAKER_02]: And one of the questions from Yngwie in the mailbag is, do you think the game has no more

[00:20:53] [SPEAKER_02]: casual modes left after the change this year?

[00:20:55] [SPEAKER_02]: Every mode feels like a grind.

[00:20:57] [SPEAKER_02]: Even squad battle seems more difficult this year.

[00:20:59] [SPEAKER_02]: Do you think that perhaps people are feeling, like us, are feeling more frustrated because

[00:21:03] [SPEAKER_02]: it is just a relentless barrage of competitive play?

[00:21:08] [SPEAKER_00]: Yes and no.

[00:21:09] [SPEAKER_00]: I think Rivals is definitely a lot more competitive.

[00:21:11] [SPEAKER_00]: And Weekend League, you'd expect to, because, well, not Weekend League, it's Champs.

[00:21:15] [SPEAKER_00]: And to be fair, like I said in the pod yesterday, I think Champs does what it says on the 10.

[00:21:20] [SPEAKER_00]: I think qualifying is harder, so you've got better standard of players in there.

[00:21:24] [SPEAKER_00]: So I know that it's frustrating once you're in there, but I don't have an issue with Champs

[00:21:29] [SPEAKER_00]: being really sweaty and really difficult because that should be the pinnacle.

[00:21:33] [SPEAKER_00]: And I think you see by the rewards, I know your pack look wasn't great either of you in Champs,

[00:21:37] [SPEAKER_00]: but the rewards are better than they were last year.

[00:21:40] [SPEAKER_00]: I'm fully comfortable with that being the sweatiest place.

[00:21:44] [SPEAKER_00]: Rivals, the rewards are much better as well.

[00:21:46] [SPEAKER_00]: I think, like we keep saying, 45 points is a hell of a lot for Rivals.

[00:21:51] [SPEAKER_00]: And I think that does have a bit of burnout.

[00:21:53] [SPEAKER_00]: But at the same time, if you're on the roll, it's also a really good place to go, actually.

[00:21:57] [SPEAKER_00]: I still need a few more points.

[00:21:58] [SPEAKER_00]: I'm playing well.

[00:21:58] [SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to keep playing, so I quite like that.

[00:22:00] [SPEAKER_00]: But friendlies, so far for me, friendlies have been a breeze.

[00:22:03] [SPEAKER_00]: And I think that is really chill.

[00:22:05] [SPEAKER_00]: You get to use different players, different teams, even different formations.

[00:22:08] [SPEAKER_00]: So I don't see that being super competitive.

[00:22:10] [SPEAKER_00]: But I think everybody wants the best packs to get the best players and the best pack look.

[00:22:16] [SPEAKER_00]: I think that is still driving everyone.

[00:22:18] [SPEAKER_00]: There's still a better FOMO, even if the pack weight's not great.

[00:22:21] [SPEAKER_00]: There's still FOMO because if you're staying your way to open, you know, 283 plus whatever's

[00:22:26] [SPEAKER_00]: and then 84 times whatever, I'm going to be thinking, oh, I could do with that because

[00:22:30] [SPEAKER_00]: that could be, you know, the next Araujo for my team or someone like that.

[00:22:33] [SPEAKER_00]: So I think it is really competitive.

[00:22:36] [SPEAKER_00]: I actually don't find squad battles that much more difficult.

[00:22:39] [SPEAKER_00]: The bits I'm finding more difficult is that I'm using, I'm trying to play at a higher level

[00:22:43] [SPEAKER_00]: to get to, you know, gold one, elite three, elite two, whatever.

[00:22:47] [SPEAKER_00]: So I think that's on me because I was used to playing semi-pro, not even to get the rewards

[00:22:52] [SPEAKER_00]: last year, but I was getting a lot of the objectives done in that.

[00:22:55] [SPEAKER_00]: So it's hard you have to concentrate.

[00:22:57] [SPEAKER_00]: But again, it's only three or four and a half.

[00:22:59] [SPEAKER_00]: So it's not the worst thing in the world.

[00:23:01] [SPEAKER_00]: You can even pause it at halftime and have a wee break.

[00:23:03] [SPEAKER_00]: So I think it all depends on your mindset, to be honest.

[00:23:06] [SPEAKER_00]: I think if you go in going, you know, rivals, I want to get to the 45 points only.

[00:23:11] [SPEAKER_00]: I don't care about my divisions.

[00:23:12] [SPEAKER_00]: That's fine.

[00:23:13] [SPEAKER_00]: If you want to go up, you know, at the moment, we all want to be an elite eventually.

[00:23:16] [SPEAKER_00]: So there's pressure on us.

[00:23:18] [SPEAKER_00]: We've all, apart from you, Shaq, sorry.

[00:23:19] [SPEAKER_00]: You ought to be in diff one.

[00:23:20] [SPEAKER_00]: But, you know, everyone wants to get up that ladder.

[00:23:23] [SPEAKER_00]: Like that's the competitive nature of the majority of this game.

[00:23:27] [SPEAKER_00]: So there is that.

[00:23:28] [SPEAKER_00]: But I don't think it's much worse than last year, apart from champs,

[00:23:32] [SPEAKER_00]: where there is that pressure to qualify with less games.

[00:23:35] [SPEAKER_00]: And then you're playing, you are playing probably better players.

[00:23:38] [SPEAKER_00]: And like lesser players may get through it as well, depending on the look of the draw.

[00:23:42] [SPEAKER_00]: But I think that's the only one where I can see the sort of the additional baggage, if you like.

[00:23:47] [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.

[00:23:48] [SPEAKER_02]: I know, Shaq, me and you were having the conversation as well.

[00:23:51] [SPEAKER_02]: And Nate touched on it there.

[00:23:52] [SPEAKER_02]: But, you know, you go through this very sweaty chance process and you don't get great pack luck.

[00:23:57] [SPEAKER_02]: But I was sat here thinking, do you think maybe EA have backed themselves into a bit of a corner here?

[00:24:01] [SPEAKER_02]: Because they've given such huge juice rewards that actually they've gone,

[00:24:05] [SPEAKER_02]: if people are playing all this and actually getting good rewards from this,

[00:24:09] [SPEAKER_02]: they're going to be less likely to go to the store.

[00:24:11] [SPEAKER_02]: Because I was watching a lot of the icon packs and things getting open,

[00:24:15] [SPEAKER_02]: even from the 15 and 0 players this weekend.

[00:24:17] [SPEAKER_02]: And they were very, very poor.

[00:24:21] [SPEAKER_01]: Exactly.

[00:24:22] [SPEAKER_01]: I looked at the rank one rewards.

[00:24:24] [SPEAKER_01]: Most of the icons were terrible.

[00:24:25] [SPEAKER_01]: I think I just saw out of all the numerous videos that I saw,

[00:24:29] [SPEAKER_01]: I saw one guy pack a Booth Ragueno.

[00:24:31] [SPEAKER_01]: That's the only good icon that I saw coming out of these packs.

[00:24:35] [SPEAKER_01]: And then you rank two, you get a hero pack.

[00:24:37] [SPEAKER_01]: And none of the heroes were actually good.

[00:24:39] [SPEAKER_01]: You just get this random hero that's 100k, maybe like a pack or maybe,

[00:24:43] [SPEAKER_01]: I think the best hero that I saw being pulled was maybe a Tevez.

[00:24:47] [SPEAKER_01]: Yes, I think someone pulled a Tevez on one of the things.

[00:24:50] [SPEAKER_01]: And that's the best kind of hero.

[00:24:52] [SPEAKER_01]: So I just thought to myself, this is week one of champs.

[00:24:55] [SPEAKER_01]: If these guys are pulling out the R9s and the Ronaldinhos in week one,

[00:24:59] [SPEAKER_01]: what's going to happen in week 10?

[00:25:00] [SPEAKER_01]: These guys are going to have every single base icon sitting in their club,

[00:25:03] [SPEAKER_01]: which why would they want to go and open any store pack?

[00:25:07] [SPEAKER_01]: That's the thing.

[00:25:08] [SPEAKER_01]: But having said that though,

[00:25:09] [SPEAKER_01]: most of the guys that finished rank one did it with a 10 million coin,

[00:25:13] [SPEAKER_01]: a 15 million coin team.

[00:25:14] [SPEAKER_01]: So it's one of the disparities where you would get rank one,

[00:25:18] [SPEAKER_01]: if you spend a lot on the game to actually get the squad that you can assemble

[00:25:21] [SPEAKER_01]: to go and do that.

[00:25:22] [SPEAKER_01]: So it's a bit tricky.

[00:25:24] [SPEAKER_01]: So yeah,

[00:25:24] [SPEAKER_01]: I really don't think EA would want to be as generous as they actually stated

[00:25:28] [SPEAKER_01]: in their notes.

[00:25:29] [SPEAKER_01]: And I really want to call out the fact that you said EA is back to themselves

[00:25:32] [SPEAKER_01]: in a corner,

[00:25:33] [SPEAKER_01]: because if you look at the words that they used during the pitch notes,

[00:25:36] [SPEAKER_01]: they actually prescribed that they had to do this.

[00:25:38] [SPEAKER_01]: They had to make it harder for people for entering champs because they could

[00:25:42] [SPEAKER_01]: give out better rewards.

[00:25:43] [SPEAKER_01]: Yes.

[00:25:44] [SPEAKER_01]: But then I think I just misunderstood that it was still RNG.

[00:25:49] [SPEAKER_01]: It's still completely random.

[00:25:52] [SPEAKER_01]: And that's what frustrated me.

[00:25:54] [SPEAKER_02]: I disagree.

[00:25:55] [SPEAKER_02]: I don't even think it's completely random.

[00:25:56] [SPEAKER_02]: I think the weight on it sucks because just the,

[00:26:01] [SPEAKER_02]: I mean,

[00:26:01] [SPEAKER_02]: I don't know what your experience has been,

[00:26:03] [SPEAKER_02]: but all of these minimum rating packs,

[00:26:04] [SPEAKER_02]: they just seem to give you the minimum rating player.

[00:26:08] [SPEAKER_02]: You almost tend to get better players from the completely random ones.

[00:26:11] [SPEAKER_02]: Like if you just do a gold upgrade,

[00:26:13] [SPEAKER_02]: you seem to get better than if you're doing like an 80 plus upgrade.

[00:26:17] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.

[00:26:17] [SPEAKER_00]: I mean,

[00:26:17] [SPEAKER_00]: that was the same last year to be fair.

[00:26:19] [SPEAKER_00]: Like obviously you,

[00:26:20] [SPEAKER_00]: someone,

[00:26:21] [SPEAKER_00]: someone's going to get an outrageous pull,

[00:26:23] [SPEAKER_00]: but a lot of these,

[00:26:24] [SPEAKER_00]: these packs,

[00:26:25] [SPEAKER_00]: if it said it was 82 plus you'd get an 82 or if it's 82 times two,

[00:26:29] [SPEAKER_00]: you'd get an 82 and maybe an 83 or 84.

[00:26:31] [SPEAKER_00]: It's not,

[00:26:32] [SPEAKER_00]: they've never been juiced though.

[00:26:34] [SPEAKER_00]: I don't,

[00:26:34] [SPEAKER_00]: I don't think so.

[00:26:35] [SPEAKER_00]: I don't think that it's necessarily being like,

[00:26:37] [SPEAKER_00]: I must do that.

[00:26:38] [SPEAKER_00]: I must get that per se.

[00:26:40] [SPEAKER_00]: It's always nice to have.

[00:26:41] [SPEAKER_00]: And you've always got that little hope.

[00:26:43] [SPEAKER_00]: But I think we said it in the early session.

[00:26:47] [SPEAKER_00]: I think when we were looking ahead at it,

[00:26:48] [SPEAKER_00]: there's so many ways to get packs as well.

[00:26:50] [SPEAKER_00]: I think that that's,

[00:26:51] [SPEAKER_00]: they've got to kind of tone down the weight.

[00:26:53] [SPEAKER_00]: Cause like Shaq said,

[00:26:54] [SPEAKER_00]: if,

[00:26:54] [SPEAKER_00]: if everyone was getting all these packs,

[00:26:56] [SPEAKER_00]: say you did every single game mode and you know,

[00:26:58] [SPEAKER_00]: you finished,

[00:26:59] [SPEAKER_00]: you know,

[00:27:00] [SPEAKER_00]: rank one in rivals and you got elite something in squad battles as well.

[00:27:04] [SPEAKER_00]: You are going to have,

[00:27:05] [SPEAKER_00]: your team's going to be juiced so soon.

[00:27:07] [SPEAKER_00]: And then what are you playing for?

[00:27:09] [SPEAKER_00]: Really?

[00:27:09] [SPEAKER_00]: Like,

[00:27:10] [SPEAKER_00]: I know it's early game,

[00:27:11] [SPEAKER_00]: but they want you to,

[00:27:12] [SPEAKER_00]: they do want you to go to the store and they want you to keep engaged.

[00:27:15] [SPEAKER_00]: They want you to keep playing your rivals.

[00:27:16] [SPEAKER_00]: They want you to keep doing all these different game modes.

[00:27:18] [SPEAKER_00]: So I can see whether,

[00:27:20] [SPEAKER_00]: why they're doing it.

[00:27:20] [SPEAKER_00]: I'm not saying it's the right thing to do by any means,

[00:27:22] [SPEAKER_00]: but maybe it is the right way to go at the same time,

[00:27:24] [SPEAKER_00]: because you don't want,

[00:27:25] [SPEAKER_00]: you know,

[00:27:26] [SPEAKER_00]: you don't want to miss three or four weekend leagues.

[00:27:28] [SPEAKER_00]: And suddenly every person's got Mbappe and R9 up front and then Viera

[00:27:32] [SPEAKER_00]: and Hullet in the middle.

[00:27:33] [SPEAKER_00]: Like that would drive people away from the game more than people,

[00:27:37] [SPEAKER_00]: getting,

[00:27:37] [SPEAKER_00]: you know,

[00:27:38] [SPEAKER_00]: poor Pat look,

[00:27:39] [SPEAKER_00]: I think.

[00:27:39] [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.

[00:27:40] [SPEAKER_02]: To me,

[00:27:40] [SPEAKER_02]: it's just,

[00:27:41] [SPEAKER_02]: I think what annoys me is that they,

[00:27:44] [SPEAKER_02]: they talked about the rewards are going to be so much better and on

[00:27:47] [SPEAKER_02]: paper,

[00:27:47] [SPEAKER_02]: they're so much better,

[00:27:48] [SPEAKER_02]: but in actual reality,

[00:27:51] [SPEAKER_02]: I'm not noticing my team moving any faster or getting better because of

[00:27:56] [SPEAKER_02]: getting however many wins.

[00:27:59] [SPEAKER_02]: I mean,

[00:27:59] [SPEAKER_02]: I think one of the things that's not talked about is things that now we no

[00:28:03] [SPEAKER_02]: longer have red picks.

[00:28:04] [SPEAKER_02]: I think you've even got even less chance of getting something,

[00:28:07] [SPEAKER_02]: really good from,

[00:28:07] [SPEAKER_02]: from your weekend league rewards.

[00:28:09] [SPEAKER_02]: And I've read picks were historically not the best,

[00:28:11] [SPEAKER_02]: but I mean,

[00:28:12] [SPEAKER_02]: compared to these like 85 plus and stuff like that,

[00:28:14] [SPEAKER_02]: you at least got something that had some value,

[00:28:16] [SPEAKER_02]: but anyway,

[00:28:17] [SPEAKER_02]: that's just kind of FIFA conspiracy theory,

[00:28:19] [SPEAKER_02]: theorist me,

[00:28:21] [SPEAKER_02]: rearing its ugly head.

[00:28:22] [SPEAKER_02]: But look,

[00:28:22] [SPEAKER_02]: so there are frustrations and I want to say to anybody out there that if you

[00:28:25] [SPEAKER_02]: are struggling again,

[00:28:25] [SPEAKER_02]: look,

[00:28:25] [SPEAKER_02]: I know I've plugged foot coaching.com.

[00:28:28] [SPEAKER_02]: I'll also use this opportunity to plug the discord,

[00:28:30] [SPEAKER_02]: which you can get into absolutely free.

[00:28:32] [SPEAKER_02]: And of course our Patreon,

[00:28:34] [SPEAKER_02]: patreon.com forward slash foot in review.

[00:28:37] [SPEAKER_02]: Again,

[00:28:37] [SPEAKER_02]: put your hand in your pocket,

[00:28:39] [SPEAKER_02]: give us a few quid.

[00:28:40] [SPEAKER_02]: It helps us produce content.

[00:28:42] [SPEAKER_02]: It helps us feel good.

[00:28:43] [SPEAKER_02]: Helps.

[00:28:43] [SPEAKER_02]: You will feel good as well.

[00:28:45] [SPEAKER_02]: Knowing that you are giving to us as well.

[00:28:47] [SPEAKER_02]: But look,

[00:28:48] [SPEAKER_02]: we realized that times are tight and it's absolutely not expected.

[00:28:51] [SPEAKER_02]: Leaving five star reviews,

[00:28:52] [SPEAKER_02]: thumbs ups on Twitter,

[00:28:53] [SPEAKER_02]: all that jazz is much,

[00:28:56] [SPEAKER_02]: is a super appreciated as well.

[00:28:58] [SPEAKER_02]: But yeah,

[00:28:58] [SPEAKER_02]: be part of the discord gets you access to this kind of community where we're

[00:29:00] [SPEAKER_02]: having these kinds of conversations all the time and helping pick each

[00:29:04] [SPEAKER_02]: other up when we're down.

[00:29:05] [SPEAKER_02]: And of course you get exclusive content on the patron as well.

[00:29:09] [SPEAKER_02]: But yeah,

[00:29:11] [SPEAKER_02]: go use that foot coaching resource.

[00:29:13] [SPEAKER_02]: It is really affecting you mentally,

[00:29:15] [SPEAKER_02]: but also as we've just talked about,

[00:29:17] [SPEAKER_02]: don't feel the FOMO because me and Shaq have just been through this weekend

[00:29:21] [SPEAKER_02]: league,

[00:29:22] [SPEAKER_02]: you know,

[00:29:22] [SPEAKER_02]: sweated everything we had and it's not made any bit of a difference.

[00:29:26] [SPEAKER_02]: So if you're sitting there and you haven't qualified,

[00:29:29] [SPEAKER_02]: that's just luck.

[00:29:31] [SPEAKER_02]: And look,

[00:29:31] [SPEAKER_02]: I felt embarrassed yesterday,

[00:29:33] [SPEAKER_02]: not qualifying.

[00:29:33] [SPEAKER_02]: I felt like,

[00:29:34] [SPEAKER_02]: Oh my God,

[00:29:35] [SPEAKER_02]: I host a foot,

[00:29:36] [SPEAKER_02]: a foot podcast.

[00:29:36] [SPEAKER_02]: I can't even qualify for weekend league.

[00:29:38] [SPEAKER_02]: I went four and one the week before in my qualifiers.

[00:29:41] [SPEAKER_02]: And this week went two and three.

[00:29:43] [SPEAKER_02]: And I just happened to run into two really good players and less one 50,

[00:29:46] [SPEAKER_02]: 50 matchup.

[00:29:47] [SPEAKER_02]: And that is the narrow margin.

[00:29:49] [SPEAKER_02]: I really think that they need to,

[00:29:52] [SPEAKER_02]: I am very much leaning now onto the camp of this playoff format.

[00:29:55] [SPEAKER_02]: I don't think works because I do think the matchmaking is too random.

[00:30:00] [SPEAKER_02]: I think,

[00:30:01] [SPEAKER_02]: especially with such a small ELO window,

[00:30:03] [SPEAKER_02]: everybody is plus one or plus two or minus one or minus two.

[00:30:07] [SPEAKER_02]: You know,

[00:30:08] [SPEAKER_02]: like you said,

[00:30:08] [SPEAKER_02]: Shaq,

[00:30:09] [SPEAKER_02]: people can luck their way into this competition.

[00:30:12] [SPEAKER_02]: It's not a case of,

[00:30:14] [SPEAKER_02]: you know,

[00:30:14] [SPEAKER_02]: even,

[00:30:15] [SPEAKER_02]: you know,

[00:30:15] [SPEAKER_02]: what,

[00:30:16] [SPEAKER_02]: if you're going to make it that way,

[00:30:17] [SPEAKER_02]: make it seeding based,

[00:30:18] [SPEAKER_02]: make it the facts of your own bloody div one or div three,

[00:30:21] [SPEAKER_02]: you're going to face at least two players from div six or something like that.

[00:30:24] [SPEAKER_02]: I don't know,

[00:30:25] [SPEAKER_02]: but I just think,

[00:30:26] [SPEAKER_02]: I just think it's too,

[00:30:27] [SPEAKER_02]: it is too random at the moment.

[00:30:29] [SPEAKER_00]: I think just extend it,

[00:30:30] [SPEAKER_00]: make it maybe not 10 win,

[00:30:32] [SPEAKER_00]: 10 games,

[00:30:32] [SPEAKER_00]: but make it seven wins.

[00:30:33] [SPEAKER_00]: Three from seven gives you a little bit of a fallback,

[00:30:36] [SPEAKER_00]: but then do we go back to how it was last year where everybody got through it

[00:30:40] [SPEAKER_00]: and it takes away the chat?

[00:30:41] [SPEAKER_00]: Like,

[00:30:41] [SPEAKER_00]: like I say,

[00:30:42] [SPEAKER_00]: I can see why they're doing it.

[00:30:43] [SPEAKER_00]: I don't necessarily agree that it's the best way to do it.

[00:30:46] [SPEAKER_00]: Cause if you have one or two off matches,

[00:30:48] [SPEAKER_00]: or let you say somebody looks through,

[00:30:50] [SPEAKER_00]: then it kind of punishes you,

[00:30:52] [SPEAKER_00]: but it's hard to say because they are obviously trying to get the best of the best into that mode.

[00:30:58] [SPEAKER_00]: So it's difficult.

[00:31:00] [SPEAKER_01]: I agree with the point of getting the best for the best into the mode,

[00:31:03] [SPEAKER_01]: but the best of the best are going to finish at 15 and all the next rank.

[00:31:08] [SPEAKER_01]: This is why you have ranked is so,

[00:31:10] [SPEAKER_01]: and it clearly shows that if you don't really finish in those top ranked is,

[00:31:14] [SPEAKER_01]: you end up with 20,000 coins as your bonus total.

[00:31:16] [SPEAKER_01]: If you've been,

[00:31:17] [SPEAKER_01]: I think for six wins,

[00:31:18] [SPEAKER_01]: you get 20,000 coins,

[00:31:19] [SPEAKER_01]: which is,

[00:31:20] [SPEAKER_01]: which is nothing in the whole scheme of things.

[00:31:21] [SPEAKER_01]: So if you have more people on there,

[00:31:23] [SPEAKER_01]: you can actually have,

[00:31:24] [SPEAKER_01]: there could be some games that you can get through and sure,

[00:31:27] [SPEAKER_01]: instead of finishing on eight wins,

[00:31:29] [SPEAKER_01]: I probably would have finished on 10 wins.

[00:31:30] [SPEAKER_01]: Would that have made a huge difference to my rewards?

[00:31:32] [SPEAKER_01]: I would have be,

[00:31:33] [SPEAKER_01]: would I be flying with much better packs?

[00:31:35] [SPEAKER_01]: Not really.

[00:31:36] [SPEAKER_01]: Would I have enjoyed my experience?

[00:31:37] [SPEAKER_01]: Probably.

[00:31:38] [SPEAKER_01]: What about the person that actually wins two wins out of the 15?

[00:31:41] [SPEAKER_01]: Sure.

[00:31:42] [SPEAKER_01]: They probably wouldn't have enjoyed the experience,

[00:31:44] [SPEAKER_01]: but as of,

[00:31:44] [SPEAKER_01]: as like last year,

[00:31:45] [SPEAKER_01]: they felt like they were part of the whole process and they felt like they were being equally represented.

[00:31:50] [SPEAKER_01]: So it's,

[00:31:51] [SPEAKER_01]: I'm starting to question my first initial thoughts about,

[00:31:54] [SPEAKER_01]: I mean,

[00:31:55] [SPEAKER_01]: it goes back to packs being RNG.

[00:31:58] [SPEAKER_01]: So what are we gatekeeping then?

[00:32:00] [SPEAKER_01]: Really?

[00:32:00] [SPEAKER_01]: What are we gatekeeping?

[00:32:01] [SPEAKER_01]: We're just gatekeeping some people's access to random RNG packs.

[00:32:04] [SPEAKER_01]: Why?

[00:32:05] [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

[00:32:05] [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.

[00:32:06] [SPEAKER_02]: I agree.

[00:32:06] [SPEAKER_02]: I think I said,

[00:32:07] [SPEAKER_02]: even if you make it three wins from six,

[00:32:09] [SPEAKER_02]: I just think I,

[00:32:11] [SPEAKER_02]: I,

[00:32:11] [SPEAKER_02]: I not necessarily sure.

[00:32:13] [SPEAKER_02]: I agree.

[00:32:13] [SPEAKER_02]: Like I said,

[00:32:14] [SPEAKER_02]: the EA should be putting the most pressured mode on,

[00:32:16] [SPEAKER_02]: on being foot,

[00:32:17] [SPEAKER_02]: foot champs qualifiers.

[00:32:19] [SPEAKER_02]: Um,

[00:32:19] [SPEAKER_02]: I think as you said,

[00:32:21] [SPEAKER_02]: Shaq,

[00:32:21] [SPEAKER_02]: I think that,

[00:32:21] [SPEAKER_02]: that,

[00:32:22] [SPEAKER_02]: that pressure should come in actual foot champs itself.

[00:32:25] [SPEAKER_02]: Um,

[00:32:25] [SPEAKER_02]: not on the playoff mode,

[00:32:27] [SPEAKER_02]: but I,

[00:32:27] [SPEAKER_02]: I see both ways about it.

[00:32:29] [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.

[00:32:29] [SPEAKER_02]: I said,

[00:32:29] [SPEAKER_02]: I sat here last week having qualified easily.

[00:32:32] [SPEAKER_02]: Um,

[00:32:32] [SPEAKER_02]: I didn't really think anything of it.

[00:32:33] [SPEAKER_02]: And now it's only now that I've been on the other side and had that

[00:32:36] [SPEAKER_02]: perspective,

[00:32:37] [SPEAKER_02]: um,

[00:32:37] [SPEAKER_02]: that,

[00:32:37] [SPEAKER_02]: you know,

[00:32:38] [SPEAKER_02]: I've been humbled,

[00:32:39] [SPEAKER_02]: um,

[00:32:39] [SPEAKER_02]: that I can sit here and go,

[00:32:41] [SPEAKER_02]: okay,

[00:32:41] [SPEAKER_02]: well maybe I'm not happy about it.

[00:32:42] [SPEAKER_02]: So maybe it will take a few more weeks for me to,

[00:32:45] [SPEAKER_02]: to fully make my mind up.

[00:32:47] [SPEAKER_02]: But yeah,

[00:32:48] [SPEAKER_02]: but,

[00:32:48] [SPEAKER_02]: but my point was,

[00:32:49] [SPEAKER_02]: is that look,

[00:32:49] [SPEAKER_02]: if you are struggling,

[00:32:50] [SPEAKER_02]: if you've not made it,

[00:32:52] [SPEAKER_02]: um,

[00:32:52] [SPEAKER_02]: don't feel embarrassed like I have,

[00:32:54] [SPEAKER_02]: uh,

[00:32:54] [SPEAKER_02]: and don't feel down about yourself because as I said,

[00:32:58] [SPEAKER_02]: you've got to win 60% of games and you're playing in a pool of

[00:33:01] [SPEAKER_02]: players.

[00:33:02] [SPEAKER_02]: And,

[00:33:03] [SPEAKER_02]: I mean,

[00:33:04] [SPEAKER_02]: gents,

[00:33:04] [SPEAKER_02]: do you think anecdotally from your experiences that the pool of casual

[00:33:09] [SPEAKER_02]: and so-called easier players that you're playing against has just

[00:33:12] [SPEAKER_02]: dropped?

[00:33:13] [SPEAKER_02]: Because I think back to playing FIFA 20 and 21 and going in through

[00:33:17] [SPEAKER_02]: weekend leagues and rampaging your way to 10 and 10 and one quite

[00:33:22] [SPEAKER_02]: easily.

[00:33:23] [SPEAKER_02]: These days,

[00:33:24] [SPEAKER_02]: the gimme wins seem far less,

[00:33:26] [SPEAKER_02]: far harder to come by Shaq.

[00:33:28] [SPEAKER_01]: Exactly.

[00:33:29] [SPEAKER_01]: I can't remember.

[00:33:29] [SPEAKER_01]: I think I had one rage quit and that damn guy quit at zero,

[00:33:34] [SPEAKER_01]: zero when I was just about to score.

[00:33:36] [SPEAKER_01]: That was the only rage quit I got the whole,

[00:33:38] [SPEAKER_01]: the whole time that I was playing.

[00:33:39] [SPEAKER_01]: And there's barely any gimme games.

[00:33:41] [SPEAKER_01]: And I,

[00:33:41] [SPEAKER_01]: I used to really crave those first seven games of champs because it was

[00:33:46] [SPEAKER_01]: first seven games,

[00:33:47] [SPEAKER_01]: which is fun.

[00:33:48] [SPEAKER_01]: And then that became qualifying qualifying became fun last year.

[00:33:51] [SPEAKER_01]: We spoke about this numerous times where qualifying was the most fun thing

[00:33:55] [SPEAKER_01]: that we look forward to because we could just go in,

[00:33:57] [SPEAKER_01]: just kick,

[00:33:58] [SPEAKER_01]: kick,

[00:33:58] [SPEAKER_01]: kick our shoes off,

[00:33:59] [SPEAKER_01]: try different things and just enjoy ourselves because we can enjoy

[00:34:02] [SPEAKER_01]: ourselves in rivals.

[00:34:03] [SPEAKER_01]: We can really enjoy ourselves in champs because you had that goal at the end

[00:34:06] [SPEAKER_01]: of the day.

[00:34:06] [SPEAKER_01]: One more thing.

[00:34:07] [SPEAKER_01]: I have a question for you guys.

[00:34:09] [SPEAKER_01]: Why do we have to end champs?

[00:34:11] [SPEAKER_01]: It's not weekend league.

[00:34:12] [SPEAKER_01]: It's called foot champions.

[00:34:13] [SPEAKER_01]: Why does it have to end on the Monday morning UK time?

[00:34:16] [SPEAKER_01]: Why would we have to dedicate our whole weekend stressing about this stupid

[00:34:20] [SPEAKER_01]: game mode?

[00:34:21] [SPEAKER_00]: I just like that.

[00:34:22] [SPEAKER_00]: I don't get to play on the weekend.

[00:34:24] [SPEAKER_00]: So I'd only get Friday and then there's no danger in the current way that

[00:34:27] [SPEAKER_00]: I'm playing.

[00:34:27] [SPEAKER_00]: I'm playing Friday with all the pros and the streamers.

[00:34:30] [SPEAKER_00]: So I liked it when it was even a Tuesday.

[00:34:32] [SPEAKER_00]: I loved it when it went to Wednesday,

[00:34:34] [SPEAKER_00]: but even finishing on a Tuesday,

[00:34:36] [SPEAKER_00]: make it six o'clock on Tuesday night.

[00:34:38] [SPEAKER_00]: Then you've got a better time to regroup,

[00:34:40] [SPEAKER_00]: get your qualifiers done and go again.

[00:34:42] [SPEAKER_00]: But I don't understand why they're just stopping it like that.

[00:34:45] [SPEAKER_00]: Cause there's a lot of people I'm sure like me that,

[00:34:46] [SPEAKER_00]: you know,

[00:34:47] [SPEAKER_00]: weekends are taken up with hobbies and families and such that it does kind of

[00:34:51] [SPEAKER_00]: keep a lot of the player base away from the game or,

[00:34:54] [SPEAKER_00]: you know,

[00:34:54] [SPEAKER_00]: make it harder at least for them to get on and even complete it.

[00:34:58] [SPEAKER_01]: Exactly.

[00:34:59] [SPEAKER_01]: Exactly.

[00:34:59] [SPEAKER_01]: I'm a hundred percent there with you.

[00:35:01] [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.

[00:35:02] [SPEAKER_02]: Again,

[00:35:02] [SPEAKER_02]: it just seems gatekeeping for the sake of gatekeeping.

[00:35:05] [SPEAKER_02]: I mean,

[00:35:05] [SPEAKER_02]: I don't know why you let people have more time in the summer than not.

[00:35:08] [SPEAKER_02]: I don't know.

[00:35:10] [SPEAKER_02]: Everything without going up the whole EA,

[00:35:13] [SPEAKER_02]: our vault tech conspiracy rabbit hole again,

[00:35:16] [SPEAKER_02]: I do genuinely believe that everything EA does is designed to not everything,

[00:35:23] [SPEAKER_02]: but a lot of things are designed to frustrate players and encourage them to go

[00:35:27] [SPEAKER_02]: to that store.

[00:35:29] [SPEAKER_02]: You know,

[00:35:29] [SPEAKER_02]: I've not qualified for weekend league.

[00:35:31] [SPEAKER_02]: What am I going to have to do?

[00:35:32] [SPEAKER_02]: I need to better my team.

[00:35:34] [SPEAKER_02]: How am I going to better my team?

[00:35:35] [SPEAKER_02]: Cause I can't get those packs.

[00:35:36] [SPEAKER_02]: I'll go to the store.

[00:35:38] [SPEAKER_02]: Oh,

[00:35:38] [SPEAKER_02]: I've not got time to play weekend league and I need to upgrade my team.

[00:35:41] [SPEAKER_02]: How do I upgrade my team?

[00:35:42] [SPEAKER_02]: I'll go to the store.

[00:35:44] [SPEAKER_02]: I haven't got time for 15 wins in rivals every week,

[00:35:47] [SPEAKER_02]: but I still want my teams get better.

[00:35:49] [SPEAKER_02]: I will go to the store and they're a business.

[00:35:52] [SPEAKER_02]: So that is not me sitting here saying,

[00:35:54] [SPEAKER_02]: Oh,

[00:35:54] [SPEAKER_02]: they're evil for doing that.

[00:35:56] [SPEAKER_02]: But I do think that as a business whose primary goal is to drive revenue as

[00:36:00] [SPEAKER_02]: much as possible,

[00:36:00] [SPEAKER_02]: it's smart for them to do the balance.

[00:36:03] [SPEAKER_02]: They've got to work out is to try and keep,

[00:36:05] [SPEAKER_02]: as the likes of Chris have been saying,

[00:36:08] [SPEAKER_02]: are that they need to make sure that they don't alienate that lower level

[00:36:12] [SPEAKER_02]: player to the point where they give up.

[00:36:15] [SPEAKER_02]: And,

[00:36:15] [SPEAKER_02]: and the,

[00:36:16] [SPEAKER_02]: a lot of people say,

[00:36:17] [SPEAKER_02]: well,

[00:36:17] [SPEAKER_02]: okay,

[00:36:17] [SPEAKER_02]: if they don't want to go play something else,

[00:36:18] [SPEAKER_02]: that's fine.

[00:36:19] [SPEAKER_02]: The negative knockback is the kind of things that we've been talking about

[00:36:22] [SPEAKER_02]: in this show,

[00:36:23] [SPEAKER_02]: isn't it?

[00:36:23] [SPEAKER_02]: Nath,

[00:36:24] [SPEAKER_02]: because if all we are doing is suddenly facing the best of the best every

[00:36:28] [SPEAKER_02]: week and every game mode,

[00:36:29] [SPEAKER_02]: suddenly you sit there and start saying,

[00:36:31] [SPEAKER_02]: well,

[00:36:31] [SPEAKER_02]: why am I spending my team literally sweating every single game?

[00:36:34] [SPEAKER_02]: And you'll switch off as well.

[00:36:36] [SPEAKER_02]: And then you'll be the ones that stop spending as well.

[00:36:38] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah,

[00:36:39] [SPEAKER_00]: I think it's,

[00:36:40] [SPEAKER_00]: it's a hard one because they,

[00:36:41] [SPEAKER_00]: like you say,

[00:36:42] [SPEAKER_00]: they're a business and they've got their,

[00:36:43] [SPEAKER_00]: their aims and their targets to hit where we,

[00:36:46] [SPEAKER_00]: as the player base have our own sort of priorities.

[00:36:48] [SPEAKER_00]: And that's to,

[00:36:49] [SPEAKER_00]: to either not spend or to spend as little money as we can.

[00:36:53] [SPEAKER_00]: And,

[00:36:54] [SPEAKER_00]: you know,

[00:36:54] [SPEAKER_00]: you know,

[00:36:55] [SPEAKER_00]: we,

[00:36:55] [SPEAKER_00]: we put a lot of time in it,

[00:36:56] [SPEAKER_00]: but you also want to have the maximum enjoyment that you,

[00:36:59] [SPEAKER_00]: you can as well.

[00:37:00] [SPEAKER_00]: So it's,

[00:37:01] [SPEAKER_00]: it's really hard.

[00:37:02] [SPEAKER_00]: It is really hard.

[00:37:02] [SPEAKER_00]: And I don't think any company that launches a game in this style will be

[00:37:08] [SPEAKER_00]: able to,

[00:37:08] [SPEAKER_00]: you know,

[00:37:08] [SPEAKER_00]: have a great balance in all honesty,

[00:37:10] [SPEAKER_00]: because,

[00:37:11] [SPEAKER_00]: you know,

[00:37:12] [SPEAKER_00]: EA don't have developers sitting there going,

[00:37:14] [SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to make this amazing game for,

[00:37:16] [SPEAKER_00]: you know,

[00:37:16] [SPEAKER_00]: the fun of,

[00:37:17] [SPEAKER_00]: you know,

[00:37:17] [SPEAKER_00]: my own health benefits or the enjoyment of it.

[00:37:19] [SPEAKER_00]: They go,

[00:37:20] [SPEAKER_00]: we're going to make a game that does what we want in the way that we need it

[00:37:23] [SPEAKER_00]: to,

[00:37:24] [SPEAKER_00]: but also make sure people keep involved.

[00:37:26] [SPEAKER_00]: So it is really hard.

[00:37:28] [SPEAKER_00]: And to be honest,

[00:37:29] [SPEAKER_00]: we could sit here saying,

[00:37:30] [SPEAKER_00]: this is how they should do it.

[00:37:31] [SPEAKER_00]: You know,

[00:37:32] [SPEAKER_00]: there's times where we've had our suggestions,

[00:37:33] [SPEAKER_00]: but we're,

[00:37:34] [SPEAKER_00]: we're also not,

[00:37:35] [SPEAKER_00]: you know,

[00:37:36] [SPEAKER_00]: CEOs of a multi-billion pound company either.

[00:37:38] [SPEAKER_00]: Otherwise we probably wouldn't be sitting here,

[00:37:40] [SPEAKER_00]: you know?

[00:37:41] [SPEAKER_00]: So it's really difficult to get that,

[00:37:44] [SPEAKER_00]: that balance.

[00:37:44] [SPEAKER_00]: And I know I sound like an EA sympathist and I'm not at all.

[00:37:47] [SPEAKER_00]: I think there's lots that they could and should be doing differently and

[00:37:50] [SPEAKER_00]: better,

[00:37:50] [SPEAKER_00]: but I can also see like how they get into what they're doing at the same

[00:37:55] [SPEAKER_00]: time.

[00:37:55] [SPEAKER_00]: No,

[00:37:56] [SPEAKER_00]: I absolutely agree.

[00:37:57] [SPEAKER_00]: Sorry,

[00:37:57] [SPEAKER_00]: go on Shaq.

[00:37:58] [SPEAKER_01]: I just talking about the timing stuff as well.

[00:38:00] [SPEAKER_01]: I don't know if you guys ever played seasons in,

[00:38:03] [SPEAKER_01]: in FUT before where you had the,

[00:38:05] [SPEAKER_01]: so you had seasons in the past where it's just,

[00:38:07] [SPEAKER_01]: you just keep playing.

[00:38:08] [SPEAKER_01]: As soon as you come to the milestone,

[00:38:10] [SPEAKER_01]: you finish division three,

[00:38:12] [SPEAKER_01]: for example,

[00:38:12] [SPEAKER_01]: you get the rewards and you just keep chugging along until you finish

[00:38:14] [SPEAKER_01]: division two.

[00:38:15] [SPEAKER_01]: And there's no time limit as such.

[00:38:17] [SPEAKER_01]: And I heard this,

[00:38:18] [SPEAKER_01]: I'm a credit to the NBA FT crowd.

[00:38:19] [SPEAKER_01]: I think it was John or it was Kevin.

[00:38:22] [SPEAKER_01]: One of them mentioned,

[00:38:23] [SPEAKER_01]: why don't we just get an option where once you get the 15 wins clocked up,

[00:38:27] [SPEAKER_01]: you get the rewards and you go again.

[00:38:29] [SPEAKER_01]: There's no limit.

[00:38:30] [SPEAKER_01]: You're just going on getting the 15 wins.

[00:38:32] [SPEAKER_01]: It's not easy to get 15 wins.

[00:38:34] [SPEAKER_01]: It might take you longer than seven days to get your 15 wins if you're not

[00:38:37] [SPEAKER_01]: good enough,

[00:38:37] [SPEAKER_01]: but that just gives you that carrot to keep playing.

[00:38:40] [SPEAKER_01]: And how many,

[00:38:40] [SPEAKER_01]: I've heard a couple of people just give up at 40 points because I didn't have time

[00:38:45] [SPEAKER_01]: the first weekend to finish the 45 points.

[00:38:47] [SPEAKER_01]: I had to wake,

[00:38:48] [SPEAKER_01]: I woke up luckily the early morning when played a couple of games,

[00:38:51] [SPEAKER_01]: got a couple of wins,

[00:38:51] [SPEAKER_01]: but if it was completely open for me to get my points when I was free,

[00:38:55] [SPEAKER_01]: when I was able,

[00:38:56] [SPEAKER_01]: why not?

[00:38:58] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.

[00:38:58] [SPEAKER_00]: I think the difference with that is when you get to,

[00:39:00] [SPEAKER_00]: if you keep doing that,

[00:39:01] [SPEAKER_00]: then your rewards will just be endlessly.

[00:39:04] [SPEAKER_00]: People that could dedicate the game would just almost abuse it.

[00:39:07] [SPEAKER_00]: Cause like you could just constantly keep churning out,

[00:39:10] [SPEAKER_00]: maybe not even focus on the other games.

[00:39:12] [SPEAKER_00]: If,

[00:39:12] [SPEAKER_00]: if rivals is where the best rewards,

[00:39:14] [SPEAKER_00]: maybe outside the champs are,

[00:39:15] [SPEAKER_00]: you would just,

[00:39:16] [SPEAKER_00]: you know,

[00:39:17] [SPEAKER_00]: you wouldn't do rush.

[00:39:17] [SPEAKER_00]: You wouldn't do squad battles.

[00:39:18] [SPEAKER_00]: You would just keep playing and playing and playing.

[00:39:21] [SPEAKER_00]: Cause you know,

[00:39:21] [SPEAKER_00]: these,

[00:39:22] [SPEAKER_00]: these packs are pretty decent,

[00:39:23] [SPEAKER_00]: especially if you get to elite,

[00:39:24] [SPEAKER_00]: that's where,

[00:39:25] [SPEAKER_00]: you know,

[00:39:25] [SPEAKER_00]: these elite teams would just be ridiculous.

[00:39:27] [SPEAKER_00]: And everyone in elite would end up being,

[00:39:29] [SPEAKER_00]: you know,

[00:39:30] [SPEAKER_00]: 13,

[00:39:30] [SPEAKER_00]: 14,

[00:39:31] [SPEAKER_00]: 15,

[00:39:31] [SPEAKER_00]: I know.

[00:39:31] [SPEAKER_00]: And we,

[00:39:32] [SPEAKER_01]: but what percentage of people do you actually think can get 15 and 15 wins?

[00:39:37] [SPEAKER_01]: At easy succession.

[00:39:39] [SPEAKER_01]: Surely there'll be certain people that can do that,

[00:39:41] [SPEAKER_01]: but what percentage,

[00:39:41] [SPEAKER_01]: I don't think it's a huge percentage because as you get higher up,

[00:39:45] [SPEAKER_01]: it get,

[00:39:45] [SPEAKER_01]: the games get harder.

[00:39:46] [SPEAKER_01]: So getting those 15 wins,

[00:39:48] [SPEAKER_01]: it gets extremely hard.

[00:39:49] [SPEAKER_01]: And after a certain point,

[00:39:51] [SPEAKER_01]: you just,

[00:39:51] [SPEAKER_01]: it's not really plausible for every single good player to get those 15 wins.

[00:39:56] [SPEAKER_01]: And it's quick succession.

[00:39:57] [SPEAKER_00]: No,

[00:39:58] [SPEAKER_00]: I liked that idea personally.

[00:40:00] [SPEAKER_00]: I think that,

[00:40:00] [SPEAKER_00]: you know,

[00:40:01] [SPEAKER_00]: if you're on holiday for a week,

[00:40:02] [SPEAKER_00]: you've got a bit of fear,

[00:40:03] [SPEAKER_00]: but you know,

[00:40:04] [SPEAKER_00]: you can come back and you can just keep chugging out those late as soon as you can play as well.

[00:40:07] [SPEAKER_00]: I think it's a good idea,

[00:40:08] [SPEAKER_00]: but I can also see why the better players could almost abuse that as well.

[00:40:12] [SPEAKER_00]: Well,

[00:40:12] [SPEAKER_00]: not abuse it,

[00:40:13] [SPEAKER_00]: but take advantage of it.

[00:40:14] [SPEAKER_00]: Let's say.

[00:40:16] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.

[00:40:16] [SPEAKER_00]: Potentially.

[00:40:17] [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.

[00:40:18] [SPEAKER_02]: I mean,

[00:40:18] [SPEAKER_02]: look,

[00:40:19] [SPEAKER_02]: ultimately,

[00:40:19] [SPEAKER_02]: yeah,

[00:40:19] [SPEAKER_02]: going to go down the path of what's going to make us the most money.

[00:40:22] [SPEAKER_02]: But as the same point that they,

[00:40:24] [SPEAKER_02]: they will have one eye on the game time being played and the user numbers as well,

[00:40:28] [SPEAKER_02]: because they do want to keep that healthy.

[00:40:31] [SPEAKER_02]: Because of course you will naturally naturally have atrophy from older gamers drifting away.

[00:40:35] [SPEAKER_02]: Um,

[00:40:36] [SPEAKER_02]: people who have other responsibilities,

[00:40:37] [SPEAKER_02]: so they will need to keep the next set coming through.

[00:40:41] [SPEAKER_02]: So the profits are wherever they are.

[00:40:43] [SPEAKER_02]: So they're,

[00:40:44] [SPEAKER_02]: as I said,

[00:40:44] [SPEAKER_02]: they're obviously doing something right.

[00:40:46] [SPEAKER_02]: So look again,

[00:40:47] [SPEAKER_02]: loads of frustrations,

[00:40:48] [SPEAKER_02]: loads of things that are good and bad.

[00:40:50] [SPEAKER_02]: Um,

[00:40:51] [SPEAKER_02]: but we'll chug on.

[00:40:52] [SPEAKER_02]: We,

[00:40:53] [SPEAKER_02]: we,

[00:40:53] [SPEAKER_02]: we keep going Shaq.

[00:40:54] [SPEAKER_02]: Yes,

[00:40:55] [SPEAKER_02]: we will.

[00:40:55] [SPEAKER_02]: We will.

[00:40:56] [SPEAKER_02]: Um,

[00:40:57] [SPEAKER_02]: right.

[00:40:57] [SPEAKER_02]: Time for our regular feature.

[00:40:59] [SPEAKER_02]: Now let's,

[00:41:00] [SPEAKER_02]: uh,

[00:41:00] [SPEAKER_02]: let's get into player in review.

[00:41:08] [SPEAKER_02]: There we go.

[00:41:09] [SPEAKER_02]: Player in review time.

[00:41:10] [SPEAKER_02]: Um,

[00:41:11] [SPEAKER_02]: Shaq,

[00:41:11] [SPEAKER_02]: who have you gone for?

[00:41:13] [SPEAKER_02]: I have,

[00:41:13] [SPEAKER_01]: I have to give this,

[00:41:15] [SPEAKER_01]: this fine lady a shout.

[00:41:16] [SPEAKER_01]: It's Lauren James.

[00:41:17] [SPEAKER_01]: She rips me a new one.

[00:41:19] [SPEAKER_01]: Every time I came across her,

[00:41:20] [SPEAKER_01]: she actually really was really good on the ball.

[00:41:23] [SPEAKER_01]: And I just ended up after champs.

[00:41:25] [SPEAKER_01]: I just went and completely revamped my team.

[00:41:27] [SPEAKER_01]: Went and bought,

[00:41:28] [SPEAKER_01]: um,

[00:41:28] [SPEAKER_01]: Lauren James,

[00:41:29] [SPEAKER_01]: bought Sam Kerr,

[00:41:30] [SPEAKER_01]: blah,

[00:41:30] [SPEAKER_01]: blah,

[00:41:30] [SPEAKER_01]: blah.

[00:41:31] [SPEAKER_01]: And Lauren James is so much fun to use.

[00:41:34] [SPEAKER_01]: She's in,

[00:41:34] [SPEAKER_01]: I mean,

[00:41:35] [SPEAKER_01]: as I said,

[00:41:36] [SPEAKER_01]: Neymar always my favorite card this year for me,

[00:41:39] [SPEAKER_01]: Lauren James is miles clear of Neymar.

[00:41:42] [SPEAKER_01]: She is just electric fun.

[00:41:44] [SPEAKER_01]: She's got that speed boost.

[00:41:45] [SPEAKER_01]: When you do that skill,

[00:41:46] [SPEAKER_01]: you can just take away from people.

[00:41:48] [SPEAKER_01]: You can run,

[00:41:48] [SPEAKER_01]: she can finish.

[00:41:49] [SPEAKER_01]: She's got the strength.

[00:41:51] [SPEAKER_01]: She can play on as a camp.

[00:41:52] [SPEAKER_01]: She can play on the right wing.

[00:41:54] [SPEAKER_01]: She can do the trickster plus stuff.

[00:41:56] [SPEAKER_01]: It's,

[00:41:56] [SPEAKER_01]: it's a good fun card for 11 K.

[00:41:58] [SPEAKER_01]: I think everyone should have a Lauren James.

[00:42:00] [SPEAKER_01]: I mean,

[00:42:00] [SPEAKER_01]: not everyone,

[00:42:01] [SPEAKER_01]: please don't all buy her because then she's going to be a pain in everyone's backside.

[00:42:04] [SPEAKER_01]: But if you're looking for a fun card,

[00:42:06] [SPEAKER_01]: you're looking for something different,

[00:42:07] [SPEAKER_01]: just try her out.

[00:42:08] [SPEAKER_01]: She's a incredibly fun card.

[00:42:11] [SPEAKER_01]: Excellent.

[00:42:12] [SPEAKER_01]: Nate,

[00:42:12] [SPEAKER_01]: who have you gone for this week?

[00:42:14] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah,

[00:42:14] [SPEAKER_00]: I've gone for Paul schools this week.

[00:42:16] [SPEAKER_00]: Um,

[00:42:17] [SPEAKER_00]: Bruno Fernandez.

[00:42:18] [SPEAKER_00]: I was lucky enough to pack him on tradable.

[00:42:20] [SPEAKER_00]: Otherwise I probably would have sold him being the dragon.

[00:42:22] [SPEAKER_00]: Uh,

[00:42:22] [SPEAKER_00]: he's replaced Bruno Fernandez.

[00:42:24] [SPEAKER_00]: I was worried about not having a long ball plus on Bruno,

[00:42:27] [SPEAKER_00]: but he's got incisive plus and he's got standard long ball.

[00:42:30] [SPEAKER_00]: So I think he's,

[00:42:31] [SPEAKER_00]: he's everything that you see him in when he played in real life.

[00:42:34] [SPEAKER_00]: He's not the fastest.

[00:42:35] [SPEAKER_00]: The shooting's decent.

[00:42:36] [SPEAKER_00]: He's,

[00:42:36] [SPEAKER_00]: he's actually a wee pain in the backside because his tackling is terrible.

[00:42:40] [SPEAKER_00]: So he just likes to kick folk,

[00:42:41] [SPEAKER_00]: which is tremendous.

[00:42:42] [SPEAKER_00]: Um,

[00:42:42] [SPEAKER_00]: his dribbling is pretty solid actually,

[00:42:44] [SPEAKER_00]: but it says his passing is just unreal.

[00:42:47] [SPEAKER_00]: Uh,

[00:42:47] [SPEAKER_00]: he keeps the ball ticking over as one of my midfield three.

[00:42:50] [SPEAKER_00]: It really,

[00:42:50] [SPEAKER_00]: really good.

[00:42:51] [SPEAKER_00]: I think he's coming in about 189,

[00:42:53] [SPEAKER_00]: 190 K.

[00:42:54] [SPEAKER_00]: So he's not cheap,

[00:42:56] [SPEAKER_00]: but he's also not ridiculous for an icon.

[00:42:58] [SPEAKER_00]: And I think at this stage in the game,

[00:42:59] [SPEAKER_00]: if you want to use the likes of Paul schools,

[00:43:01] [SPEAKER_00]: it's actually a really good time to do it.

[00:43:04] [SPEAKER_02]: Excellent.

[00:43:05] [SPEAKER_02]: I've always been tempted to,

[00:43:06] [SPEAKER_02]: uh,

[00:43:06] [SPEAKER_02]: to invest in Paul school.

[00:43:07] [SPEAKER_02]: So I may well have to do so.

[00:43:08] [SPEAKER_02]: Um,

[00:43:09] [SPEAKER_02]: I've gone for a million towels,

[00:43:11] [SPEAKER_02]: gold card.

[00:43:12] [SPEAKER_02]: Um,

[00:43:12] [SPEAKER_02]: there is a reason this card is around 150 K.

[00:43:15] [SPEAKER_02]: He will get you out of so many jams with that little extra burst of pay.

[00:43:19] [SPEAKER_02]: He's actually decent on the ball as well.

[00:43:21] [SPEAKER_02]: So just,

[00:43:22] [SPEAKER_02]: if you need a player that can kind of cover multiple different roles in your defense,

[00:43:25] [SPEAKER_02]: can't recommend him enough.

[00:43:26] [SPEAKER_02]: I've just paired them up with Rudy.

[00:43:27] [SPEAKER_02]: And I think that is one of the best defensive pairings in the game.

[00:43:30] [SPEAKER_02]: Um,

[00:43:30] [SPEAKER_02]: also a little shout out as well to,

[00:43:32] [SPEAKER_02]: uh,

[00:43:32] [SPEAKER_02]: I know John was talking about Ledley King on yesterday's mini show,

[00:43:35] [SPEAKER_02]: having used him in John's team,

[00:43:37] [SPEAKER_02]: just as good as the card was last year.

[00:43:39] [SPEAKER_02]: I think if he used his,

[00:43:40] [SPEAKER_02]: uh,

[00:43:40] [SPEAKER_02]: what was it?

[00:43:41] [SPEAKER_02]: Triple threat hero or centurion hero,

[00:43:43] [SPEAKER_02]: whichever SBC came out.

[00:43:45] [SPEAKER_02]: Um,

[00:43:45] [SPEAKER_02]: that card stayed in my team for months.

[00:43:47] [SPEAKER_02]: And I think,

[00:43:48] [SPEAKER_02]: uh,

[00:43:49] [SPEAKER_02]: this card will do the same.

[00:43:50] [SPEAKER_02]: Um,

[00:43:51] [SPEAKER_02]: so yeah,

[00:43:51] [SPEAKER_02]: that is my,

[00:43:51] [SPEAKER_02]: my,

[00:43:52] [SPEAKER_02]: my two thumbs up for Edo Militao.

[00:43:55] [SPEAKER_02]: Um,

[00:43:55] [SPEAKER_02]: we are rapidly running out of time.

[00:43:57] [SPEAKER_02]: I'm very conscious of that.

[00:43:58] [SPEAKER_02]: But Shaq,

[00:43:58] [SPEAKER_02]: just very quickly,

[00:43:59] [SPEAKER_02]: I always like to get a little bit of market analysis just in at the end.

[00:44:03] [SPEAKER_02]: As always,

[00:44:03] [SPEAKER_02]: we've got lots of people in the discord asking,

[00:44:05] [SPEAKER_02]: but when do I sell this player?

[00:44:06] [SPEAKER_02]: When do I buy this player?

[00:44:08] [SPEAKER_02]: What's your,

[00:44:08] [SPEAKER_02]: just general feelings on where the market's going to go.

[00:44:10] [SPEAKER_02]: Um,

[00:44:10] [SPEAKER_02]: and advice to players looking to build their team.

[00:44:13] [SPEAKER_01]: Look,

[00:44:13] [SPEAKER_01]: the market's taking a really simplistic sort of,

[00:44:16] [SPEAKER_01]: you know,

[00:44:16] [SPEAKER_01]: trajectory with the past couple of weeks for the past two weeks,

[00:44:19] [SPEAKER_01]: at least the market seems to really go down after rivals rewards.

[00:44:22] [SPEAKER_01]: There's a bit of spike.

[00:44:23] [SPEAKER_01]: It just goes up with,

[00:44:24] [SPEAKER_01]: you know,

[00:44:24] [SPEAKER_01]: people getting a lot of coins,

[00:44:25] [SPEAKER_01]: people buying a lot of teams,

[00:44:26] [SPEAKER_01]: blah,

[00:44:27] [SPEAKER_01]: blah,

[00:44:27] [SPEAKER_01]: blah,

[00:44:27] [SPEAKER_01]: blah,

[00:44:27] [SPEAKER_01]: blah.

[00:44:28] [SPEAKER_01]: It goes up,

[00:44:28] [SPEAKER_01]: goes up,

[00:44:29] [SPEAKER_01]: goes up.

[00:44:29] [SPEAKER_01]: And slowly from Saturday onward,

[00:44:30] [SPEAKER_01]: it starts to taper down.

[00:44:32] [SPEAKER_01]: And Sunday seems to be really,

[00:44:34] [SPEAKER_01]: really low.

[00:44:34] [SPEAKER_01]: And then Monday people are buying their teams back and they want to go play rivals.

[00:44:38] [SPEAKER_01]: So it's literally the same pattern.

[00:44:40] [SPEAKER_01]: And you can see if you want to buy,

[00:44:41] [SPEAKER_01]: what I've been doing is I've just been buying the teams,

[00:44:44] [SPEAKER_01]: my teams at a point of where,

[00:44:46] [SPEAKER_01]: where I think the market's fairly low.

[00:44:47] [SPEAKER_01]: And as soon as I'm done playing,

[00:44:49] [SPEAKER_01]: the market's usually high.

[00:44:50] [SPEAKER_01]: I just quickly sell my team,

[00:44:52] [SPEAKER_01]: my whole team move on.

[00:44:53] [SPEAKER_01]: And I've been making a lot of coins just by doing that,

[00:44:55] [SPEAKER_01]: just by using,

[00:44:55] [SPEAKER_01]: using cards going forward.

[00:44:57] [SPEAKER_01]: I think it's come to a time where the good cards will be separated by the not so good

[00:45:02] [SPEAKER_01]: cards.

[00:45:03] [SPEAKER_01]: The good cards will start to accelerate in their prices,

[00:45:05] [SPEAKER_01]: especially with,

[00:45:06] [SPEAKER_01]: with what people are getting from the weekend league rewards,

[00:45:08] [SPEAKER_01]: especially the rank one.

[00:45:10] [SPEAKER_01]: I think rank one,

[00:45:10] [SPEAKER_01]: you get 200,000 coins.

[00:45:12] [SPEAKER_01]: And in two weeks time,

[00:45:13] [SPEAKER_01]: someone's getting 400,000 coins at that level.

[00:45:16] [SPEAKER_01]: I mean,

[00:45:16] [SPEAKER_01]: they've got big teams,

[00:45:17] [SPEAKER_01]: where they can start if their buying power will increase.

[00:45:19] [SPEAKER_01]: So I can see that some of the cards,

[00:45:21] [SPEAKER_01]: I think it's not going to be,

[00:45:22] [SPEAKER_01]: I think the top of the range cards like Mbappe and that,

[00:45:25] [SPEAKER_01]: I don't think they'll keep on going up.

[00:45:27] [SPEAKER_01]: I think they've already,

[00:45:27] [SPEAKER_01]: they've already hit the top,

[00:45:29] [SPEAKER_01]: top price and they'll start to come down,

[00:45:31] [SPEAKER_01]: but it's the middle,

[00:45:32] [SPEAKER_01]: the cards underneath that,

[00:45:33] [SPEAKER_01]: the Vinicius and those kinds of cards,

[00:45:35] [SPEAKER_01]: even the special promo cards that are coming through right now,

[00:45:38] [SPEAKER_01]: like even the card like Harry Kane,

[00:45:40] [SPEAKER_01]: I think these kinds of cards will start to go up.

[00:45:41] [SPEAKER_01]: All the RTTK cards,

[00:45:43] [SPEAKER_01]: they will all start to go up.

[00:45:44] [SPEAKER_01]: So if you're really interested in the market,

[00:45:46] [SPEAKER_01]: just look at RTTK cards,

[00:45:47] [SPEAKER_01]: look at the PGP,

[00:45:49] [SPEAKER_01]: that's the thing in Footbin,

[00:45:51] [SPEAKER_01]: where you can see which cards are actually popular.

[00:45:52] [SPEAKER_01]: Look at the RTTK ones that are being used.

[00:45:55] [SPEAKER_01]: RTTK team two,

[00:45:57] [SPEAKER_01]: I would certainly look into buying some of those cards for your team,

[00:45:59] [SPEAKER_01]: not as an investment,

[00:46:00] [SPEAKER_01]: not as a trading thing,

[00:46:01] [SPEAKER_01]: for your team,

[00:46:02] [SPEAKER_01]: because those ones will definitely appreciate over the next couple of days.

[00:46:06] [SPEAKER_02]: Wise words as always,

[00:46:07] [SPEAKER_02]: my friend,

[00:46:08] [SPEAKER_02]: definitely worth doing so.

[00:46:09] [SPEAKER_02]: And if you are looking to pick up a bargain as well,

[00:46:11] [SPEAKER_02]: and you just happen to be up around sort of one,

[00:46:13] [SPEAKER_02]: two in the morning,

[00:46:14] [SPEAKER_02]: UK,

[00:46:15] [SPEAKER_02]: Thursday morning,

[00:46:16] [SPEAKER_02]: that seems to be a really good time to buy players.

[00:46:18] [SPEAKER_02]: Cause you do have that slight panic from everybody just before rivals rewards

[00:46:22] [SPEAKER_02]: comes out.

[00:46:22] [SPEAKER_02]: So if there is a big market player,

[00:46:24] [SPEAKER_02]: you've been eyeing up.

[00:46:25] [SPEAKER_02]: That is my advice for a good time to buy them.

[00:46:28] [SPEAKER_02]: And as usual,

[00:46:30] [SPEAKER_02]: stock up on your discard team of the weeks,

[00:46:32] [SPEAKER_02]: whether they will boom as much this year because the supply is greater.

[00:46:36] [SPEAKER_02]: I'm not sure.

[00:46:37] [SPEAKER_02]: And also these roads to the final cards that are down again,

[00:46:39] [SPEAKER_02]: close towards discard,

[00:46:41] [SPEAKER_02]: just stash them because a,

[00:46:42] [SPEAKER_02]: they're going to get upgrades.

[00:46:43] [SPEAKER_02]: So they might rise in line with their fodder price later.

[00:46:46] [SPEAKER_02]: And B with evos issue,

[00:46:48] [SPEAKER_02]: you never know.

[00:46:49] [SPEAKER_02]: So if you've,

[00:46:50] [SPEAKER_02]: if you ever,

[00:46:51] [SPEAKER_02]: you have an opportunity to have a decent player that you can just very

[00:46:54] [SPEAKER_02]: quickly discard when you need those coins.

[00:46:56] [SPEAKER_02]: It is just always worth doing because you never know when that player,

[00:47:01] [SPEAKER_02]: I remember that,

[00:47:01] [SPEAKER_02]: you know,

[00:47:02] [SPEAKER_02]: I used Frank Kirby a lot last year.

[00:47:03] [SPEAKER_02]: She had a triple threat card that everyone thought was just fodder,

[00:47:06] [SPEAKER_02]: not worth having.

[00:47:07] [SPEAKER_02]: One evo came out,

[00:47:09] [SPEAKER_02]: boom,

[00:47:09] [SPEAKER_02]: she was extinct at like 60 K or whatever it was.

[00:47:12] [SPEAKER_02]: So if you have those spare coins do so,

[00:47:15] [SPEAKER_02]: but also don't be like Nath,

[00:47:17] [SPEAKER_02]: don't be a dragon,

[00:47:18] [SPEAKER_02]: spend your coins as Shaq said on your team,

[00:47:20] [SPEAKER_02]: because every week you sit there going,

[00:47:22] [SPEAKER_02]: Oh,

[00:47:23] [SPEAKER_02]: well there might be something better next week.

[00:47:24] [SPEAKER_02]: There might be something better next week.

[00:47:25] [SPEAKER_02]: Like you're losing a week of your enjoyment.

[00:47:27] [SPEAKER_02]: So try and sit somewhere in the balance,

[00:47:29] [SPEAKER_02]: you know,

[00:47:30] [SPEAKER_00]: I was used those coins to help me complete Varan instantly.

[00:47:34] [SPEAKER_00]: So yeah,

[00:47:35] [SPEAKER_00]: but you have over a million coins.

[00:47:36] [SPEAKER_00]: So that's not fair.

[00:47:38] [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah,

[00:47:38] [SPEAKER_00]: I do.

[00:47:39] [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah,

[00:47:40] [SPEAKER_02]: exactly.

[00:47:41] [SPEAKER_02]: No,

[00:47:41] [SPEAKER_01]: I think this exactly as Dan said,

[00:47:44] [SPEAKER_01]: exactly as when we said is that the fact this year,

[00:47:46] [SPEAKER_01]: I'm not really focusing on investing trading.

[00:47:48] [SPEAKER_01]: I couldn't give to rats.

[00:47:50] [SPEAKER_01]: All I'm focusing on is when can I buy the team that I want to play with?

[00:47:54] [SPEAKER_01]: And when can I sell them?

[00:47:55] [SPEAKER_01]: That's all I care about.

[00:47:57] [SPEAKER_01]: I'm having a lot of fun,

[00:47:58] [SPEAKER_01]: trying a lot of new cards.

[00:47:59] [SPEAKER_01]: I mean,

[00:48:00] [SPEAKER_01]: sure.

[00:48:00] [SPEAKER_01]: As I said earlier,

[00:48:01] [SPEAKER_01]: it's to my detriment where I'm just patching in players,

[00:48:03] [SPEAKER_01]: but these are the players I want to try.

[00:48:05] [SPEAKER_01]: These are the players that really excite me.

[00:48:07] [SPEAKER_01]: That's the,

[00:48:08] [SPEAKER_01]: that's what the game's for.

[00:48:10] [SPEAKER_02]: Exactly.

[00:48:10] [SPEAKER_02]: Exactly that my friend.

[00:48:11] [SPEAKER_02]: Look,

[00:48:12] [SPEAKER_02]: we are going to ride off into the sunset.

[00:48:14] [SPEAKER_02]: Nate,

[00:48:15] [SPEAKER_02]: any closing words from you?

[00:48:17] [SPEAKER_00]: No,

[00:48:18] [SPEAKER_00]: just stay positive.

[00:48:19] [SPEAKER_00]: That's my main one.

[00:48:20] [SPEAKER_00]: It's,

[00:48:21] [SPEAKER_00]: it's not as bad as people think like Dan,

[00:48:23] [SPEAKER_00]: were you last night?

[00:48:24] [SPEAKER_00]: You said you're embarrassed.

[00:48:25] [SPEAKER_00]: And I literally,

[00:48:25] [SPEAKER_00]: all I said back was don't be like there's,

[00:48:29] [SPEAKER_00]: there's always like tomorrow.

[00:48:30] [SPEAKER_00]: Like we keep saying forms temporary,

[00:48:33] [SPEAKER_00]: temporary classes,

[00:48:33] [SPEAKER_00]: permanent.

[00:48:34] [SPEAKER_00]: So it'll come back.

[00:48:36] [SPEAKER_00]: People are learning the game.

[00:48:37] [SPEAKER_00]: Rivals divisions are spreading out.

[00:48:39] [SPEAKER_00]: There's,

[00:48:39] [SPEAKER_00]: there's definitely,

[00:48:40] [SPEAKER_00]: definitely always things to look up to.

[00:48:42] [SPEAKER_00]: so don't be too hard on yourselves.

[00:48:44] [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

[00:48:45] [SPEAKER_02]: Wise words,

[00:48:46] [SPEAKER_02]: my friend.

[00:48:46] [SPEAKER_02]: Shaq,

[00:48:46] [SPEAKER_01]: any final thoughts from you?

[00:48:48] [SPEAKER_01]: No,

[00:48:48] [SPEAKER_01]: it's just exactly as I echo as much as it's,

[00:48:52] [SPEAKER_01]: it's frustrating when Nathan's absolutely spot on.

[00:48:54] [SPEAKER_01]: I mean,

[00:48:55] [SPEAKER_01]: it is game.

[00:48:55] [SPEAKER_01]: I think we get to carry it away with what we expect of ourselves.

[00:48:59] [SPEAKER_01]: You've said this yourself,

[00:49:00] [SPEAKER_01]: Dan,

[00:49:00] [SPEAKER_01]: that our expectations need to be recalibrated at the,

[00:49:03] [SPEAKER_01]: at the start of the year.

[00:49:04] [SPEAKER_01]: And I think that's something that I thought I had done,

[00:49:06] [SPEAKER_01]: but also I think it's just about just trying to enjoy the journey.

[00:49:09] [SPEAKER_01]: The destination is never,

[00:49:11] [SPEAKER_01]: you're never going to get to the destination.

[00:49:12] [SPEAKER_01]: So just try and enjoy the journey as much as you can.

[00:49:14] [SPEAKER_01]: I'm really going to try and do that.

[00:49:16] [SPEAKER_01]: this wise sage advice from the two of you.

[00:49:19] [SPEAKER_02]: Um,

[00:49:19] [SPEAKER_02]: just as funnily enough,

[00:49:20] [SPEAKER_02]: I pack Lauren James,

[00:49:21] [SPEAKER_02]: um,

[00:49:23] [SPEAKER_02]: in,

[00:49:23] [SPEAKER_02]: in a gold upgrade.

[00:49:24] [SPEAKER_02]: So that's a whole 10 K worth of player for me right there.

[00:49:27] [SPEAKER_02]: Um,

[00:49:27] [SPEAKER_02]: that does wrap up the show again.

[00:49:29] [SPEAKER_02]: Thank you so much for all the support.

[00:49:31] [SPEAKER_02]: I know I've shield,

[00:49:32] [SPEAKER_02]: uh,

[00:49:32] [SPEAKER_02]: the patron and the discord enough,

[00:49:33] [SPEAKER_02]: but,

[00:49:34] [SPEAKER_02]: I do all jokes aside,

[00:49:36] [SPEAKER_02]: the people that do go that extra mile,

[00:49:37] [SPEAKER_02]: you are absolute heroes,

[00:49:39] [SPEAKER_02]: um,

[00:49:39] [SPEAKER_02]: to every man and woman of you.

[00:49:41] [SPEAKER_02]: Um,

[00:49:41] [SPEAKER_02]: thank you so much for the support and the love you show for this show.

[00:49:45] [SPEAKER_02]: And thank you to those of you that follow our socials,

[00:49:46] [SPEAKER_02]: do anything.

[00:49:47] [SPEAKER_02]: And just those of you who are just generally decent human beings in this FC

[00:49:51] [SPEAKER_02]: community as well.

[00:49:52] [SPEAKER_02]: You are all,

[00:49:53] [SPEAKER_02]: you're all heroes to me.

[00:49:55] [SPEAKER_02]: Um,

[00:49:55] [SPEAKER_02]: best of luck for the week.

[00:49:57] [SPEAKER_02]: Again,

[00:49:57] [SPEAKER_02]: we will return as usual with daily shows,

[00:49:59] [SPEAKER_02]: daily content updates.

[00:50:01] [SPEAKER_02]: So keep an eye on your feeds for that.

[00:50:02] [SPEAKER_02]: Of course,

[00:50:02] [SPEAKER_02]: we'll have a full fat show out on that's full fat as in,

[00:50:05] [SPEAKER_02]: you know,

[00:50:06] [SPEAKER_02]: full length.

[00:50:06] [SPEAKER_02]: I'm not disparaging John,

[00:50:08] [SPEAKER_02]: Nygbi,

[00:50:08] [SPEAKER_02]: um,

[00:50:08] [SPEAKER_02]: and Chris,

[00:50:09] [SPEAKER_02]: um,

[00:50:11] [SPEAKER_02]: before I,

[00:50:11] [SPEAKER_02]: before I complaints flood in there,

[00:50:14] uh,

[00:50:15] [SPEAKER_02]: we will have a full length show on Friday with,

[00:50:19] [SPEAKER_02]: uh,

[00:50:19] [SPEAKER_02]: wrapping up all of the content.

[00:50:20] [SPEAKER_02]: Do we know what the next promo is going to be?

[00:50:22] [SPEAKER_02]: Gents?

[00:50:23] [SPEAKER_01]: I have no idea.

[00:50:24] [SPEAKER_01]: I haven't seen,

[00:50:26] [SPEAKER_00]: but there's a very tasty,

[00:50:27] [SPEAKER_00]: uh,

[00:50:28] [SPEAKER_00]: SBC coming that's devising opinions online.

[00:50:31] [SPEAKER_00]: So can we share?

[00:50:33] [SPEAKER_00]: Um,

[00:50:34] [SPEAKER_00]: yeah,

[00:50:34] [SPEAKER_00]: it looks like there's going to be a spoiler spoiler,

[00:50:36] [SPEAKER_00]: spoiler,

[00:50:38] [SPEAKER_00]: Oh no,

[00:50:38] [SPEAKER_00]: max 87 hero SBC.

[00:50:41] [SPEAKER_00]: but I know you sound a bit disappointed,

[00:50:44] [SPEAKER_00]: but watching it on socials is hilarious because some people are saying it's a must do.

[00:50:48] [SPEAKER_00]: Other people say this,

[00:50:49] [SPEAKER_00]: it must do not.

[00:50:50] [SPEAKER_00]: I think this is going to be quite fun and absolutely will be.

[00:50:53] [SPEAKER_00]: No,

[00:50:54] [SPEAKER_01]: no,

[00:50:55] [SPEAKER_01]: Look,

[00:50:55] [SPEAKER_01]: I'm telling you right now,

[00:50:56] [SPEAKER_01]: if you have a choice between completing a card that you can use for a long time,

[00:51:00] [SPEAKER_01]: like a Varan,

[00:51:01] [SPEAKER_01]: which is guaranteed for the photo that you're putting in,

[00:51:03] [SPEAKER_01]: as opposed to an SBC that you could may or may not pack something,

[00:51:07] [SPEAKER_01]: choose a player.

[00:51:08] [SPEAKER_01]: That's just me.

[00:51:09] [SPEAKER_01]: Choose both.

[00:51:10] [SPEAKER_00]: Do both.

[00:51:10] [SPEAKER_00]: Do both.

[00:51:11] [SPEAKER_00]: Tell me off of being a dragon.

[00:51:13] [SPEAKER_00]: I am saying do that SBC.

[00:51:14] [SPEAKER_02]: Cause I love you have a million coins like Nate,

[00:51:16] [SPEAKER_02]: do both.

[00:51:17] [SPEAKER_00]: Um,

[00:51:17] [SPEAKER_02]: what I will say though,

[00:51:18] [SPEAKER_02]: if that does come to pass and you ha and you are eyeing up a hero card,

[00:51:23] [SPEAKER_02]: there will be panic in the immediate vicinity just before.

[00:51:28] [SPEAKER_02]: And after this SBC launches of people who've got the top 87 rated heroes,

[00:51:31] [SPEAKER_02]: I don't have a list in front of me,

[00:51:33] [SPEAKER_02]: but,

[00:51:33] [SPEAKER_02]: um,

[00:51:34] [SPEAKER_02]: if you think,

[00:51:34] [SPEAKER_02]: I don't even have there in the,

[00:51:35] [SPEAKER_02]: but the racing,

[00:51:35] [SPEAKER_02]: but you,

[00:51:36] [SPEAKER_02]: if you think of the players,

[00:51:36] [SPEAKER_02]: the meta ones,

[00:51:37] [SPEAKER_02]: the likes of Cordobas of this world,

[00:51:40] [SPEAKER_02]: uh,

[00:51:40] [SPEAKER_02]: you know,

[00:51:40] [SPEAKER_02]: you're Robbie Keens that people think,

[00:51:42] [SPEAKER_02]: Oh God,

[00:51:42] [SPEAKER_02]: everyone's going to pack them.

[00:51:43] [SPEAKER_02]: Uh,

[00:51:44] [SPEAKER_02]: the price will crash.

[00:51:45] [SPEAKER_02]: So I'm going to sell mine now.

[00:51:46] [SPEAKER_02]: What then inevitably happens is actually you remember that it's EA sports releasing this SBC.

[00:51:52] [SPEAKER_02]: Those players do not pop up in that hero icon upgrade and everyone goes out and buys them back or goes to buy them in the first place.

[00:51:59] [SPEAKER_02]: So it's a great chance to make a few coins.

[00:52:01] [SPEAKER_02]: If you have a top budget,

[00:52:03] [SPEAKER_02]: um,

[00:52:03] [SPEAKER_02]: 500 K plus,

[00:52:04] [SPEAKER_02]: and especially as Shaq said,

[00:52:05] [SPEAKER_02]: if it's a player that you can at least fall back on the fact that I would want to use them anyway,

[00:52:09] [SPEAKER_02]: you can then,

[00:52:10] [SPEAKER_02]: you'll be in a great position then of either having a,

[00:52:12] [SPEAKER_02]: cheaper version of a player you want to use,

[00:52:14] [SPEAKER_02]: or you might be able to make a few coins.

[00:52:15] [SPEAKER_02]: Anyway,

[00:52:16] [SPEAKER_02]: that's trading advice for free.

[00:52:17] [SPEAKER_02]: We don't do a trading show anymore,

[00:52:18] [SPEAKER_02]: but you know,

[00:52:19] [SPEAKER_02]: we'll step that in there.

[00:52:20] [SPEAKER_02]: That is enough from us.

[00:52:21] [SPEAKER_02]: We've got one thing left to do now.

[00:52:23] [SPEAKER_02]: Drop it.

[00:52:25] [SPEAKER_02]: Shaq,

[00:52:26] [SPEAKER_02]: drop it.

[00:52:26] [SPEAKER_02]: We are going to drop it.

[00:52:29] [SPEAKER_02]: Thanks.

[00:52:29] [SPEAKER_02]: Take care,

[00:52:29] [SPEAKER_02]: everyone.

[00:52:32] [SPEAKER_01]: Drop it.

[00:52:32] [SPEAKER_01]: F-U-T

[00:52:36] [SPEAKER_00]: F-U-T

[00:52:39] [SPEAKER_01]: F-U-T

[00:52:40] [SPEAKER_01]: F-U-T

[00:52:43] [SPEAKER_00]: F-U-T

[00:52:44] [SPEAKER_00]: T

[00:52:46] [SPEAKER_00]: F-U-T

[00:52:49] See?

[00:52:50] Have you got a new game for now?