FUT Week in Review: Ones to Watch? More Like Ones to Miss

FIFA Ultimate Team disappointed in its second week since the game's release, leading to a simple conclusion so far:

Ones to Watch has been one promotion to miss.

Fans, like myself, eagerly awaited content EA Sports would drop during its big Ones to Watch promotion. But we were dealt a mixed bag that left us scratching our heads. As someone who's an avid FUT player, this isn't the start we imagined.

Each week I'll be doing a deep dive into FIFA Ultimate Team breaking down content drops, leaks, Team of the Week predictions and more.

FIFA 20 Squad Building Challenges: Week 2 Winners and Losers

SBCs were mind-boggling this week. After cards were released in packs on release day and EA dropped an overpriced Allan Saint-Maximin card, fans hoped for better content. Not to mention, no content drops on Saturday and Sunday.

Instead, here's what we got:

• Puzzle SBCs with minimal pack rewards
• UEFA Marquee Matchups
• A PlayStation/Xbox Kit SBC
• OTW Player Pick of Alexis Sanchez or Henrikh Mkhitaryan
• Marquee Matchups
• A New Marquee Moments SBC
• OTW Quincy Promes

Winners

Winners of the week are the player pick and Promes SBCs. Both provided value for coins spent, especially Promes, who's off to a good start with Ajax. Sanchez and Mkhitaryan might be flops this year in the Serie A, but it was more affordable than Saint-Maximin.

It's just a shame EA Sports had a release issue with Promes appearing completed for some players. At the end of the day, it's not a big deal. It's just SSDD for EA at this point.

Losers

A damn kit SBC. Refer to NepentheZ's video from FIFA 19 to see what prominent content creators think of kit SBCs.

Puzzle SBCs at this early in a FUT cycle won't ever reward meaningful packs back, but it comes off as lazy content for a promotion that's supposed to jump start the year. Especially when it stands alone as a content drop. At least we got three sets of "Marquee" SBCs though!

The biggest loser, bigger than a stupid kit, was a Saturday tweet from content creator FutSpy.

FIFA 20 Leaks? No League SBCs Apparently and OTW Nainggolan

Before we even get into leaks, let's all have a moment of silence for EA bottling the release of Champions League cards in packs.

Great, now into what could be the most disappointing news for FUT fans.

FutSpy sent the community into crisis when he revealed that there won't be league SBCs, from what he's been told. Many in the community seem to believe if League SBCs aren't in the game this year, it will more than likely spell doom if not adequately replaced.

EA's response feels like a slap in the face because they've announced content ahead of time at numerous points in the past. Icon Swaps, coming Friday, was announced ahead of time.

FutSpy later stated he thinks EA realized how many players were making coins off of League SBCs and don't want that this year. It's disappointing to the hardcore players and stifles those wanting to become more involved. League SBC farming was simple enough to explain and it made menu content enjoyable consistently.

If they're not adequately replaced, it's going to be a long year. The hardcore players will still find ways to make coins, but it makes things more difficult for casuals -- especially for someone like myself who's a Road to Glory account owner.

Finally, another leak indicated that a OTW Radja Nainggolan SBC might be coming this week. Check out Flair's proof below.

FIFA Ultimate Team Objectives: Where Are They?

Not much to talk about this week in terms of objectives. Tanguy Ndombele was great on release Friday, but everything since has felt empty. Daily Objectives seems to always be play games, win a game and buy a player on the Transfer Market. Also seems like we'll get weekly bronze, silver and gold tiered objectives each Friday.

FIFA 20 TOTW 4 Predictions: First Red Player Picks of the Year

TOTW 3 only had three players worth packing: Riyad Mahrez, Kai Havertz and Onyinye Ndidi. It just goes to show how bland TOTW releases can be during FUT.

The first red player picks of FIFA 20 come out this Thursday after players got their first taste of FUT Champions. As per usual, the TOTW that drops Wednesday will be the player pool picks come from. Yes, that unfortunately means no red IF Kai Havertz to pair with your Bundesliga Player of the Month Robert Lewandowski.

Here are seven potential in-forms for TOTW 4, leaving out one special player for later:

• Eden Hazard (92 LW) - First goal and assist for Real Madrid
• Adama Traore (80 RW) - Two goals against Manchester City
• Wesley (82 ST) - Two goals + assist for Aston Villa
• Arthur (86 CM) - Two assists for Barcelona
• David Luiz (85 CB) - First goal for Arsenal + a clean sheet
• Ciro Immobile (87 ST) - Two goals for Lazio
• Pablo Sarabia (85 CAM) - Goal and two assists for PSG

Carlos Vela FIFA 20 Record Breaker SBC Needs to Happen

Carlos Vela, the Mexican winger for Los Angeles F.C., set the new MLS goal scoring record at 34 after recording a hat trick to close the season against Tim Howard's Colorado Rapids.

EA Sports, desperate for some good FUT press, should release an SBC for his record-breaking efforts. Don't drop him in packs for TOTW because no one's going to spend money on a player that's near impossible to link. For the right price, he'll be the a great super sub for a couple months albeit his two-star weak foot.

Or, release him as an objective. Tanguy Ndombele was a brilliant objective card, follow it up with Vela.

FIFA 20 PL POTM: Kevin De Bruyne or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang?

Finally, we should be due the second FIFA 20 Premier League Player of the Month this week. Kevin De Bruyne and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are the two favorites and fans would welcome either to their starting XIs.

As an Arsenal supporter, I hope PEA gets it, but I think KDB will walk away with the award. Aubameyang scored five goals over 360 minutes played while KDB secured a goal, three assists and 86% pass accuracy over 203 minutes.

Keep in mind, PEA might be the more attractive pick as he's the key reason the Gunners are only a point off MCFC in the table, but we're talking about FIFA. Players might end up voting for KDB since he'd be a meta midfielder for months. Although, so would Aubameyang, but we've already gotten Teemu Pukki.

FIFA Ultimate Team Week in Summary

Grade: C

This week was truly a mixed bag. More downs than ups in terms of content, but next week proves to be a vital time for EA. Lots of potential for content this week that could put EA back in our good graces.

Here's to hoping this week is better than the last.

Photo courtesy of EA Sports