FIFA 21: Player of the Month Prediction - Ligue 1 January POTM
New Year – New Month – New POTMs. Let’s discuss Ligue 1 POTM for January.
This month is interesting due to the fact that we might get really good POTM card. Month where 2 teams went unbeaten and at least 6 teams didn’t lose in 4 out of 5 games this month.
Main headliners of the month – Monaco. Won all 5 games out of 5 and I think at least one player will get nominated from them. Monaco seriously playing very well under Niko Kovac, which may come as a surprise to many people, including me. New signings and youth work well together and they are serious contender for UCL spot at the end of the season. Right now they are 3 points behind PSG, who sit at 3rd.
Lyon-Lille and PSG in exciting title race for the title. Lille, even with financial struggles, still perform very well and right now have 2 points more than Lyon. Their results this month were good, but no players to highlight overall. We’ve already got 2 Lille POTMs so there should be a break for them.
PSG sacked their coach and got themselves Pochetino, and they had good results but somehow lost to 20th place Lorient in the last match day of the month, so I doubt any of the players will get a nominee.
Lyon played well this month apart from a game vs Metz, but still should get a nominee. I’ll cover it a bit later, because I’m excited.
Metz went unbeaten this month with 2 draws and 3 wins and a lot of that because Farid Boulaya found insane form and managed to get 2 goals and 2 assists in last 3 wins for them. Sadly he doesn’t have a Silver Stars (yet), but his POTM would be 82 rated, should be a bit similar to his last year’s FUTMAS card, but with worse stats. As he played only 3 games this month – I doubt that he’ll get nominated but still, it’s a honorable mention. His POTM would worth like 50k, I guess. Shouldn’t be more.
Strasbourg won 3 games, drew 1 and lost 1 and that’s mostly because of Ludovic Ajorque form: 4 goals in 5 games, which is a lot when we consider that he’s playing for Strasbourg. He’d get 87 rated POTM and would be under 50k, because his card is really average and I doubt anyone would complete it.
Let’s cover 3 main candidates
Memphis Depay is my first candidate. I told you that I was really excited, because Memphis had a really good month. Especially the starts of the month, but he still managed to get 3 goals and 2 assists in 5 games and carried Lyon few times. Memphis playing, probably, his last season in Lyon, so he’s trying his hardest to carry Lyon to 1st place and he’s doing that pretty well as team helps him too.
In terms of FUT – he’ll get 89 rated card and it’ll be amazing one. He already had 2 IFs and Moments card before, so boosts on his POTM should be very good too. I actually loved his 87 Moments card, so if he’ll get POTM – I’ll get him for sure
Chances of POTM: 30%
Tips for investing:
It’s hard to tell right now. I think it’s not worth investing with current price of fodder, but if it’ll drop (somehow) – it might be a move. Also links for Depay (if he’ll win) – should rise. Even the likes of Denayer SIF or just in general Dutch players should go up nicely, if Depay priced correctly (as we saw with Dybala card).
Worth investing? If you believe that he can win the award – invest in some Dutch players that link to him or just strong links to Depay. Doubt that HL Toko-Ekambi would rise, but still there’s a chance too.
Estimated cost: 250-350k. 87 rated card costs around 160k-170k, so I expect this card to be x2 value. At least. But we’ll see how it goes.
Guillermo Maripan
2nd candidate for POTM that has a chance in my eyes for POTM award. 4 goals and 1 assist this month for Monaco. Here’s a catch: he’s defender. Yes. Insane number for a CB, and that came as a big surprise. If he’d have better stats – he’d be my favorite BUT:
In terms of FUT – Very meh card. His NIF has 34 pace, so even with double upgrade he’d be really bad card that no one would want to complete. I still expect him to be in the voting, but doubt a lot of people would vote for him.
Chances of POTM: 30%
Tips for investing:
He’s a fodder at max. 86 rated card. No need to invest in it
Worth investing? No, I don’t think it is.
Estimated Cost: 40k. 40k is a reach. Probably even less, he’s a fodder, he should be similar to any 86 rated card on the market.
Kevin Volland would be my 3rd choice for POTM award. Volland had another great month. What a season he’s having in Monaco, what a transfer it’s been for Monaco. 4 goals and 3 assists this month. I didn’t want to nominate him at first, but I can’t ignore his stats this month. Only reason I didn’t want to include him – because there would be a 2nd player from Monaco, but last month we had Kadewere and Toko-Ekambi from Lyon, so it’s possible to have 2 from Monaco.
In terms of FUT – he’d be nice 88 rated card with some really great stats, but he has a small problem: 3* Skills, so dunno if he’ll be popular. But again, his stats should be really good.
Chances of POTM: 30%
Tips for investing:
I doubt many people would complete it, but again, it’s a sick card. Some players from Monaco can rise because of him, if he’s priced nicely and if the boosts will be big enough.
Worth investing? Personally I think – no.
Estimated cost: 100-120k. 88 rated card, with some great stats. His SIF worth only 40k, but I still expect this SBC to be at least 100k if he’ll get released.
There’re few other candidates, as I’ve said: Ajorque and Boulaya can be nominated, but imo, those 3 candidates are more interesting and deserving ones.
I think it’ll be Depay. Mostly because of fan vote and not really strong opponents, so yeah. I can expect Volland to win it too, but doubt. Maripan doesn’t have a chance in my eyes due to bad card.
