FIFA 15 Post Patch, a desperate mess

FIFA 15 was a game with flaws, in fact my signature in the EA FIFA Forums is, and has been for quite some time,

'Better than 14, better than 13, more bugs and flaws than both put together.....FIFA 15 a glorious mess.'

Pre-patch the game was flawed in a few aspects, kick off positioning, high pressure/aggression in custom tactics, ice hockey tackles, zigzag dribbling and long through balls but it retained user input as they key to enjoyment.
Post-patch much of the freedom has gone, contain defending is back with a vengeance, possession play has been stifled hugely and defending manually has become an ungodly nightmare.
Add to that through balls being even more overpowered, zigzagging still a feature and kick and run with pace a key ingredient and you have a game that feels, plays and stinks like FIFA 14....oh and crossing is back.

FIFA 15 had many problems but it allowed any sort of player to play their style, if you play possession you could ping pong the ball around midfield nicely, if you defend to attack you could sit back and play counter, if you wanted to stream forward in numbers you could play that style and get yourself a high scoring game, you could play football even if the mechanics were often against you, there were fun matches even when you lost.

Post patch the mechanics are against you, the gameplay is against you and the AI is against you, the game is a dull, uninteresting, stifled sham. I started to learn how to adapt, midfield was a place of traffic so I chose the wings, goals, goals, goals, I had a few games of letting the AI do some of the work and I made sure I was keeping the ball, but I was always left thinking how the game used to play, and how pre-patch I was playing football, even if others were playing Ice hockey by knocking down all my players or American Football with a Hail Mary/punt return at every opportunity.

FIFA 15 is now FIFA 14 reincarnate, it gives very little and takes so much away, in my opinion the new patch needs to be removed with player positioning from kick off remaining; then they can work on the mechanics abuse.

The game is a glorious mess but it's not far from being a triumph, maybe they lack the flexibility to make changes that address certain problems but they need to at least return it to the freedom to play game it once was, perhaps then they can look at changing the zigzagging, long though ball and most importantly aggression/pressure abuse.
Make a game for football fans and not gamers, gamers have had too many editions modeled in their honour.

As a final mention I wanted to outline what I felt FIFA 15 should have worked on for this last patch, and what the new patch changed/how I think it has caused problems -

What they should have worked on
Kick off player positioning
Push/pull abuse
Players being knocked down
Referee's actually calling fouls against the super aggressive/push pull abusers
More stamina use for constant chasers
Real consequences for high aggression/pressure abusers or the removal of them as custom settings
Long through ball errors hugely increased/accuracy actually reduced
Player switching errors; they switch randomly and to the wrong player (on manual, air balls and auto)

What changed and it's potential consequences
From EA - 

Issues Addressed
• Gameplay improvements to defensive positioning and lob through balls
My thoughts -
Dribbling/first touch -
As well as auto tackling and being much closer/rushing into the opposition defenders seem to affect the first touch, a little like high pressure/aggression does, so you can be left taking a rough first touch, turning slowly and moving into a defender. Face up players come right into you, especially AI ones and so clearly players defensive positioning is affecting the likelihood of a defender taking the ball.

Passing -
Short passing is much rougher now, I find it's better to look forward than at the play unfolding because you can't play tiki-taka, you have to plan the attack avoiding the AI. The first touch has changed as has dribbling so the best passer must play the perfect mechanical pass and not the one which works for your style. My Xavi has gone from a nippy pass master to child dodging traffic while bending a pass around a force-field.
Crossing is actually much improved, sadly at times to the point of FIFA 14; I had a game were I scored 5 headers, 2 with Higuain, 1 with Cerci and 2 with Dos Santos, attackers appear to make slightly better runs, or perhaps defenders take worse positions.
Long through balls are still useful but it seems the shorter chip ball is a fantastic choice and extremely accurate.

Attacking -
Well clearly the game now has a deep back line and solid AI predictor, play offline and you'll see AI really is the game's main problem and feature. Attacking has been stifled completely, you can get chances but patience isn't always worthwhile and most people use the AI to make a tackle in midfield and counter, ergo FIFA 14.

Defending -
Well I defend manually and am now having real problems making challenges, not entirely sure why, but when I do tackle it goes back to FIFA 14 where the ball is moved out of reach, or the opposition runs right through my player getting the ball back with ease. I did defend using contain, team mate press and doing nothing and I was pretty damned effective, I felt quite sorry for my opposition because I wasn't really thinking.

Hopefully we can get FIFA 15 back, I don't need FIFA 14 2.0. If the game remains as is it'll definitely find Pro Evo as a competitor in my gaming library, I hear it's a well rounded game this year.

Update -
There was a 120 page thread in the EA FIFA forums about the patch problems, with many people referring to the how's and why's. Sadly EA have ordered their Community Manager to close any threads relating to the patch and so it'll soon fade away as though there are no problems. It's a real shame that as a community we are treated this way, we are only here to buy their wares.
Here's the thread link for anyone seeking people in the same boat, it might make us feel better to see many thousands of others losing patience with EA and the FIFA Developers.
Sadder still, it was a community writer who started the thread but when the pressure became too great he switched sides as though he forget there was a thread.
http://forum.ea.com/uk/posts/list/2974308.page

This video by soetiesoetie examples the largest problem with the patch update, pay attention to how little he actively defends, how often not selecting a player retains possession (even when the ball is bobbling between two players), and the opponent who does try to make tackles but continually fails.

2 IF Silver Teams

I've never tried the 4231 formation with any regularity but in trying to make another full IF team I realised it was my best option. In fact I've been able to make 2 IF teams for a fairly low price and hopefully more price drops over the next weeks allow me to experiment some more.

The first team was the main squad, I wanted to use Lemoine, Delort and Kurzawa and so set about trying to get them into a squad and the second I always had in mind because I'd picked up some of the Championship players as the year has passed.

Wolf - 7k - Misses too many low shots, is a very average keeper. Does well enough though if the ball isn't low. Then again he seems to play bronze benching Hulks all the time. Conceded 4 from 40 yards....sigh. He does a job but his lack of keeper height, his pace and his handling are clear inadequacies. It's frustrating as my team is quite slow so people take a lot of shots but that's the way of the game. (6.5/10)

Russ - 13k - Good but pace gets him caught as as his positioning doesn't seem brilliant. Strong enough to push a man off the ball, good tackler indeed and he meets a lot of corners, not many go in, he's actually a fairly decent player but as I mentioned because he's not beastly his pace can be a let down. (7/10)

Knoche - 9k - Good but sometimes feels a little weak, quick though and seems to be in the right place at the right time. With a chemistry card I'm sure he'd be quick enough to get in the way of most pace abuers, in the air he's decent enough indeed and from corners he regularly puts the ball in the net. Tackling wise he is better than Russ but I think this is down to pace more than ability. (8/10)

Kurzawa - 16k - An everywhere useful type of player, decent cross, good tackling, decent positioning. Works well with Lemoine. Dribbling is fine though not good and his passing is well worth using. He might not be the tallest but he wins headers and gets in the way well, he's better for me than Morel was and he's blue, not much more you'd want in a full back. (8.3/10)

Meunier - 21k - Slow but strong and tall, aggressive and a hard worker on the pitch. Decent cross, dribbling feels clunky though he is able to beat a man and keep going, whereas I prefer passing when I beat a man with Kurzawa. He's very good in the air, though he's very tall, but his work rates mean sometimes he's struggling to get back. (7.9/10)

Destorme - 12k - Slow but funny, gets forward a little too much and isn't the best on the ball but he's fine to pass or unleash a monster long or finesse shot. Defending is average, strength and height makes up for it but he can't really tackle and is run into rather than takes the ball. He's fun to use but only because it feels your controlling a tall wall who sometimes has legs, for chemistry purposes he has to stay but he does play his part especially when you decide to shoot from distance. (7/10)

Lemoine - 13k - Amazing passer, good defender, can't shoot, is a little small. Really helps my team out though and keeps it defensively tight on that side. Not much you can say about him apart from being brilliant when using his positive attributes, I really can't complain about much because he does a great defensive job and that's what he's there for! (8.9/10)

Fajr - 6k - Great all round but could do with a little more pace in this position, neat dribbler and good passer. Decent shot too. Reminds me a bit of Sneijder without the weakfoot. Good freekick and corner and in general is the classy player in this team. His vision might not be high but he makes most passes and without him I'd never get Habibou and Delort through on goal. (8.7/10)

Habibou - 13k - Short passing absolutely fine, through balls not so good but all round he's decent. Great shot, especially with the outside of the foot and wins a fair share of 50/50 balls. Does a decent job for me and scores freely. Fine as my CAM which is strange as he has a very low passing stat but he's a willing participant and gets into the box late at the right time. In the air he's pretty good but he's no Aduriz so I wouldn't aim at him too often. Without him goals might be tougher to get but as a player used for chemistry purposes he's surprised me a lot. (8.8/10)

Vanaken - 9k - My god he is slow, oh so slow. But he's funny with it and his dribbling is either amazing or shocking. He's huge but does get knocked off the ball (then again who doesn't), his shot is good but it takes an age to get off, but his passing is brilliant. He works hard....a little too hard as he gets knackered quickly but he's generally in the right place in both defence in attack. If he had 76 pace he'd be an incredible player. 66 leaves him a little too exposed when you need him to be supporting counter attacks. You need to find a formation that works for him because he's not going to light any fires in 4231. (7/10)

Delort - 15k - Excellent finisher but prefers the keeper to come out to him, poor in the air but good dribbling. More than enough pace and he makes awesome runs that I always end up not seeing till he's offside. First time shots are great fun, basically if the keeper moves and he shoots it's in, whether it's in the corner or flying past the keepers legs. He's a proper finisher and a decent poacher and while he's not the complete beast in front of goal you can be sure that he's going to finish more than he's going to miss. (8.5/10)

This is my fitness team, though it soon turned into the team I enjoyed using the most. Not because it plays better, it doesn't, but because certain players are very fun to use and make for enjoyable wins.

Mannone - 7k - Good keeper who could do with better positioning. He usually sweeps up through balls, he palms the ball well enough and he's good when saving low but he does get beaten from distance/corners and usually it's because he's not in the right place. Does a fine job though. (7/10)

Stones - 40k - Cost a bit but he's been worth it. He's strong enough on the ball, quick enough to keep up with most, well positioned and decent in the air. He's different from Turner and that's a help but when the balls at his feet you know you can always find a player and not worry too much about being pressed into a mistake. His tackling is also pretty decent but it's not quite as good as his partner Turner. (8/10)

Turner - 12k - Turner is brilliant and while he lacks some pace his positioning is brilliant, ground and slide tackling superb, strength excellent and heading rock solid. He is always catching up to the man through on goal and they very rarely are able to get through him even if they kick and run. From corners he scores freely and on defensive duties if he doesn't get to the ball he's usually putting the defender off. I really like him and feel comfortable with the lack of pace, a good partner for a quicker centreback like Stones. (8.7/10)

Coleman - 25k - I always wanted to use IF Coleman but his price was crazy, now he's cheaper I went for him and it's clear to see he is a gold player hidden in black. Good on the ball, excellent cross, brilliant tackle both on the ground and slide and with strong positioning in defence and attack. He's not brilliant in the air but if he does lose it his pace allows him to get back and make up for that inadequacy. He's a no brainer if you want an IF right back, he's a great player and definitely better than the man he replaced, Janmaat. (8.7/10)

Cresswell - 16k - Watch out Cresswell is whipping around the pitch and you're not stopping him! This little man charges around like he wants to be part of everything and he generally is. Good passer, good dribbler, very quick, strong cross, good timing in the challenge and generally always in the right place. He's not going to win your headers for you as he's a little dot but he certainly will try, plus he has 86 pace, that's pretty damn good when you need to cover errors. (8.7/10)

Shelvey - 20k - He's a pretty good player everywhere on the pitch but he's let down by his 2* skills which is a real shame because he does everything else very well. He's strong, he can tackle, he passes superbly, he stays in the right position and he can dribble well. He's tall and this makes up for his ability to not defend but in my mind he's fine defending and never really causes me a problem. He also wins headers and is a good set piece taker. (8.7/10)

Hendrick - 7k - He's similar to Shelvey but with a little less class all round, plus he seems to love coming forward and playing as a winger. Strong enough on the ball, quick enough to reach a pass, he's good in the air and does a decent defensive job but it is obvious that he's not the greatest player and can feel a little cumbersome when you need him to be solid. There's nothing really wrong with him though and he's a jack of all trades. (7.5/10)

Bryson - 20k - I had his IF but I swapped to this 2IF because I enjoyed using him so much, is there an improvement? Perhaps a little. His passing feels sharper, it was always sharp, his crossing is good, his positioning seems improved (not that that stat changes) and his shooting is definitely better but all in all he's a player who helps everywhere rather than worrying about staying still. That's a real positive because he's quite quick which means he can get forward and back, and actually in defence he's very useful indeed because he can tackle and can also win headers. He arrives late into the box and he supports my play well, a really good player. (8.7/10)

McCormack - 37k - Decent passer, excellent finisher and with good attacking positioning. His crossing is decent enough though not fantastic but his desire to get forward is a real help when you find Rhodes in the very middle. As an attacking player he's very useful, plus he has a great long shot but he's not going to help much in defence and why should he! He's a striker who can pass and dribble and I find that useful as the wider CAM in 4231. (8/10)

Sordell - 12k - I though he'd be like Habibou but he feels much less like a CAM even with a slightly improved passing stat. His passing is very average, perhaps even poor, his pace doesn't feel that quick and his dribbling is average indeed, plus his crossing isn't the best. I think he'd make a better striker and so he doesn't quite fit the CAM role but he does a decent enough job for me and with Bryson and Shelvey covering his lack of passing, and Rhodes being strong on the ball he is able to find his way onto goal and grab some final move finishes. His finishing is good but nothing spectacular. (7.3/10)

Rhodes - 20k - He might be on the slow side but he's strong enough to make an extra yard count and his shooting is devastating. From distance he scores scorchers, up close he's neat and the 4* weak foot makes him fairly deadly on either side. In the air he could be better but he's still very good when you cross to him and he's well worth chucking a cross at. He also has the 'beat the offside trap' trait which means he does act like a striker when you need him to. He doesn't make Delort type runs but he's always available to pass to and it means he's going to make something happen. His two biggest downfalls are dribbling, which is a little upright but you can use his strength to shield the ball, and his passing which really needs to be kept short or not at all! However if you play to his strengths he's going to score you a massive amount. When I started using him it took 7 games to get his first, now at 20 games he has 25 goals, I got used to him and it's been a rewarding style change. (8.5/10)

As yet I haven't checked for written errors, I'll do that later, it took me a while to write and I have other things to do! When this message disappears you know I've done my homework ;)

Too Much Fun

Someone suggested trying out Berbatov as centre forward and I decided to make an IF team around his skillful feet. The result has been an enthralling game of enjoyment, low expectation and brilliant team goals, oh, lots of rage quitting too. (not from me)

Carrasso - 10k - Decent enough keeper even if he isn't that tall. Good handing and distribution, seems to be well positioned and palms the ball away from attackers but from distance he is vulnerable and the ball does sail over his head every now and again. He's not that quick but he is quick enough to get to the feet of the attacker, slightly better than 2IF Costil but not by much. (8/10)

Nkoulou - 17k - Bargain for a pacey decent defender who will keep you in games as well as frustrate your opposition. It's difficult to criticise a 78 pace defender especially one who can tackle but his lack of height can be a problem when someone spams crosses. Fortunately there is pace/strength either side and it means crosses aren't that easy to get in. When the ball flies over his head Nkoulou is quick enough to get back and while he's no strong man he's strong enough and agile enough to get in front of his man and make a last ditch tackle. Standing tackle is better than his sliding tackle but I don't slide tackle all that often; feel free to pass with him, he'll get you out of sticky situations. (8.5/10)

Koscielny - 38k - A true defensive monster who only struggles when someone spams crosses, though he doesn't struggle too much. Extremely quick, great work rates, good standing and sliding tackle I can't say much about Koscielny apart from being a brilliant defender who everyone should try. One of the best defenders I've used. (9/10)

Bedimo - 16k - A monster of a defender he is the best Ligue 1 left back by a distance. I'll keep this brief, there's not much to mention! Great pace, very strong, brilliant in the tackle, good cross, willingness to get forward and a desire to get back, good in the air, horrible to play against. He is aggressive to the point of being angry and he makes crossing extremely difficult. People go down Coleman's side instead but unfortunately for them that just leaves them open for the Walcott counter attack. (9/10)

Coleman - 11k - Brilliant defender who only lacks height and a little bit of strength. He seems to be in the right place at the right time, has a good standing and slide tackle, brilliant dribbling and a very good pass. He allows Walcott to get away on the counter but also allows me to counter with my full back because he always seems to be in the right place in attack as well as defence. All in all I really like him but he's part of my team efforts rather than being like Bedimo the a monster defender, he's also makes up for Walcott's M/M workrates. Strong crosser too and he can hit a ball even if I rarely shoot with defenders. (8.5/10)

Ayew - 13k - Great cross, good pass, good positioning and a desire to get forward when the ball runs free. I'm a huge fan of his because he just seems to make the team tick on the left hand side. He is more than quick enough, his dribbling is good but his real asset is his strength and he will push his way past most defenders and leave them crying in a poor of AI rage. He's a truly useful player with some really great abilities, with 4* skills (he only has 3*) he'd be one of my favourite players in the game but as it is when things get oppressive you'll just have to 1-2 with him instead, he will definitely get past his man. Oh his finishing is very good too. (9/10)

Walcott - 62k - I hate his NIF and I don't think his IF is all that however he does have one stat which makes him extremely useful, pace. I am not pace abuser but I find his wide pace a real plus in this team and gives me some great counter attacking efforts. His crossing is very good but his short passing is average, his long passing I find poor. He is a pretty decent dribbler and his agility lets him beat his man with ease but I prefer to 1-2 with him and release that pace. His first touch is decent enough but I do find his lack of attacking workrate a bit frustrating especially when Ramsey gets back to defend, however he can always rely on the overlapping Coleman while he stands in midfield. Actually his midfield attitude isn't that bad as it gives him some defensive use. (8/10)

Ramsey - 30k - A great midfielder who has found the perfect role for his abilities. Great passer, good dribbling and shot, excellent positioning and very decent defending. He really puts pressure on the opposition and helps this team a lot in both attack and defence. I don't know what else to put about him because he's fantastic. He's not all that strong but he's not weak in any way, his one touch passing is excellent and his neat turning lets him find good passes to wider players, if he had 4* skills I'd be delighted but as it is I'll just use that brilliant passing to it's fullest. (8.9/10)

Moutinho - 39k - One of my favourite NIF players has become one of my favourite IF players. Defensively pretty perfect, in attack he's magnificent, his passing is brilliant, shooting good, and desire to be everywhere, and I mean everywhere, unparalleled. He breaks up most attacks, even with his small frame, but don't let that height fool you, he's getting the ball off the strongest players and he simply doesn't care for stature. Even Toure feels his wrath. He's a 'beast'. If he was 6 foot he'd be the best midfielder in the game, but as it is you just have to use him, watch him get underestimated and then decimate the opposition. Just quickly his tackling is superb in every way, he will strip the ball from the opposition or die trying, his long shots testing and his long passing as good as his short. (9/5/10)

Berbatov - 11k - He goes nowhere but he's always ready to attack. His dribbling is incredible, his long shots and finishing spectacular, volleying good fun, passing strong and heading abusive. Okay he doesn't get forward a massive amount but he's in the right place to get involved and puts through anybody making a run. He seems to arrive late into the box as well as chilling on the edge of the area expecting the ball, the 4*skills come off with ease and he's extremely strong both on the ball and when making challengers. He can shoot, pass, dribble, knock down the opposition and generally make your attack tick. Definitely worth buying because he's cheap as chips and twice as healthy. (8.9/10)

Gignac - 18k - Finally a strong Ligue 1 striker who can make the opposition panic. I don't cross all that much but this man mountain is going to trouble even the strongest defenders, and if he doesn't Berbatov will. His dribbling is good for a big man, and he is able to hold off enough even the most aggressive AI tactics, his short passing is better than average but he doesn't have the best vision in his respect. His finishing is very good both close and from medium distance but his desire to get forward seems pretty useful especially as he has M/M workrates. So far all the TOTS players I've used have been a significant improvement over the NIF's and Gignac is no different. If you like the NIF then you'll enjoy the improved dribbling, it really does make a difference, and with more precise finishing with better heading you'll get yourself a decent amount of goals. He could be better with a H/M workrate but in reality I can't complain, he seems to be in the right place at the right time and that's pretty important to my passing play. A bargain for a TOTS player and one everyone should consider. (8.7/10)

All IF Silver team

Silver IF's are expensive, very expensive, in part because EA give very little consideration to that mode of Ultimate Team but also because price fixers love to buy them all during the first week of release. In recent months I have been picking up a few silver IF's because I felt there was a possibility I could make a decently priced team which was fun to use.
I believe I have done that and despite the lack of pace it plays pretty well.

Riou - 9k - Having used Riou before I was happy enough to use him again instead of trying another IF keeper, plus he is the tallest silver French keeper. He does has his flaws, sometimes he's a little slow and can struggle to reach top corner shots but generally he is very solid and bats the ball away well, he makes good saves from corners and does what he needs to do to stifle the opposition. He distribution is fine and he won't lose you many games; he is clearly a silver keeper, and not like Forster, but he's not a bad one in the slightest. (7.5/10)

Laporte - 12.5k - He is a man mountain; amazing standing tackles, great sliding ones, brilliant positioning but of course he lacks a little pace. Strength wise he is very useful and rarely gets shoved off the ball and when the ball is in the air you can assume he's probably going to win it, especially when attacking corners. He is pretty damn good in my opinion and a very competitive member of this team, he does a great job and his pace should be overlooked, then again he does look pretty quick next to Squillaci. (8.2/10)

Squillaci - 12.5k - He might be slow but he seems to always know where the ball is going and wins it with ease. He is strong enough, has a brilliant standing tackle, is great in the air but of course when the ball us going over his head you need to rely on his great positioning rather than his acceleration, fortunately you can. I really like him, he's very solid and has it all apart from pace, and actually in defence a player who has good positioning is worth their weight in coins. (8.2/10)

Bertran - 17k - I always wanted this guy but sadly price fixers had their way from day 1 and 35k was a little too expensive, a recent price drop has proved that I was right to assume he'd be useful as he is a quality member of the team. His standing tackle is very good and he can slide around with success but his pace and willingness to get forward can cause him some issues when tracking back. He isn't the best in the air but he gets under his man and can cope with those long balls if you drag him back first.
He does like to come forward but has good positioning when retreating but it's his great pass and decent dribbling which allows him to really make the team tick. (8/10)

Souare - 19k - Another guy I've been after for months but he is regularly price fixed and regularly drops to 20k. Souare is brilliant; strong in the air, strong in the tackle, quick enough to support in defence and attack and he has a brilliant pass which allows midfielders to get forward. There isn't much negative about him, maybe he could have a better shot and more agility, but all in all he's a solid defender with a great amount of quality. He also has a great corner and free kick which is very beneficial as I lack left footed players in this team. I have heard the SIF is even better but I'm not quite willing to pay 40k just yet. (8.5/10)

Fran Rico - 8k - Having tried Pardo, Verza and Soriano I came to the conclusion that Rico is the best player for this defensive role especially as his interceptions and extra pace are very noticeable. Of the three Pardo is the best dribbler but he simply can't defend and his passing is good but not spectacular, Verza and Soriano can't dribble whereas Rico seems to have this attribute, though he's not brilliant at it. His passing is better when being used short, he can beat a man with his pace and isn't a weak as you might think. His tackling is very good and he challenges the man in the air rather than rolling over and losing every header but he is a defensive guy with defensive qualities, shooting definitely confirms that. In this M/M midfield I chose his high interception stat over Soriano's H/H tallness, purely because Soriano is a nightmare to dribble with. (7.5/10)

Makoun - 28k - Here at the Villa we love Makoun and I was happy to grab his IF and put him in one of my teams; he doesn't disappoint. His short passing is strong, his long passing decent, he defends well and has enough pace to beat a man when needed. He isn't the strongest but he's a 50/50 player which is fine for me because I prefer to pass rather than get caught on the ball. His dribbling is decent and he wins many headers despite being short but he's a solid guy with solid stats. His shooting could definitely be improved but he can put the ball away when needed, just don't shoot from distance as it will leave you frustrated. 2* skills is annoying but that's the price you pay for a full IF team. (7.9/10)

Alex Lopez - 18k - He is a star; his short passing is excellent, long passing absolutely superb and his shooting tests many keepers though perhaps he should've scored a few more for me. His dribbling is good enough and his positioning strong and in defence he actually does offer something despite not being a natural defender. He always seems to be in the right place, even when the ball is bobbling in the box or being cleared, I don't naturally look to play him the ball but it always ends up at his feet. If you get him then use his through ball, his vision might not be incredible but he will find a man with a useful pass. Another 2* skiller, which while sad can be overlooked when you hit that pass button. (8.7/10)

Kadir - 14k - He's right footed, very right footed. His crossing is better than average, as is his passing with his right foot, but his dribbling lets him down because he struggles to beat a man with his feet or his strength. He is the weak link in this team because he doesn't really have that much that is special. Despite having Deadeye chemistry he also misses a lot of chances but I have changed his chemistry to Catalyst so I'll update if there are any changes. I did this because ideally he needs more pace, I did think about using Engine but hopefully his agility will be improved with Catalyst because more agility would definitely benefit his dribbling. He's average, very average, made worse by those 2* skills and M/M workrates, but a necessary evil in this team and manageable if you pass the ball to someone else and give it him back at the end of the move or when he decides to get forward. Swapping wings hasn't seemed to help me that much either. (6/10...I might be being generous)

Javi Guerra - 20k - Guerra is a hidden gem, his has unusual work rates for a striker M/H but don't let that fool you; his attribute is making critical runs. He is strong, quick enough, has a great header as well as a good finish, plus his positioning for scrambles in the box seem brilliant. His runs are superb and is always arriving at the right time for a header or late pass but he does have one flaw, average dribbling, though this is manageable you just need to think about what you're about to do instead of reacting like you might with someone like Riascos. His passing is decent and his defending excellent which is good with my M/M midfield. I really like using him and I think he's a star, much as he was in FIFA13. A fantastic silver bargain, especially when you consider silver IF's can be very expensive. A goal machine and with 3* skills. (8.8/10)

Cejudo - 19k - I had used Acoran, who was decent, but I noticed a huge change when I grabbed this bargain of a player. 3* skills which is very useful, 5* weak foot which is extremely noticeable and practically no drawbacks. Crossing is excellent, passing very good, shooting purposeful especially as he has a 5* weak foot, and positioning brilliant. He could perhaps use a little more pace but he's always on the shoulder making runs players can't track and with Lopez behind him you can be sure he's going to get away from the full back. Sometimes he is lonely due to other attackers work rates but he seems strong enough to get by his full back and his dribbling allows you to turn and get a chance to test the keeper. He was a brilliant upgrade on Acoran and gets the majority of the teams assists. His corner taking is also superb and he and Laporte have built up a quality understanding. (9/10)

Raiding my club

Over the last month I've been mostly playing with my previous IF team despite the pace abusers trying their best to humiliate my back line; I do enjoy frustrating them.
I did though make 2 teams with a remainder of the IF players in my club and ended up with mixed results, lots of fun, and some frustration. I have never tried 4231 due to thinking it was too narrow for me but actually it's been a good formation and makes for exciting games; it can however be seriously hindered by the awful FIFA14 player change system.

Alves - 36k - Great keeper who is deadly in one on ones and in all circumstances extremely determined to make sure he gets to the ball first. I couldn't quite muster the coins for the 2IF but the IF has been great so far. On the rare occasions he is beaten I haven't placed fault at his feet because he's fantastic in almost every department. His kicking is decent, throwing strong, reflexes superb, speed excellent and decent from crosses, mostly because he picks up the second ball with ease and comes for corners successfully instead of missing the entirely. A great IF with a strong link to Miranda. (9/10)

Marquinhos - 26k - A must for future teams due to his chemistry in Ligue 1 and Brazil. He isn't the tallest but he is one of the quickest and that pace will really help you out. His heading isn't the best but fortunately his pace lets him cover those mistakes, which is good because his tackling is excellent. Positioning wise he's good and he's not as weak as you might think when looking at him. He doesn't come forward that often and he passes excellently; so far I haven't got many complaints apart from his heading and I'm glad of him in my teams. (8.2/10)

Miranda - 40k - Expensive but due to chemistry worth it. For my playstyle he's a silent assassin; he makes very few mistakes, wins many headers even against the tallest and is great at covering the back line; maybe it's the pace. I really can't complain, I have used in many of my teams and his tackling, awareness and strength really shows. His passing is average (not bad) and he's another shorty at 6 foot but don't let that put you off; he might be 40k but he's fantastic in game and for team creativity. (8.9/10)

Filipe Luis- 40k - As left backs go he is one of the best who is only let down by his slight physique and average heading. Lots of pace, good slide and close tackling and excellent defensive positioning he charges down the wing and has a good desire to get back, I feel more so than his NIF, he also has a great cross and excellent pass and his set pieces are very good too. Feel free to dribble with him he definitely can. All in all he is the best left back I have used, but only just, due to Bedimo's better strength and aggression, and I would recommend getting him especially as he has the strongest link with Miranda which means team building can allow you be creative everywhere else. (9/10)

Juanfran - 18k - Stronger than Carvajal, better in the air, better positioning and with an improved tackle, Juanfran is the IF choice for La Liga and at such a low price is a steal. He also has good strong links with other players (Miranda and Spanish) letting you be creative and getting the most of your less used players. There's not much to say about a guy who can tackle, cross, is pacey, good in the air and strong enough to frustrate attackers; he's very good and should be considered a must for an IF La Liga right back. (8.9/10)


Raul Garcia - 10k - In FIFA I feel dribbling goes a few ways, the excellent dribbler, the poor dribbler who thinks he's Messi and the boat. Boats are interesting because they force you to be thoughtful with your movement; Garcia is one of those, but what a boat. When forward he has the quality to move away from a defender and pass/shoot, in defence he has the strength to hold off the man and roll the opposition; he's an interesting player indeed. His shooting is good but not excellent, always on target not always testing, though it can take a while to get the shot off. His passing is brilliant and playing through balls is great fun, his short passing is strong too as it means you can play tiki-taka with a beast. He's great in the air, strong and good in defence and in general he's involved in everything good. He is a CAM who is a better CDM; for me that's a great compromise in attack and defence. (8.5/10)

Melo - 27k - Melo is brilliant, he tackling is excellent, his strength extremely good and his passing is superb. He is always in the right place in attack and defence and he makes a real effort to chase that attacker who is trying to run away from your midfield. The nicest thing about his passing is his speed, unlike Garcia who can be caught out due to his slowness Melo is a quick passer who dribbles very well for a CDM and that's a real bonus when he's busting a gut to support, he definitely allows a nice one touch passing approach. His shooting is also good and his heading great which is a real bonus with his High/High work rates because it means he can literally support in every attack. It's been tough getting him in an all IF team which is one of the reasons I made this squad but he makes my left side extremely strong especially with Sneijder in front of him. (9/10)

Maher - 10k - A great little player let down by game mechanics. These game mechanics place weaker players at the mercy of push and pull, or the autotackle/barge, and so he can find himself in real peril when trying to dribble though the opposition. His dribbling is good, especially with 4* skills and weak foot, and his passing is solid (short is better), especially speed wise, but his shooting can leave you frustrated especially as shots feel weak and sometimes quite laboured. He doesn't tackle all that well and his defensive duties were poor but he is a decent player to get attacks going and making things work even if he hasn't been magical in finishing off attacks. (7.5/10)

Sneijder - 26k - I wasn't a massive fan of his NIF but so far his IF has been brilliant for me. He's strong enough to get by a man or drag him back, his positioning is superb in attack and even midfield defence and his passing is absolutely wonderful allowing crazy short passing and incredible through balls which always seem to split defences. The lack of pace isn't an issue because he's always in the right place and his crossing is great too. His 5* weak foot really pays off and while I do prefer wide players with 4* skills his dribbling is excellent and he's very difficult to take the ball off. I can't wait for some better Dutch players to compliment him, or even some Galatasaray players, but I thoroughly recommend him because he will definitely make your team very dangerous in attack. Oh, his shooting is brilliant, unleash a monster shot whenever you like, and with either foot. (9/10)

Park - 9.7k - Cheap as chips but a legend all over the pitch. The high/high work rates are very noticeable as he supports literally everywhere and despite being small and not that strong seems to decimate full backs and the hardiest midfielders. Shooting wise he is very able, his short passing is brilliant, endeavor to keep/retrieve the ball very worthy and tackling very good for someone with 49 defending. He has a willingness which allows him to be a real threat in every aspect, even when going for headers where he constantly makes it difficult for the bigger man to win the ball. He also dribbles well and although doesn't have 4* skills seems smooth when trying tricks and with a decent weak foot. There really isn't much negative with Park and I recommend everyone trying him, especially as he's so cheap. (8.5/10)

De Leeuw - 11k - I had De Leeuw lying around after a bargain purchase and I thought he could be a real treat in this squad, what I didn't count on was his frustrating work rates and lack of strength/height being such a hindrance. His heading is 78 which is usually a positive but he doesn't consistently reach crosses, this is because he's either in midfield after charging back to defend (high/high workrates) or too small to get to the ball (5"10). His shooting is average and feels quite slow, his strength isn't that exciting and he's quite easily stripped of the ball, his dribbling is poor and he has no skills and his weak foot is noticeable. He does score for me, but he misses more, he's good at winning headers in front of the defender but he seems very average when he has a free chance. His passing is better than average for a striker which is a real bonus with Park and Sneijder either side but he doesn't feel that quick to turn which means getting caught on the weak foot can be annoying. I find the best way to use him is to shield the ball and hope he makes a smart run into the box after passing it away, I think playing in a front two he'd be pretty useful but he's not going to consistently win you games. Without pace or real strength he isn't the best, but I had no real options in order to get full chemistry. (6.5/10)

Adrian - 10k - I used him to replace Guzan who was terrible for me and excluding a few mistakes he is a very good keeper. He takes out attackers to win the ball, is good at crosses and long shots and has enough speed to get down to ground balls. He is a solid keeper who makes the typical mistakes we either expect of this game, or expect of a better than average keeper. His distribution is sketchy and I prefer to throw the ball but this isn't a problem, just take your time and you won't lose the ball. (7.9/10)

Winston Reid - 12k - Tall enough, strong enough, quick enough and with good work rates but isn't the best defender you'll use. His defending is more than adequate but you get the feeling he's going to miss a tackle or be slow to turn, and then it happens. His pace is perfect and allows you to cover mistakes but I don't like making mistakes and so I keep him back to make the tackles rather than meeting the attacker. He blocks the ball well so that's a bonus and as a BPL IF he's a bargain at 12k. (8/10)

Riether - 15k - Tiny, weak but angry. He's quick enough for a right back but needs to stay back more as he's no Abate when getting back into position. When getting under the body of the opposition he's very good but he's a last ditch tackler as people regularly knock him down and go straight through him. He is nippy and agile which means he can make unusual tackles but he's not the best defensively and with Johnson not caring about defending can leave the right side exposed. His crossing is good as is his passing and when he gets forward usually creates danger in the box. Also he has green chemistry with Per Mertesacker which is good for those who like slow Germans. (7.5/10)

Perrin - 13k - Perrin lacks pace and height but most of the time these won't cause you too many problems. I use him as an outlet defender as he passing is very good but in tackling terms he's just as good as any even if he isn't the strongest. At times his lack of pace can be a problem, especially as I find shorter defenders are slower than the taller slow guys, but his positioning is good and he rarely makes a big mistake Reid can't cover. His heading is good when unchallenged but he does find it difficult to consistently win the header and he usually stops the attacker from making a good connection rather than winning the ball himself. I have used him a lot, mostly because he's not actually that slow and because his passing is good but if you struggle letting in crosses you might find his height a bit of an issue. (8/10)

Digne - 24k - A great defender but also a guy who likes to get forward so sometimes caught out of position, he's never in central midfield though. Not quite as devastating as Carvajal when in the final third but better alongside an attacker when heading and making tackles. He's a strong enough player, he has enough pace to cope with many of the quickest and he has some decent passing and crossing. A left back who does what an all round full back does, defend and attack. (8.5/10)

Toulalan - 12k - Defensively his tackling and positioning are excellent and he's always stripping the ball from attackers, offensively his passing is absolutely amazing and through balls constantly split defences which is a real help because he makes plenty of interceptions and allows me to create great counters.His dribbling is also very good, heading decent, but his shooting is atrocious and I tend to find someone else rather than letting him test the keeper. He is also a very big player which means the opposition rarely flattens him and needs to go around him; he stays back but also comes forward at the right time. An absolutely great player. (9/10)

Barry - 10k - Who cares about pace when this guy is patrolling the midfield! His tackling is great, bursts forward brilliant and positioning excellent; you don't need a lot more in a CDM. His passing from the back is strong but getting forward he can play some lovely intricate balls to running teammates, his shooting is very average though volleying decent. It's been all good for Mr Barry, he's a great tackler who is strong and well equipped to stop an attack, plus he can pass. 10k very well spent and not much more to say! He also has high defensive and medium attacking work rates. I had to down-rate him a little as in this formation he can frustrate due to being fairly left footed. Still taking great corners.(8.3/10)

Cabaye - 25k - So small but so good at it all. He can defend well enough, he passes brilliantly, strikes a ball well from distance and dribbles nicely. His height is his only real downfall, though he doesn't show it too much as he gets under his man nicely, but he makes up for it by playing sumptuous passes and testing keepers at ridiculous ranges. He's a jack of all trades but a master of passing and shooting, his free kicks are immense and his corners great though he does get bulldozed off the ball if you don't use his neat dribbling, which with high aggression can be a pain, but he can really pass so find a man instead! In this formation his through balls are stunning so now I need to work out how to get him and Sneijder in the same team. Don't go for headers. (8.8/10)

Lallana - 19k (price fluctuates a lot) - More skills even if he is tiny. Sadly he doesn't have anything spectacular apart from skills and a strong weak foot but all the same he's a guy who likes to get forward and has enough attributes to be a danger. His shooting is adequate with a good finesse attempt, his turning on the ball is handy and short passing excellent but he doesn't play the best through ball. His new position though is a bonus and allows his natural attacking flair to shine a little more. He takes up good positions but unfortunately can get knocked down before receiving the ball. In 4231 I do prefer my CAM to be a little bit stronger/aggressive but it just means I am practicing skills and dribbling instead. He doesn't overwhelm or underwhelm and I think he's been better for me in 4231(2). (7.7/10)

Payet - 25k - Payet is a good player who feels taller than his 5"8 suggests; his passing is very good, shooting strong and ambition to get the ball great. I haven't used him for more than 10 games but he's been fun to use so far and he has everything a wider CAM needs. His crossing is good, dribbling smooth (4*skills/weak foot) and finishing from close and far very dangerous. His NIF was always strong enough to shrug off a man and the IF is no different. He is an entertaining guy to use who when near the ball is every bit as useful as the highest rated players, he does however lack a little in terms of long passing which can be annoying but his short passing is quick and that's a real help in this formation. (8.5/10)

Lacazette - 23k - His dribbling is very good, finishing decent and weak foot surprisingly useable though he does seem to make more goals and attacks rather than finishing them himself. His positioning is good, pace superb and he can usually burst away from the defender with his neat turning and abilities on the ball. His heading is average but his agility means he is dangerous from any angle, he is stronger than most 5"8 players and has a real desire to get forward but so far the lack of strength means I have had to alter the way I play (no back to goal tactic) and use Cabaye's passing to get him onto goal. Definitely an improvement on the NIF but I didn't really like that card anyway. I think as a striker on the right in a front two he'd be brilliant but so far I haven't wanted to return to Jouffre. (8.2/10)

Pure Fun; for the purist/brave

This squad has given me the most enjoyment of any of my squads so far; it can be hard work at the back but plays fantastically and with an amazing ability to produce the spectacular; if you struggle with defending I wouldn't recommend it.

Ricardo - 13k - Great shot stopper, excellent throw and decent keepers but he does get caught out of position and can let in the softest goals. He copes pretty well though considering his two centre backs are the slowest of the slow and his natural desire to charge out of goal can be of great benefit even if at times it's a serious hindrance. I've had him for a while but didn't think I'd have a chance to use him; a third IF would be nice as he does lack a little but all in all he complements the team even at his pretty short 6"1. (7.9/10)

Carvalho - 10k - I put a shadow on him and it was needed! In the air he is a force, on the ground his tackling is superb and his passing good but the lack of pace does show and so does his positioning which is great 90% of the time but on occasions leaves you very exposed. He isn't the tallest but he is very strong and aggressive and he has the right chemistry to use some less used players. All in all he's a solid defender and if he was around 65 pace would be extremely good. I can see why Jose liked him so much. (7.9/10)

Garay - 11k - Garay is a monster; he might not be quick but he's great fun to use, always in the right place, makes amazing tackles, beats most players in the air and seldom lets an attacker past even if they are 90 pace. He isn't quick, but he is wide which means players have to go around him. This is a help as a long ball does leave him exposed but if that long ball is over Carvalho I find he often stands just in the right position to make a block or take the ball from the attackers feet. He's a genuine monster of a defender and I really enjoy using him. Defensively he's great but his passing, free kick taking and penalties are a joy too; what more can be said, with 70 pace he'd be the best defender on the game without a doubt. (8.9/10)

Pereira - 15k - An interesting player who needs a little more pace to make him top notch but a good one nevertheless. His passing is strong, dribbling superb and all round play very good. Defensively the lack of pace means he can struggle to get back (no shadow card just yet) and in the air he can struggle as he is 5"8 but he's strong and aggressive and is a force coming forward. He does come forward, lots, but on the ball he is very good and his crossing is great too, with Salpingidis tracking back that's a help and so fits nicely within this team. His tackling is good too, though not superb, but if he gets close he is going to hold up his man even if they are tricky or pacey. (7.9/10)

Bedimo - 19k - Bedimo is strong, quick, good in the air and very solid. He does come forward but not as much as Pereira and he's good cover for the slightly crippled Carvalho, His crossing is very good though I don't use it all that much as he rarely ventures that far forward, his dribbling is average so I try not to bomb him on, but he does what a good full back does, defends well with an attacking trick or two. I have no complaints with him as he can tackle, head, defender and attack; pretty much perfect and I prefer him to Digne. (8.7/10)

Toulalan - 12k - I made this team for him  as his stats suggested I had a gem on my hands and I was right. Defensively his tackling and positioning are excellent and he's always stripping the ball from attackers, offensively his passing is absolutely amazing and through balls constantly split defences which is a real help because he makes plenty of interceptions and allows me to create great counters, especially to Salpingidis. His dribbling is also very good, heading decent, but his shooting is atrocious and I tend to find someone else rather than letting him test the keeper. So far no goals but lots of assists. He is also a very big player which means the opposition rarely flattens him and needs to go around him; he stays back but also comes forward at the right time. An absolutely great player. (9/10)

Dominguez - 10k - Great shot, great pass, excellent corner, good player. Goal wise from distance he is deadly, up close he is neat, he has good dribbling and his passing is strong both short and long (better short). He is small but seems bigger than 5"8, he helps out in defence more than his low work rate suggests, and plays as a good central midfielder should. He was my main worry in this team but he's not the weak link and in fact does a very good job for me. Though not the greatest 442 CM he is very good and I think of real benefit to my attacks especially on the edge of the box. He gets goals and assists and puts himself about too. He isn't the quickest but he is effective and in a CM you need ability more than pace. He also has a great weak foot. (8.5/10)

Bautheac - 10k - In this formation he is effective but not brilliant. He is very left footed, feels a little slow but has a good cross and decent pass. He plays his part but I really would appreciate a better option if and when one comes around. His dribbling is decent enough, short passing is good but long passing just about average; he is very much a player who uses one foot even though he's scored a few lucky right footed goals. I do like him as a player but he lacks many qualities to truly test defences and only on occasions has he managed to confidently burst away from attackers. 83 pace? Really doesn't feel that way, 77 perhaps, plus he is weak so gets flattened quite easily. So far he doesn't hinder me he just doesn't set the team alight. Worth the discard price but he needs to be used in a particular way rather than expecting him to perform adequately at everything. Oh, he puts in a nice corner but his free kicks are poor unless very close up. (7.7/10)

Salpingidis - 14k - Run forward, run back, run forward, run back; tired yet? No? Well score me a goal then. This is Salpingidis in a nutshell; his crossing is average but his shot is superb, he is a workhorse with ability. Dribbling wise he is decent and short passing good, he makes good runs forward and tracks back all the time but when released to take on the keeper he is absolutely deadly. I initially bought him for a future 433 but realised I couldn't use Mitroglou in one just yet, in 442 he makes my attacks deadly and my defence strong (which is a help with my pace at the back) and even at 5"7 feels like like a bull desperate to get the ball back. He might not be the most skilful but he will improve many teams and let your more creative players use their talents, the 88 pace is a real help, pace always is, and you'll find him part of a lot of good moves both in your half and in the oppositions. (8.7/10)

Mitroglou - 17k - At first he annoyed me, he simply couldn't win a header for toffee but after a few games and less crossing I started to use his four precious attributes. Outside of the foot shot, weak foot dribbling, 4*skills and devastating left foot finishing. He scoop turns/skills excellently, is extremely strong on the ball and isn't as slow as the 64 pace suggests. When he gets a chance the top corner is his friend but in this formation I do feel he is better suited to playing on the left as his right foot finish isn't much to write home about. So far he's my main goal scorer and he's scored some absolutely fantastic goals, only 1 with his head, and I look forward to an IF that lets me use him in a 433. A superb player who can dribble, finish, push off a defender and even though price fixed is a fun addition to any squad. Oh his passing is very average, keep them short and simple, this is a little annoying as his positioning  to receive the ball is excellent. (8.7/10)

Lacazette - 23k - Definitely better on the right, so far he has made my attacks count rather than finished them off. His dribbling is very good, finishing decent and weak foot surprisingly useable though he does seem to make goals and attacks rather than finishing them himself. His positioning is good, pace superb and he can usually burst away from the defender with his neat turning and abilities on the ball. His heading is average but his agility means he is dangerous from any angle, he is stronger than most 5"8 players and has a real desire to get forward but so far he's not made me think he's anything spectacular even if he doesn't cause me any problems in attack. Definitely an improvement on the NIF but I didn't really like that card anyway. I think with a better LM he might be more deadly but he often gets to Toulalans passes which allows me to be really positive up top. (8/10)

Bringing Neves to the party

Dida - 18k - Dida is a great keeper with a god awful right foot. From distance he's rarely beaten, unless the shot is low, he punches a fair amount but he's incredibly quick which means mopping up long balls and his rushing at attackers is fantastic. His throwing is quick and accurate and his kicking very good, just use his left foot, his right really is atrocious. His shot stopping is amazing and the crosses he likes to come for actually get taken. I haven't used the best IF keepers from this game but so far Dida has been my favourite IF keeper, and one of my favourite keepers in the game. Mistakes are few. A great buy especially for chemistry. (8.9/10)

Marquinhos - 26k - A must for future teams due to his chemistry in Ligue 1 and Brazil. He isn't the tallest but he is one of the quickest and that pace will really help you out. His heading isn't the best but fortunately his pace lets him cover those mistakes, which is good because his tackling is excellent. Positioning wise he's good and he's not as weak as you might think when looking at him. He doesn't come forward that often and he passes excellently; so far I haven't got many complaints apart from his heading and I'm glad of him in my teams. (8.2/10)

Miranda - 40k - Expensive but due to chemistry worth it. For my playstyle he's a silent assassin; he makes very few mistakes, wins many headers even against the tallest and is great at covering the back line; maybe it's the pace. I really can't complain, I have used in many of my teams and his tackling, awareness and strength really shows. His passing is average (not bad) and he's another shorty at 6 foot but don't let that put you off; he might be 40k but he's fantastic in game and for team creativity. (8.9/10)

Carvajal - 13k - Carvajal stay in your position! That's my only complaint. He's a mini bull due to his lighting pace, his tackling is very good and his agility lets him make headers awkward for the opposition, though he doesn't win all that many. His passing is superb and his crossing is brilliant and that's good because he never stays back and if not charging down the wing is probably helping out in central midfield. For some reason I don't mind though as he's a good defender and he plays a quality part in my attacks. Well worth the coins, plus Spanish and at Madrid; that has to be a good thing for chemistry. (8.5/10)

Maxwell - 25k - A good player who simply lacks a bit of pace. His positioning is excellent, strength more than adequate and tackling great he can however feel a little sluggish next to the quickest players and so a shadow chemistry would be useful. It's not a major concern though as he usually hold  a good position for the tackle/interception. His passing is above average and crossing quite good but I tend to use Neves because of his skills and general passing brilliance; plus I don't like to leave Maxwell too far up the pitch as he doesn't get back quick enough. In the air he holds his own, especially against wingers who are usually small and his ball control means he rarely gets caught on the ball, he almost always finds a pass. With Digne's pace he'd be in all my teams but as it is that slight sluggishness can get you caught out. (7.9/10)

Tardelli - 13k - I think this guy is fantastic and is a little bull charging around the place until he gets the ball back; his first touch and dribbling is brilliant and his short passing more than adequate but his long passing is average and he when he meet a bigger bull he generally get flattened. His work rates are great as it means he assists everywhere and this covers for his lack of defensive ability; yet he does make many crucial tackles for me, just very few interceptions. His shot is pretty good but it doesn't feel that strong, yet he's dangerous on the edge of the box and has a tidy one on one finish. He loves to overlap the passer, probably that 'beat the offside trap' trait and that suits me fine as Neves prefers to pick his moments. He is everywhere and as a CM that's very useful, it's a shame he doesn't have better defending but I think it's so low you shouldn't waste a chemistry card on him. 4* skills. (8.5/10)  

Neves - 12k - I made this team purely so I could use Neves and he doesn't disappoint. He isn't the quickest but he is strong enough on the ball, has a mean left footed cross, 4*skills, and some of the most ridiculous in-game stats. Passing wise there isn't a lot he gets wrong and that's brilliant for me as it means I can continue moves with ease; both long and short passing are excellent. His freekick taking is close to 2IF Rakitic and you feel like every corner could be a goal and every freekick should be one. He can feel a little laboured to dribble with but he rarely loses the ball and it works for him because he really is a great dribbler who keeps the ball close to his feet. I don't shoot from distance all that much but Neves is one to do it with, he has a rocket shot. All in all he makes this team really fun and although his M/M work rates mean he doesn't bust a gut to get forward he is always available for a pass and quite the versatile player when he gets one. (8.9/10)

Feghouli - 11k - I didn't like his NIF, he felt awkward on the ball and poor at everything but his IF is brilliant to use and involved in everything good down the right. He is very quick, strong enough to take on a full back and has a pretty good cross. His shooting is also good for a wide man and he is able to skip past most players with some superb dribbling. He only has 3* skills so he's not complete in my eyes but that's fine because he makes up for it with H/M work rates and brilliant control. Passing wise he is decent though his cross is better than his long pass; for short passes he is pretty good but certainly not as good as Garcia but he gets involved in great moves and propels my team up the pitch with his desire to get forward. I like him a lot and plan on using him in a 433, I recommend him to everyone especially as he's so cheap. (8.5/10)

Jo - Jo is brilliant; he really is. I didn't like his NIF so was unsure of his IF but I was wrong. He takes up great positions, has an amazing header and finishes with ease even though his shot takes a bit of time to wind up. Any cross is his and he is a complete bully on the pitch throwing everyone aside. His dribbling is definitely average and he lacks any real skills but he's really fun to use and completely changed my perception of him. He is strong and quick enough but he's definitely not lightening so don't think you can outrun Alba, it's never going to happen unless you push him to the ground first. He has quickly become one of my favourite players and I can't wait to find another team for him when and if the right in-forms come out. Try him out and make those crosses count, then when your opposition thinks you're a cross abuser show them he can finish on the ground too. (8.8/10)

Jonas - 19k - This is the second team I've used Jonas in and I enjoy using him every time; he is a very unusual player. He finishes 85% of his chances, is good at linking up play, can dribble and run away from defenders and bizarrely can score with his head no matter who he faces. I put this down to his positioning because he seems to be well placed all the time and available for all my moves. His passing is actually quite good too, as is his strength, and although he isn't the quickest he is a lot of fun to use especially as he can play Jo in for an early cross. He's not the best striker you'll use but he is one of them, plus he is fun which to me is an important reason I make these teams. He also have a H/L work rate which is perfect for getting behind the defence. He is a creative goal scorer a little like Vucinic and that suits me fine. (8.8/10)

4222 All IF's; lots of fun

After the BPL 4231(2) success I had a Ligue 1/La Liga fitness team alongside it, it didn't work and the players simply didn't suit so I knew I would have to use them somehow.
Following on from a 4222 team with IF Milito and IF Pandev I decided to use this fun formation for the previously beleaguered players and with great success and entertainment.

 Dida - 18k - Dida is a great keeper with a god awful right foot. From distance he's rarely beaten, unless the shot is low, he punches a fair amount but he's incredibly quick which means mopping up long balls and his rushing at attackers is fantastic. His throwing is quick and accurate and his kicking very good, just use his left foot, his right really is atrocious. His shot stopping is amazing and the crosses he likes to come for actually get taken. I haven't used the best IF keepers from this game but so far Dida has been my favourite IF keeper, and one of my favourite keepers in the game. Mistakes are few. A great buy especially for chemistry. (8.9/10)

Marquinhos - 26k - A must for future teams due to his chemistry in Ligue 1 and Brazil. He isn't the tallest but he is one of the quickest and that pace will really help you out. His heading isn't the best but fortunately his pace lets him cover those mistakes, which is good because his tackling is excellent. Positioning wise he's good and he's not as weak as you might think when looking at him. He doesn't come forward that often and he passes excellently; so far I haven't got many complaints apart from his heading and I'm glad of him in my teams. (8.2/10)

Miranda - 40k - Expensive but due to chemistry worth it. For my playstyle he's a silent assassin; he makes very few mistakes, wins many headers even against the tallest and is great at covering the back line; maybe it's the pace. I really can't complain, I have used in many of my teams and his tackling, awareness and strength really shows. His passing is average (not bad) and he's another shorty at 6 foot but don't let that put you off; he might be 40k but he's fantastic in game and for team creativity. (8.9/10)

Carvajal - 13k - Carvajal stay in your position! That's my only complaint. He's a mini bull due to his lighting pace, his tackling is very good and his agility lets him make headers awkward for the opposition, though he doesn't win all that many. His passing is superb and his crossing is brilliant and that's good because he never stays back and if not charging down the wing is probably helping out in central midfield. For some reason I don't mind though as he's a good defender and he plays a quality part in my attacks. Well worth the coins, plus Spanish and at Madrid; that has to be a good thing for chemistry. (8.5/10)

Digne - 24k - A great defender but also a guy who likes to get forward so sometimes caught out of position, he's never in central midfield though. Not quite as devastating as Carvajal when in the final third but better alongside an attacker when heading and making tackles. He's a strong enough player, he has enough pace to cope with many of the quickest and he has some decent passing and crossing. A left back who does what an all round full back does, defend and attack. (8.5/10)

Raul Garcia - 10k - In FIFA I feel dribbling goes a few ways, the excellent dribbler, the poor dribbler who thinks he's Messi and the boat. Boats are interesting because they force you to be thoughtful with your movement; Garcia is one of those, but what a boat. When forward he has the quality to move away from a defender and pass/shoot, in defence he has the strength to hold off the man and roll the opposition; he's an interesting player indeed. His shooting is good but not excellent, always on target not always testing, though it can take a while to get the shot off. His passing is brilliant and playing through balls is great fun, his short passing is strong too as it means you can play tiki-taka with a beast. He's great in the air, strong and good in defence and in general he's involved in everything good. He is a CAM who is a better CDM; for me that's a great compromise in attack and defence. (8.5/10)

Matuidi - 42k (risen hugely since, should drop....) - A good player who supports everywhere but doesn't feel as strong or as mighty as his NIF; he is still strong though. His passing is improved and his shooting feels like a real shot, still not very good though, but all in all he does a CDM's job excellently with great tackling, sudden bursts of destroying 4 or 5 of the opposition and a constant willingness to support his team mates. His ball control is pretty decent for CDM too, which means taking a touch and run is good fun, especially in this open formation. I really like his NIF and for different reasons (his ability on the ball) I like his IF just as much. Don't expect to win too many headers but do expect to tackle the hell out of the opposition. (8.7/10)

Cabella - 18k - I had used him in a 4231(2) team and he was decent, though very weak, so I was excited about having him less isolated. His 4* WF and Skills show, his touch is very neat and his dribbling superb but he gets bullied off the ball unless you shield the ball, strangely though I've done this quite successfully even with this tiny guy. His passing is great and his runs are brilliant; and I know in some ways I can always beat a man either passing and making a run or dribbling past them. When you beat the first man the second usually clobbers you but knowing this allows you to adapt your game. His crossing is superb and his free kicks good when close to goal, he also likes to beat the offside trap which is a blessing as smaller players find it harder to make an extra yard by shouldering the defender off them. I like Cabella, if he were 2 inches taller he'd be a star as it is he's just excellent. (8.7/10)

Dos Santos - 31k - I had his 1IF (first in-form) and he was very good, but I thought for the same price I'd go for the second one and there is an improvement. His dribbling is sublime and his pace is a real bonus, his skills come off easily (4* WF/Skills) and although I used him on the left in another team he is very good on the right too. He seems fairly strong on the ball, passes extremely well and creates a sense of relaxation when you get him on the ball. On the left his crossing was devastating but on the right it's still very good; his shooting is great too so cut inside, use those skills and get a shot off. His work rates mean he doesn't defend and he can't always be bothered to go forward but it's fine, he has skills and Carvajal has the willingness. All in all he's a brilliant CAM and I'm sure a brilliant striker; a bargain so get that 2IF before someone decides it's worth 50k+. (9/10)

Ben Yedder - 15k - An interesting player with some great and very average abilities. Finishing wise he is absolutely lethal, when taking one touch and a shot he scores so very often, and he also makes excellent runs despite having medium/medium work rates. He does have the beat the offside trap trait, though blink and you'll miss them so he does get called offside a decent amount. His pace is good at getting past a man but seems average when running away from someone. His dribbling to get past a player seems very average and his ball control isn't always the best but his passing is very strong for a striker which can be very useful and he is able to use a skilled dribble very well. He is 5"6 though so you won't be barging your way through anyone; and although he has good heading it feels very difficult to beat a defender in the air. (8.3/10, on his finishing alone)

Javi Guerra - 20k - Guerra is a hidden gem, his has unusual work rates for a striker M/H but don't let that fool you; his attribute is making critical runs. He is strong, quick enough and has a great header as well as a good finish but isn't anywhere near as clinical as Ben Yedder. His runs are superb and is always arriving at the right time for a header or late pass but he does have one flaw, very poor dribbling, though it is manageable you need to think about what you're about to do instead of reacting. His passing is okay and his defending excellent which is good in this formation as in 4222 the middle can feel lonely. I really like using him and I think he's a star, much as he was in FIFA13. A fantastic bargain silver, especially when you consider silver IF's can be very expensive. (8.5/10)

Part 3 - All IF BPL

I am skipping past part 2 because I wasn't completely happy with my team and am waiting till the end of the week before buying a replacement, however I did make a team I was happy with all thanks to the great Team of the Week 18.

Firstly prices on higher priced IF's (around 30k) have halved, now is a good time to buy before the horrible price fixers raise the prices again and everyone builds the same cheap Serie A team.

The BPL Guys

Guzan - 11k - As a Villa fan I was excited for this card but so far he's made life very difficult for me; top corner shots he's great with and his throwing is brilliant but low shots and handling are miserable, 4 of the 6 goals he's conceded were entirely his fault. He has the limpest wrists of any keeper I've used and can't seem to push the ball away at all (unless it's to push the ball in the goal), he also comes for the ball on crosses but stays in his poor position and so rebound goals are always likely. He looks small despite being 6"4 and feels to have no real presence. A real let down which was a surprise. I need a new keeper and Adrian will be next in line. (6/10...because I'm a Villa fan)


Caulker - 19k - Sadly Caulker is now around the 30k mark, but Brown is a good alternative if you're on a budget. Caulker is tall, strong, quick and mobile; that suits me fine. His tackling is great, positioning very good and there's not a lot to complain about. He does what a good defender does; defend. He's no world beater but he'll keep you in games and when you see that spammed long ball you'll feel less bothered. Passing is decent enough too and he doesn't get caught on the ball like other defenders can. (8.5/10)

Winston Reid - 12k - Tall enough, strong enough, quick enough and with good work rates but isn't the best defender you'll use. His defending is more than adequate but you get the feeling he's going to miss a tackle or be slow to turn, and then it happens. His pace is perfect and allows you to cover mistakes but I don't like making mistakes and so I keep him back to make the tackles rather than meeting the attacker. He blocks the ball well so that's a bonus and as a BPL IF he's a bargain at 12k. (8/10)

Figueroa - 10k - He's a left back now! Always getting IF's that attacking centre back has probably found his best FIFA position even if he's not quite Baines. He wins headers, can pass, shoot, dribble and strike a ball but he's a jack of all trades who gives you options rather than quality. He's definitely a centre back playing left back rather than a true LB but I think that can be helpful with the right attacking option in front; sadly I have Sigurosson but that's a different review. His chemistry potential is a pain, so hybrids need Koren, but he's just as annoying so you're better off with full BPL. All in all though he's fun to see on the pitch, does things well enough and is extremely cheap. (7.5/10)

Riether - 15k - Tiny, weak but angry. He's quick enough for a right back but needs to stay back more as he's no Abate when getting back into position. When getting under the body of the opposition he's very good but he's a last ditch tackler as people regularly knock him down and go straight through him. He is nippy and agile which means he can make unusual tackles but he's not the best defensively and with Johnson not caring about defending can leave the right side exposed. His crossing is good as is his passing and when he gets forward usually creates danger in the box. Also he has green chemistry with Per Mertesacker which is good for those who like slow Germans. (7.5/10)

Barry - 10k - Who cares about pace when this guy is patrolling the midfield! His tackling is great, bursts forward brilliant and positioning excellent; you don't need a lot more in a CDM. His passing from the back is strong but getting forward he can play some lovely intricate balls to running teammates, his shooting is very average. So far so good for Mr Barry, he's a great tackler who is strong and well equipped to stop an attack, plus he can pass. 10k very well spent and not much more to say! He also has high defensive and medium attacking work rates. (8.9/10)

Cabaye - 25k - So small but so good at it all. He can defend well enough, he passes brilliantly, strikes a ball well from distance and dribbles nicely. His height is his only real downfall, though a bit more pace would be nice, plus better work rates, though he makes up for it by playing sumptuous passes and testing keepers at ridiculous ranges. He's another jack of all trades but a master of passing and shooting, his free kicks are immense and his corners great though he does get bulldozed off the ball if you don't use his neat dribbling, which with high aggression can be a pain,;but he can pass so find a man instead! Don't go for headers. (8.8/10)

Sigurossen - 20k - Gylfi is a great player in real life and I've always wanted to try his IF but sadly he's not quite Jurado on the left and I am still getting used to using him. He doesn't make crucial runs all that often (M/M work rates), seems less nimble on the ball than past FIFA's but still retains a hammer shot and superb free kicks. When he makes a run he's strong enough to keep a defender from abusing his lack of pace and when you're on the edge of the box he really comes alive giving you options of nice passes, good crosses and an excellent shot; however in 4231 it can be tricky to get a slow M/M work rate player to get forward. He's a front man who is probably better suited to 433 but he doesn't disappoint, he just doesn't add enough to make him irreplaceable. (7/10)

Johnson - 10k - 4* skills, yey! Though he's pretty weak and doesn't get forward enough I was happy to have his guy in my squad and using a scoop turn to evade the opposition. He's by no means quick but he has a neat turn, with strong shooting and excellent passing, plus he has a 4* weak foot which gives you good options to go inside or take the man on outside. Under high pressure he too gets steamrolled but he dusts himself off and next time draws a foul. Nothing to criticise really apart from a tad lack of pace and poor work rates but he's dangerous in the final third and definitely a keeper. Eventually he like Gylfi will go to a 433 team. (8/10)

Lallana - 19k (price fluctuates a lot) - More skills even if he is tiny. Sadly he doesn't have anything spectacular apart from skills and a strong weak foot but all the same he's a guy who likes to get forward and has enough attributes to be a danger. His shooting is adequate with a good finesse attempt, his turning on the ball is handy and short passing excellent but he doesn't play the best through ball. His new position though is a bonus and allows his natural attacking flair to shine a little more. He takes up good positions but unfortunately can get knocked down before receiving the ball. In 4231 I do prefer my CAM to be a little more robust but it just means I am practicing skills and dribbling instead; Adebayor can be my strong man. I'd say he adds to my team and when playing well he's a constant danger which allows my wide men a chance to get involved. (8/10)

Adebayor - 18k - Having used his NIF many times I knew what to expect and so far I don't feel there's a huge improvement over his already great NIF. In the air he's fantastic, in front of goal a monster but sometimes he prefers to be a CF and not a ST. He does however let me scoop turn and perform other fun skills and with his decent passing he is extremely useful. Apart from the work rates and lack of agility he's a really great striker but give him some time to get forward and he'll score for fun. He's strong, neat on the ball and deadly from distance/with finesse, goals come easily to this man especially on the volley, I can see him in lots of my future teams. Get one now before people decide he's worth 40k. (9/10)

Team Analysis
It's a great team to use but relies on passing abilities up top rather than always taking on the man, your full backs can prove very useful in this formation but make sure you're aware of where you wide men are when the FB's come forward. A wide man who wants to get forward would be a bonus and as the year develops hopefully a new cheap IF will offer that, but so far so good for wins, goals and entertainment. I really enjoy playing with these guys even if you're likely to get an Ibarbo SHHHH! along the way; I have my own robot dancing Adebayor!
If I could replace anyone it would be Guzan, Sigurossen (for better work rates) and Reither due to height; everyone else plays their part very well.

Cheap all IF Team - FIFA14 Ultimate Team (the first one)

It's been a long time since I made an all IF team and things have changed slightly. A fair few of the players are close to discard but in general there has been a lot of effort by groups of traders to keep usual discard IF prices at 20k.
This is a real shame as it restricts the amount of teams that can be made, especially for those without millions, but there are still great players close to discard that you should consider picking up.
When I began making this team I hoped to base it on IF Miranda, who was 30-40k, however as I sold a few cards his price rose to 50-60k and I was let scratching my head at alternatives.
Well fear not, a good team was created and for those who defend manually a great team; get ready to back up those centre backs.
My favoured Chemistry on each card is listed after each mini-review, I trade all the time so my teams change as I make small profits and get my players back for less coins.

The Frame

Esteban - 5.8k - Esteban is a decent keeper with two pretty annoying flaws; terrible reflexes and poor diving. His positioning counters this as he does seem to be in good positions for saves but he can cause some real problems at the back as your neat intricate play gets undone by a stupid long shot from 35 yards that he misses entirely. Considering other options I was happy with the coins spent; he's not that bad but he's certainly not that good. (6/10) Cat Chemistry due to improved speed and reflexes.

Godin - 11k - What a player; strong, powerful, decent passer, good in the air and well positioned. He's not that quick so I would suggest a shadow card but you're getting a good defender here and one who will make sure the Ibarbo's of this world aren't always on the end of the through balls. He's better at heading in his own box than the opposition and his ground tackling is a joy, not one easily skilled. A good defender. (8/10) Shadow Chemistry for extra pace

Arribas - 11k - He really surprised me and is a bit of a gem; he doesn't feel 59 pace as he competes with quicker players, he's a bull when making tackles and his passing is really good. He takes up good positions, is quite decent in the air and seems to make fantastic tracking back runs. Not many negatives with him despite his card stats looking problematic. A solid defender. (8/10) Shadow Chemistry for extra pace

Fernandes - 12k - I think he is great; strong, stays back, quick enough, good passer, good crosser and generally a bit of a defensive monster. I was going to try for a cheap Maicon but what's the point, I have Mario Fernandes. His only drawback is he doesn't feel agile, but that's fine, the man ahead of him is and his job is to defend and support when necessary, which he does well. His heading is good, strength apparent and tackling great. Not much to complain about though his dribbling isn't brilliant. (8.5/10) Anchor/Sentinel Chemistry for extra defensive qualities

Kombarov - 13k - Look at this stats and you probably think you have a world class left back but after many games with him I am yet to see his best. His tackling is decent, his heading is okay, his positioning is forward and his passing surprisingly average. He can cross, takes good set pieces and gets forward well but perhaps because I use Jurado's skills I miss out on his supportive runs. At times he has been amazing for me, but at times anonymous which as a left back can be slightly frustrating. A solid but underwhelming player, perhaps I'm expecting too much. He'd probably make a great wing back. (6.9/10) Anchor/Sentinel Chemistry for extra defensive qualities

Jurado - 10.5k - Everyone should try this guy, he is fantastic. In my opinion he only has one negative and that is inconsistent shooting, but for me that is it. He could do with more pace but it's manageable because of his dribbling and passing. In tight situations he nips past defenders with ease, finds good passes and makes great runs. His finesse shot is good but his shooting in general needs some thought instead of just blasting the ball. He has 4* skills/weak foot and it's a real help; he has won me games by himself and he must really annoy my opposition as he slowly makes his way through their defenders. He's also not that bad in defence both on the ground and in the air, but won't be scoring any headers in attack. (8.5/10) Catalyst Chemistry for pace and passing or Maestro for an all rounder.

Tosic - 11k - A small, nippy player with 4* skills, what's not to like? His tendency to use his left foot that's what! In 4411 his weak foot can be a real problem as I do like to take on my man down the wing. Tosic seems to always use his left foot which means I am passing it inside or back to the full back instead of making my way down the outside. He makes decent runs forward and has a neat first time pass but he gets pushed over a lot of the time. When you can skill he is a joy and cutting in is great fun because of this; definitely have a shot both long and finesse because his left footed finishing is strong. His left footed crossing is very good and his right is distinctively average but actually Tosic is a good player who would work very well in a 433. I have a lot of time for him and enjoy using him; plus with my midfield his forward runs can be found with ease. (8/10) Deadeye Chemistry for the passing and shooting boost.

Raul Garcia - 10k - In FIFA I feel dribbling goes a few ways, the excellent dribbler, the poor dribbler who thinks he's Messi and the boat. Boats are interesting because they force you to be thoughtful with your movement; Garcia is one of those, but what a boat. When forward he has the quality to move away from a defender and pass/shoot, in defence he has the strength to hold off the man and roll the opposition; he's an interesting player indeed. His shooting is good but not excellent, always on target not always testing, though it can take a while to get the shot off. His passing is brilliant and playing through balls is great fun, his short passing is strong too as it means you can play tiki-taka with a beast. He's great in the air, strong and good in defence and in general he's involved in everything good. He is a CAM who is a better CDM; for me that's a great compromise in attack and defence. (8.5/10) Artist Chemistry for super passing and neater turns.

Ruben Pardo - 10k - Firstly Pardo is a poor dribbler who thinks he's Messi; sometimes he is incredibly smooth then you become confident and one of his legs shortens to which he falls over. Very frustrating especially as his short passing is excellent and his long passing great. Playing next to Tosic means I have a reason to play some defence splitting through balls and he's slightly nippier than Garcia so I can dribble before making a pass, rather than moving sideways and making one as I do with the beast. His shooting is surprisingly decent and though finishing stats are poor he's scored a decent amount of long shots for me. He's a bit weak but nothing horrific, and his defending is average, I don't win too many headers with him. Worth a look though until better options occur. (7/10) Powerhouse Chemistry so he gets stuck in a little more.

Sergio Garcia - 11k - I like my CF to have three things, shooting, weak foot and passing; Garcia only has one of those qualities; shooting, but what a shot. His weak foot is obvious, it's terrible, his short passing is very average and his long passing poor (which is hard as he's part of a triangle of good passers) but his movement and right foot is a joy to behold. He pops up in unusual places, makes late runs and finishes with aplomb. From just outside the box he's deadly, his dribbling is good and his close range goals are a tap of the button. His heading is better than average despite being so small and he's always getting braces and hat-tricks for me. If only he had a better weak foot I'd make use of deadeye chemistry, but he doesn't so he's my goal machine. (8.1/10) Deadeye Chemistry so he's truly lethal with better passing, Artist if you want to dribble.

Movsisyan - 15k - He's a perfect striker; high/low work rates, great shot, good in the air, strong and very quick. His finishing is brilliant both from distance and close up (not quite as good as Garcia's up close) his passing is okay and his positioning good. Sometimes I wish he'd make more forward darts but perhaps my slower play means I miss his runs. There's not a lot more to say about Movsisyan, he does what a striker does and does it well. He has three star skills so roulette's well, his dribbling is good for a striker and he shrugs off defenders with ease. Seems to score in every game. (8.3/10) Sniper Chemistry because he's fast enough and could do with being a little more lethal

I have really enjoyed using this team, and it didn't cost the earth as many all IF teams will; if you build it you need to use Movsisyan and Tosic's pacey runs forward, utilise the skills of Jurado and the passing abilities of Pardo and Raul Garcia. Forget about Sergio Garcia and just admire him popping up to get the winners. Drag those centre backs back and revel at the moments your sub 70 pace centre backs make Ibarbo look like a bronze player.
If you remember your midfield will keep the ball the team plays well, with super aggressive/high pressure teams you have the armoury to keep the ball moving and the players to hit a defence splitting pass.

I'm in the process of building a second/third/fourth team to play alongside these guys; so I'll report back as soon as I can. With TOTY it's a good time to buy some IF's and start building your potential teams; be creative because the more of us that are the better the FIFA community becomes.