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.
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