FIFA 14: Players to look out for in the latest edition

Ever since EA sports started producing the FIFA game series, the game has been a great sensation among football enthusiasts and even football players themselves. The FIFA game has also been used as a simulation tool by managers to help them decide their best starting XI against a particular opponent. Even football players like Wayne Rooney and Joleon Lescott enjoy playing FIFA when on international duty.

EA Sports has launched a demo version of the game FIFA 14, and already the game is catching great excitement.

Below are the players that were brilliant in FIFA 13 and would be a great addition to your managerial career in FIFA 14′s full version.

Goalkeeper:

Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea/At. Madrid)

Thibaut Courtois

The tall and sleek Belgian is a masterclass in goal. Clean sheets, diving saves, co-ordination with defenders – you get all of that when you have Courtouis in goal. Already praised for his performances for Atletico Madrid, Courtouis will fit perfectly in any squad.

Samir Handanovic (Inter Milan)

Inter Milan snapped up Handanovic from Udinese after the poor performances of their star goalkeeper Julio Cesar. Since arriving at Inter, Handanovic has improved considerably and is one of the best shot stoppers currently. In FIFA 13 too, Handanovic is brilliant between the posts.

The old lads Casillas, Petr Cech and Hugo Loris have improved a lot in just two seasons. Petr Cech attains perfection really quickly and you can rely on him to give you some great clean sheets.

Defenders:

Left back:

Leighton Baines

Leighton Baines (Everton), David Alaba (FC Bayern), Jaun Arango (Monchengladbach) and Marcel Schmelzer(Dortmund)

Leighton Baines is a proven hero on the left flank. Baines, in FIFA 13, is brilliant with forward runs on the left flank, and shows some good defence as well. With Alaba, a penalty specialist, long range efforts and solid defending will definitely add value to your side. Juan Arango is brilliant with free kicks. Though he is primarily a midfielder, he can be deployed as a left back. Schmelzer is stubborn in defence and doesn’t let attackers pass through him so easily.

Centre back:

Kyriakos Papadopoulous

Davide Astori (Cagliari), Kyriakos Papadopoulous (Schalke), Ahmed Hegazy (Fiorentina), Hector Moreno (Espanyol), Matteo Musacchio (Villareal) and Gary Cahill (Chelsea)

Astori is really good in central defence, which explains why Juventus was so hell bent on acquiring his services this season. Mussacchio from Villareal can play in the centre and on the right with great defending and equally good attacking quality. Moreno and Hegazy are two good youngsters who play brilliantly and their OVR (rating) increases really fast.

Cahill becomes solid as you play more than two seasons with him. But the most impressive defender I encountered was Papadopoulous. He is good in the air, physically imposing and a great attacker at corners.

Right back

Lukasz Piszczek

Lukasz Piszczek (Dortmund), Ivanovic (Chelsea), Rafael (Man United), Abate (AC Milan)

Piszczek has been the best of the bunch. Fast in attack, he retreats back instantly to help the team in defence. Abate is the most quick right back and can provide you fine crosses and assists. Rafael is good in defence and attack, but the only concern is his physical ability. And if by chance you have to play Stoke City then you need the sturdy Ivanovic at right back.

CDM

Kondogbia

Kondogbia (Monaco/Sevilla), Ikay Gundogan (Dortmund), Illaramendi (R Madrid), Casemiro (R Madrid)

Kondogbia is the best young CDM I have played with. He is brilliant at tackles and forward bursts through midfield. Gundogan has proven his class at this position, so you have to have him in your ranks. Illaramendi has great ball retaining capacity and is good at short quick passes. Casemiro brings in quality in central midfield and the former Sao Paoulo youngster improves quickly.

Central Midfield

Andre Schurrle

I played with the following players in midfield and on the wings and each player has the ability to play in any of these positions.

Andre Schurrle (Chelsea), Marco Reus (Dortmund), Alan Dzagoev (CSKA), Draxler (Schalke), Toni Kroos (Bayern), Griezmann (Espanyol), C Atsu (Porto), Jonas Hoffman (Dortmund)

All of the above players have great class and improve considerably as you keep playing them. Andre Schurrle improves particularly quickly (in my Chelsea team his OVR is 93 after 3 seasons).

Reus and Hoffman are very good attacking players. Christian Atsu has quick feet and he is a youngster to watch out for. Dzagoev was the ideal replacement for the departure of Juan Mata to R Madrid in my manager career. Draxler is excellent in midfield and can shift to the wings as well.

Striker

Pierre Emerick Aubameyang

Artem Dzyuba (CSKA), Pierre Emerick Aubameyang (Dortmund), Lamela (Spurs), Tim Matavz (PSV)

Dzyuba from CSKA – a perfect striker with good physical abilities and deft touches, and can leave any defender behind. Aubameyang has great pace and good shooting ability so you can use him against slow defensive teams. Lamela is skillful and a great striker upfront, and can shift to the flanks as well. Tim Matavsz was a good experiment and it worked out fine.

So the above mentioned young players are perfect to play with in your managerial careers in FIFA 14. I played with all these players in Chelsea in FIFA 13 and the average OVR of my team was about 89. So enjoy your FIFA 14.