FIFA 17 - sponsored by Visa, MasterCard, McDonalds etc.

[Gray Fox]

Got green McCarthy and not much else. He sold for 22k so I cant complain I guess.

Not sure I want to touch those pot of gold SBCs though. Each one costs about half the potential max coin prize on offer so it's a bit of a risk.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Decided to open some packs.

Got green Meyler, IF King and IF Benatia.

Still haven't bought Kante back, I'm thinking I might try and squeeze everything I can out of my club to get his MOTM card though.

[Yevrah]

Spunked the 200k coins I made from SBC related trading on this a few days ago:

http://i66.tinypic.com/2hqys2h.jpg

Probably my favourite side so far, loving the midfield and Aubameyang is an absolute beast.

Traded my way back up to 50k coins tonight, so closing in on Reus I think.

I forgot to ask this a while back, but why is Renato Sanches so cheap?

[Waffdon]

Only 78 rated Rare Gold. He'll be getting packed thousands of times a day.

[Gray Fox]

There was a time when Sanches was more than 20k, but him only being 78 rated means he's in packs a lot. I've just picked up his OTW card. Only 37k but I see it as a long term investment. Bayern have nearly won the league and so he should be seeing more game time, especially if they progress further in Europe. It's a punt, but if he gets a TOTW card he'll be worth hundreds of thousands.

I'd also advise you save those coins a bit more and buy 85 Dembele, before you buy Reus. I think he'll have a better impact and his upgrade from his standard card feels mental. However he is a full 100k more expensive on XB1, so it's underastandable to get Reus first.

I really would like to use that Keita, but my disdain for the Bundesliga RB situation means I have to hybrid out that right hand side. It still amazes me that he's only 60k. The only way to get around this RB problem is with a legend, but there are only 2 right backs, so it'd have to be Zanetti at 400k and I'm not sure it's best to spend that much on a right back, given there's plenty else I can upgrade.

Side note: Yevrah You've probably noticed already, but it's best not to buy players on a Thursday or Friday. For example I've bought Vidal for my team earlier this week for 75k. He's now selling at 85k. Same for Alaba, he was 60k even late Wednesday, now 70k.
Players prices go up as the weekend league approaches. Best time to buy is Sunday evening. Players are being sold off in order to build funds for the next week and there's lots of undercutting to make sure of a sale. This is especially true when a weekend league is coming up that has squad requirements. When the EPL only league happened a few weeks back, everything else lost a fair chunk of value, so those with coins to spare made killer teams for even cheaper.

[Gray Fox]

The 2 teams now:

https://gyazo.com/89b4008bdb7e5a2a9a99ff35170d324d.png

https://gyazo.com/72d7d37579e710216af694f017d7592e.png

I need to fix the chem styles on the top one, but obviously it's missing a striker. Any Bundesliga striker will do, but Aubameyang will take everyone to full chem(I'm used to playing on 7/8 with Dembele).

I've 580k left. I can spend it all on 88 Aubameyang or 93 Lewandowski. Alternatively I can buy one of their standard cards, or striker Embolo and still have the best part of 500k to improve elsewhere.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

0-3 :(

Should have won twice but I'm struggling to create chances today. Only scored the once with a long ranger finesse from Keita.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

http://i.imgur.com/o32aWDV.png

Some bastard just got a bargain :(

Also, someone just bought a Christian Atsu off me for 10k. I think they meant to bid but accidentally clicked buy now.

[Yevrah]

I've bought and sold hundreds of players since getting back into this and the prospect of accidentally BINing a 10k piece of shit still terrifies me. :D

[Yevrah]

And cheers for the tips fox. I'm now thinking of getting Vidal to replace Bentalab. Is he much better?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I've bought and sold hundreds of players since getting back into this and the prospect of accidentally BINing a 10k piece of shit still terrifies me. :D

I think it terrifies everyone who plays FIFA.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

http://i.imgur.com/fcDdDCc.png

:drool:

[Gray Fox]

And cheers for the tips fox. I'm now thinking of getting Vidal to replace Bentalab. Is he much better?

I havent used him yet, but it's hard to imagine he wont be. Vidal is better physically and defensively. They trade stats in the middle but Vidal is considerably faster. Bentaleb is a few inches taller though if that means much to you.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

2-4 right now.

Had to work so fucking hard for those 2 wins as well. My build up play has absolutely deserted me and I'm not defending anywhere near as good as last week.

MOTM Kante is obviously bonkers though.

[The Merse]

Marquee Matchups has gone well this week. Cost me 15k due to needing Gignac and a couple of others of the Mexicans, but worth it with a 50k pack alongside the others. Pulled 86 TIF Villa (sold for 22.5k), St Paddys day Clark (sold for 15k), position change MOTM Najar (sold for 12k) and a clutch of contracts and fitness cards to make 30k profit in the end.

[Gray Fox]

Tried the cheapest Pot of Gold SBC. Ended up spending about 30k on it, but thought it was worth the risk. I got 23k back, which is barely above the minimum prize. I wont be doing the rest.

[The Merse]

After comparing stats on Futhead, I'm going to swap out Matuidi for MOTM Tolisso in the BPL-Ligue 1-Bundesliga hybrid. Looks sensational.

[Gray Fox]

He'll have a perfect link to Lacazette too.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

His in game stats haven't been revealed yet, but Kasper Schmeichel's card stats are better than De Gea's.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

11 shots, 6 on target compared to 2 shots, 2 on target.

I lost 2-0 :moop:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Dropped to 2-5 but then I went on a 4 game winning streak.

Which should see claw my way to Gold 3 again.

[Yevrah]

Binned off the idea of bringing in Vidal and Reus for now and have primed the balls for that Dembele.

Might as well go for the OTW version, which is about 210k. Been raping Mexico this morning and am 75k of the way there.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

6-10.

Can't defend, can't create and can't finish.

This is terrible.

[Gray Fox]

The one tip I'll give you is not to defend for yourself. Take control of your midfielder, say Kante and have him run around and cut off passing lanes, close down the player etc.

I've found the second you draw a CB out to the ball, any regular FUT Champs player will exploit that gap. The AI defends well too if left alone. You'll only need to jump back in, in obvious panic situations.

I know I'm not exactly a great player, but doing that got me from just about 21 wins, to up to around 26/27. I've also not played myself this weekend. I just dont have the time. I'll play a few today and tomorrow and see how I feel, but I might take a while out of the weekend league.

[Yevrah]

Do you use the teamate contain thing while letting the AI do it's thing Fox?

[Yevrah]

Dembele fund up to 125k, with 45 Mexicans on the trade pile overnight. I might be able to get him tomorrow.

[Gray Fox]

Nope, don't touch any other button. Just get used to using the right stick to switch to the player you want. It's a weird feeling at first but you'll notice 50% of players are waiting for you to commit a defender and to go around him.

After playing 8 games, I really like this team. Aubameyang scored with his first shot for me and has gone on to get 6 in 5 games. He takes a little getting used to as I was used to Ben Yedder and he's almost exactly the opposite of him. Still if you need a reason to buy him, there's this goal:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfobYXuaJpQ

Just look at how much ground he makes up on Kyle Walker there. And that's supposedly his weaker foot too.

That leaves me 6-2 for now. I got out played for one loss, but the other was infuriating. I was 1-0 up and pushing for a 2nd. But Ben Yedder, Martial and Dembele all spurned a chance each that I'd expect to have scored. In true FIFA fashion he then scored from a corner and caught me on the counter, straight from me hitting the post with Martial.

I really like the midfield 3, although I only realised when I stopped playing that I hadn't fixed the chem styles on them. The only player I'm a bit less sold on is Reus. He's a great provider as seen in the above video, but he's too easily bullied in the final 3rd. I also think he feels slower than 90 pace.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The one tip I'll give you is not to defend for yourself. Take control of your midfielder, say Kante and have him run around and cut off passing lanes, close down the player etc.

I've found the second you draw a CB out to the ball, any regular FUT Champs player will exploit that gap. The AI defends well too if left alone. You'll only need to jump back in, in obvious panic situations.

I know I'm not exactly a great player, but doing that got me from just about 21 wins, to up to around 26/27. I've also not played myself this weekend. I just dont have the time. I'll play a few today and tomorrow and see how I feel, but I might take a while out of the weekend league.
That's what I've been doing but I'm getting exposed this weekend.

[Gray Fox]

That's what I've been doing but I'm getting exposed this weekend.

Are they getting in behind you constantly or is it a case of playing through you? The former can be fixed with custom tactics. If you've never messed with them, the least you can do is go in and change the games default offside trap for a covering line.

If it's the latter, keep your formation going into the game for chemistry reasons, but then switch if you get in trouble. If you want to keep your formation, looking at your midfield will help. You have 2 of your 3 CMs that are high/medium workrates. You'll find they push forward and make overlapping runs in attack and I'm guessing you're getting stung on the counter. I'm just going on your EPL team here, but someone like Gueye will help out defensively, as would hero Rooney. Rooney being the better option as he finishes in game like he did in real life about 8 years ago.

I've got to look into a new RF for my fitness side. Using Dembele in both is burning me out of player fitness cards. Also, player injuries that last 2 games are the devil incarnate.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Counter mainly.

I might take out Eriksen in my EPL side for that Rooney.

Bundesliga side is Vidal (High/High), Keita (High/Medium) and Thiago (Med/Med).

[Yevrah]

5k away from OTW Dembele. :drool:

[Yevrah]

Took about an hour of refreshing the search screen, but got him for 196k, which is a bit of a result I think.

[Gray Fox]

Took about an hour of refreshing the search screen, but got him for 196k, which is a bit of a result I think.

That's a good deal. You'll be able to sell him back for no loss at the very least.

OTW cards follow a trend too. A player like Dembele for example, is likely to play every game for Dortmund. As kick off approaches his price will rise, with people picking him up just in case he has a great game. His price since he was made 85 has been about 210k. Once he's confirmed in the starting lineup his price goes a little further.
By kick-off he's tended to be about 225-230k. If he scores, especially more than once, you'll find he gets bought up instantly. His price will increase to about 270k and owners will keep an eye on the rest of the game. If for example, Dortmund win 4-0 and he scores 2 or gets 3 assists and a goal or something, he'll keep that value until a TOTW leak happens. However if he doesn't do much, or he only scores the one in what goes on to be a 2-1 loss, he'll return to just under his normal price as people cut their losses.

This all happens within the course of a game, so there's easy profit to make. It happens across most OTW cards too.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

http://i.imgur.com/xBZiDoL.jpg

Sums it up quite well.

I go 2-0 up (which has been rare this weekend) and I instantly concede twice before going down in ET.

Luckily I decided to just have a pot shot finesse with Gray just after and he pulled off a perfect strike.

Ended up winning on penalties but it shouldn't have gone that far.

Guys have been struggling to pass through my defence recently but they're running right through them which is annoying.

[Yevrah]

How much do you reckon Dembele's OTW will rise to if he gets another IF Fox?

He's so good as it is (played three games in online leagues and he's scored in all 3), I'm not sure I'd need a better version and if the price rise is sufficient I'd probably cash in.

Tempted to do some SBC's now as I'm running a bit low on consumables. Have 20k of coin to play with.

[Raoul Duke]

Lol: https://gfycat.com/BareBaggyJackal

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Jesus.

[Yevrah]

First good pull from an SBC, IF Inan (ironically for doing Gala's SBC) I assume he goes for scrap value, but I'll take that.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Struggling with long shots now, my defence keeps dropping way too deep and inviting people to shoot.

10-14 right now.

In better news, Ousmane is the first in my club to reach 50 goals.

He has 50 in 100 with 20 assists. He was on a better record but the two WL's have hurt him.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Jacking it in at 13-18.

I reckon I could scrape Gold 3 but I'm too tired and I know that it would probably take 8 or all 9 of the remaining matches I have left.

[Yevrah]

Spent the last four hours smashing through the Turkish League SBC. I now have a shiny new Eto'o (with a hunter card).

Just about broke even in coin terms as well. If it wasn't for Osmanlispor I definitely would have done. Stuff nightmares are made of that.

[Gray Fox]

How much do you reckon Dembele's OTW will rise to if he gets another IF Fox?

This depends on how good he does. If he scored 4 in a game he'd probably go up by more than just one. However his pace is almost maxed out, so any boosts will be to his shooting, passing and physical sides. His finishing is already 88 too, so that can't get too much better. If he got a physical boost similar to what Mané got, he'd go over 300k easily.


Managed to get myself to my 18 wins last night. It was quite comfortable in the end. I think I had 11 games remaining. I think that's what it'll be from now on though. I'm not sure I can keep getting off to good starts to only bottle it to a loss streak. I started off well going 8-2 from my first 10 games. Playing the rest on Sunday nights was never going to end well. It was super team after super team. Too many to be coincidence. I ended up quitting on people who took early leads just for the sake of going to bed earlier.
Still, I spent 200k on the 86 IF Lacazette to get a feel for what the SBC version might be like. I got on really well with him. He's similar to Ben Yedder, but in what he lacks in dainty footwork on the ball, he makes up for with the threat in behind. He has the ability to hold a man off.

I'd be tempted to trade him for one of his higher cards. But his SBC seems like the best bang for buck.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I wanted to quit some as I knew I'd lose (I even took a 7-0 pasting) but I just can't.

[Yevrah]

Just rage quit myself actually. 1st time on this version.

Keep getting absolutely powned in FUT qualifying by people who do nothing but abuse skill moves, fucking repeatedly, to progress up the pitch and then do that awful dying swan move to celebrate.

How does one defend against these cunts?

[Shindig]

If you're feeling down, you haven't seen me play Pro Evo.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAio5RSMuq0

Could be worse, lads. Although actual, living, breathing, showboating dickheads are a massive pet peeve of mine. I don't even get why doing that game after game wouldn't bore you.

[Gray Fox]

Quitting is much easier when time limited. I'm also one of those who doesn't get too annoyed by games. If I do, I turn them off, or quit.

There tends to be 2 types of defending tactics you can use on this. The first is what I do, contain. This stops most players being able to slice you up, but the good guys can still do it. Also slowing down counter attacks is key. The other way makes Klopps gegenpressing look tame. Obvious downside is one missed tackle sees the opponent in on goal. There's no middle ground.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I really need to sort my custom tactics out.

I'm using the ones that BorasLegend uses but I find the defence just stands off far too much and I concede loads of long shot goals.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Oh my, Futbin are predicting a Bailly IF.

If it happens :drool:

I've still got his OTW that I bought months ago when he went to the AFCON.

[Yevrah]

I've gone back to Online Seasons. Things are much easier there.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Got teams I can make for all Bundesliga SBC's bar:

Ingosladt
Mainz
A German Team
Red Bull
Schalke
Freiburg
Wolfsburg.

Inglosladt look like they're going to be a dick seeing as it's nearly all silvers.

[The Merse]

Oh my, Futbin are predicting a Bailly IF.

If it happens :drool:

I've still got his OTW that I bought months ago when he went to the AFCON.

FFS. Made me think it'd gone live for a minute.

Got all the teams with a tradeable 84+ Dortmund (anticipate it'll be either 83 or 84) and 86+ Bayern.

Also did the Eredivisie today at a profit. With all of the packs and the 22.5k coins, I've added around 100+ players plus De Jong (who I'll never use but may be useful for SBC's in future like the recent Kane one where you can use SBC players as 'non-comon & non-rare players') and a profit of about 5k on top.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Started the qualification for WL well.

After getting smashed 4-1 by long shots I bumped my defensive aggression and pressure to 70 and it seems to have helped.

3-0 in my next match in the first 15 game minutes which resulted in a rage quit and then a 5-1 win (his goal was a penalty which I dispute, it was outside the area) thanks to 4 from Dembele.

And obviously I end up losing the final 2-1 thanks to a long shot that Fahrmann should have saved.

[Gray Fox]

I honestly don't get that tournament. It still lets in people who have qualified for the weekend league already. Also as I've said before, winning that thing is so much harder than actually racking up 18 wins in the weekend.

You're better off trying to move up through the divisions at this point and qualify that way. Did you have another crack at it after that? Interested to see if you increasing the aggression has made you better overall or if you just played worse players.

[Yevrah]

Apparently the patch has removed the ability to enter it if you've already qualified.

Looking at this, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0l7TsR4T7s I had a couple of questions:

How is he arrowing all his shots like that?

and

Is he exclusively using the driven ground pass to move the ball around that quickly? If so, how the hell are his receiving players controlling the ball so well? I use it with my pretty decent Bundesliga side and the ball always springs up.

[Gray Fox]

Apparently the patch has removed the ability to enter it if you've already qualified.

Looking at this, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0l7TsR4T7s I had a couple of questions:

How is he arrowing all his shots like that?

and

Is he exclusively using the driven ground pass to move the ball around that quickly? If so, how the hell are his receiving players controlling the ball so well? I use it with my pretty decent Bundesliga side and the ball always springs up.

If you mean how the shots all seem to go low and like a lazer to the corner, that's the low driven shot. Power up your shot, aiming for the corner and then hit the shoot button again. The ball will stay low. The downside is it's a more skilled finish, so it's more likely to miss if you are sprinting or under pressure from a defender. Otherwise though it's pretty much a guaranteed goal.

As for the passing yes, moving the ball about with the RB + A pass is the best way to get to the final third fast. Take your finger off the sprint button just before recieving and you'll find they control it better. You'll still get the odd bad touch though.

[Raoul Duke]

Driven shots don't have a max power limit either so you can hold the button down for ages and then tap it again to shoot low and hard

[Yevrah]

Cheers Fox, really useful that.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I honestly don't get that tournament. It still lets in people who have qualified for the weekend league already. Also as I've said before, winning that thing is so much harder than actually racking up 18 wins in the weekend.

You're better off trying to move up through the divisions at this point and qualify that way. Did you have another crack at it after that? Interested to see if you increasing the aggression has made you better overall or if you just played worse players.
Tried again and beat someone shit 3-1 and then got battered by someone who was really good.

I personally like it as I think the better players had a chance to score against me from long ranger and by taking apart my defence. Right now it seems like I'm only really conceding if someone has the ability to take my AI run defence apart.

[Gray Fox]

It's almost exclusively the only shot I score with now. You can also do a low driven finesse shot. The players with the finesse shot trait can stick it right into the corner too. It's great for one on ones with an advancing keeper. It curls past him and has enough power to beat him before he can react.

[Yevrah]

Just tried it out (the shooting) on an offline amateur tournament game. It's absolutely lethal. Whacked the team on all out attack and Brooks (my reserve centre back) was banging them in like he was van Basten.

Do players have traits in FUT? How does one check that?

[Yevrah]

Just need to start using some skill moves and all the ingredients to be better at the game should be there.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I seem to put too little power in driven shots (I think I'm conditioned after years of 'normal shots') or shank them wide.

I score a lot with them but I miss so many.

Edit: Ah skill moves. Yes, I've never seemed to grasp the change from practice arena (when it was still there) and in game based on which end you are attacking. I can only do fake shots and roulettes, everything else is just a random jiggle with the stick in the hope that something works.

[Shindig]

I've never bothered with that stuff in games. I'm all about the fundamentals. And being poor at that instead.

[Yevrah]

I'm actually getting worse at the Daily Knockout. When I had that modest Italian team I reached a few semi-finals, now, with the best team I've ever had, I haven't won a first round match for over a week.

Two tries tonight, first of which I lose 3-0 to a guy with a super team, so not that arsed, but for the second go I got absolutely mullered by a bloke with a decent gold side. He was quicker to every ball, I couldn't hold onto it and my players weren't even making runs when I did have it. Aubameyang was statue-esque.

Sometimes I'll have games like the latter and I just don't get it, are there some shenanigans going on behind the scenes? Is it custom tactics? Or something else?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Didn't qualify but I did score this goal which I enjoyed:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_leEZONTWQ

[Yevrah]

Finally won a game and now the servers are playing up so I can't play the quarters. Nice goal that.

[Gray Fox]

Do players have traits in FUT? How does one check that?

Pause and click your right stick when on the player. Alternatively check FUTBIN/FUTHEAD etc.


Sometimes I'll have games like the latter and I just don't get it, are there some shenanigans going on behind the scenes? Is it custom tactics? Or something else?

I've never believed in the game rigging an outcome in advance until this version. I'm not saying I do now, but there have been some seriously shady games where I've had 4 or 5 shots that you'd normally see me bury, get saved or tipped onto the post, only for my opponent to score a pea-roller on his only shot and win.

Definitely mess with your tactics and see if any changes help. If anything I emplore you to change the games default offside trap out for a cover line.


As for good goals, this is the best strike from my weekend just gone. The benefits of a 5* weak foot in full effect. Also he's riduclous, so I make no apologies for the dabbing.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhhmLHO1lPY

[John]

You should always make apologies for dabbing, no matter the circumstances. Ideally don't dab.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

100% with John on this.

I'm fine with all celebrations (as long as someone doesn't drag it out, some prick pulled an Adebayor on me the other day) bar the dab.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://i.redd.it/dig37qm94zmy.jpg

Junuzovic and Modeste look interesting.

Also, I've been thinking of selling my Premiership team (bar Kante, I'd bring him on straight away as I like him more as a defender than Vidal) and improving my Bundesliga team. Only possible options there would be IF Reus and SIF Lewandowski.

Could also look at another league, possible Serie A.

[Gray Fox]

I find the dab acceptable after a good goal, or if your opponent does it first. Pogba doing it doesn't bother me as it's his default celebration and so people can accidentally trigger it.

TOTW announced and FUTHEAD was wrong on a few things.

844564371388948482

Pretty sweet team. I look forward to getting none of them.

[John]

I was talking about the dab more generally. There's a TGI Friday advert on Facebook at the moment featuring three men lying stacked on top of one another rapidly dabbing from side to side, and it makes me angry every time I see it. I've decided I'm not going in there again until there's at least six clear months during which I don't see that advert.

That Gomez is looney tunes. What the fuck has he been up to to deserve those stats? Remember when Modeste was shite for Blackburn? If this was baseball he'd be getting drug tested twice a day by now.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He should be cheap too.

His SIF is only 100k or so.

[Gray Fox]

A few people I've seen think this good team is showing that FUTs birthday will feature something good, as some dont really deserve a TOTW card. For example De Bruyne making it despite him only making one good cross in the game.

[John]

Who are the players who should be there but aren't, and might conceivably turn up in a birthday celebration SBC or the like?

[Gray Fox]

I meant more in terms of them giving out free packs, as they've done in the past. There's 10 players rated 86 or higher in the team. Some were suggesting this might be them giving back in some way.

All just theorising for now.

[John]

That would be lovely. That Casemiro might be the man to knock N'Zonzi out of my side. He looks wonderful.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Best times to sell?

I'm thinking of taking out Rooney, Baines, Coleman and Dave for this:

https://www.futbin.com/17/squad/2586678

I'll need to sell them at the optimum time and buy those incoming (well primarily Mkhitaryan) on Sunday night.

[Shindig]

For those curious, PES 2017 is on sale for £7.99 on PSN.

[Gray Fox]

After being wrong about Kante I don't want to hazard a guess. Usually the best time to sell has been Thursday/Friday with the best time to buy being Sunday afternoon/evening.


I just had a look at finishing the Lacazette SBC. I've 10 teams left to do, but FUTBIN has them all about 20k each. It'll go way cheaper if they do celebrate the birthday tomorrow so I'm holding out, but at that price I'm not sure I'd do it.
His 87 TOTW card is actually better, sits at 360k but has the advantage of being sellable. His 86 card was very enjoyable though so I'll end up picking one of them up.

[Yevrah]

I hate coming up against Lacazette, as it's usually a surefire sign I'm going to lose.

What's this birthday (in March??) business about? Are we going to see free packs?

[Gray Fox]

FUT originally came out as a DLC to FIFA back in 2009. This week marks the week it came out then, so people are assuming they will celebrate its 'birthday'. They did last year and the year before and usually give out free packs along with it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.futbin.com/17/squad/2592418

Started using this for qualification (Kante and Bartra come off the bench so the rating is good), I was using something similar earlier but Mor, Coman, Morales and the defence just got added.

Battered someone 6-0 with Mor and Dembele absolutely pissing it.

Since Dembele got his 50th goal in his 100th game he's added a further 18 in 19. This is primarily because I've been trying to use more finesse shots outside the box with his bonkers left foot.

[Gray Fox]

He has 2 bonkers feet. I'm genuinely shocked when he actually misses a chance for me.

I really want to try that Tolisso card out. He looks mental.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Back in the WL.

Finally won the DKT with my penultimate try thanks to 5-1, 5-2 and 3-0 wins.

Fuck all in my WL packs or the all players pack for winning the DKT.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Should I buy Pogba, play him at CM and POTM Alli at CAM in a 4-3-3(4) or buy MOTM Micky Targaryen, play him at CAM and Alli at CM?

[Gray Fox]

Mkhitaryan is H/H workrates right? I'd have Pogba CAM and him as the CM. Put Alli in at CAM if you dont have the coins.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I could stretch to Mkhitaryan on Sunday night or I could go for Pogba right now (well when Hero Rooney actually sells).

Some guy on Reddit through up another suggestion though. IF Can at MC with Alli at CAM which is tempting.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Decided to also add Jesus to the squad:

https://www.futbin.com/17/squad/2620156

I'll be rotating with my normal Bundesliga squad.

[Yevrah]

Any birthday stuff yet?

[Gray Fox]

845307689483747328

EDIT: Decided with the 2 league SBCs containing a fair few silver pack rewards, I'd finally finish Lacazette. Started with 480k left, so we'll see how much it costs me. At this point I'd rather spend the coins I have sat there, rather than enjoy the bank balance.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Wankers.

Kane SBC for the BPL instead of Lewa for Bundesliga :(

[Gray Fox]

Literally right after an SBC for him finshed, for a card 4 ratings higher. That's quite irritating.

At least you know the next one will be the German league now.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

His 8th card now too.

They're all cheap as fuck too so the SBC is helping no one.

[Gray Fox]

If the packs become cheap enough to pay for themselves, it's worth it for the chance at a big pull I guess.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Finally hit in a long range free kick:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPlIgqS_b_k

And Dembele further cements his place as my favourite:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCz1UnbfTPs

[John]

Long range free kicks are a piece of piss, it's the twenty yarders that require some power control I tend to hook past the post.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I don't even bother with twenty yarders, I'l just chip them in and hope someone can head it in.

[Gray Fox]

I'm the other way around. The 20 yarders and the ones you think are too close, I can bend in or over the wall pretty much 9/10 times. It's once you hit 34 yards and up that I struggle.

The ones that wind me right up are those that you put the exact same power and direction on, that you usually do. Only for the kick to end up with the commentary crew for no apparent reason.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

And I think I've got teams for all Bundesliga sides for the inevitable SBC now.

Let's hope that EA don't wait for months. I hate having so many coins tied up in players.

[Gray Fox]

I don't imagine they'll wait too long. Once you hit May, TOTS hype will start and Lewandowski is a shoe in for being in it.

I'm down to the last 3 on Lacazette. Though annoyingly the better packs yeilded nothing in return, so I've done these at pretty much full cost. I've saved about 35k by waiting 2 days, but it would have been nice to have packed something. I could have saved more by winning players on bid, but some of the required cards only had 3 or 4 on the market for any price, so paying a premium was a pain. Still, I've come this far, might as well come out of it with the player I want.

EDIT: I now have all but 2 players. Deplagne and Marveaux from Montpellier. There's 2 of each on the market now and each are listed for their max price. I'll wait til morning, see if I can save 20k. I have 3 teams left to submit, but these are squads I'll need to do the loyalty glitch on as according to FUTBIN they werent possible without paying double the required cost in some cases. I'll need a few position cards too, but that should see my total net spend hit about 180k. 200k overall for him.
A shame I didn't pack anything to make up for it, but that's the gamble.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Lost 3 in a row.

All the rebounds were falling to the other team, I couldn't keep the ball, couldn't get near the opponent who had the ball etc etc.

Defence looked so disorganised with people running around like mad people.

[Gray Fox]

http://images-eds.xboxlive.com/image?url=MSVnmBUo_fHjbLYMjAEUQ_nNga_II93U8OOV_tX_ DjwCaK_3v4v6m7AZTcDlBBoKsZk826g0HTGeFFAre3rlnh9S8t 4hFy4sx91nWEymK28BLAGIx7CxSfdRBvrM_cYOJYIAgB.Kl1vA OvNyeuheEK0Q5TobwbrtwB1YZ.7nGMO46WlzRx1GDXPa5S6RMc 3ZAgyQjbavDiN.Gfovs3DkBCmZBiFNHkisz4oQz0IiDs4Ie.gx Nv8NsUjjNCEGsqy5UQzvsUqDuiz9tDl.C_ez8AEucuE7.pGiPy VcPzxOtYA-&format=png&h=640&w=1138

I've 340k now, so finishing it cost me a net 140k. I've maybe spent a net 160k on it in total. Not bad considering his 86 TOTW card is 200k and worse.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

About to start playing again but I've decided to make some changes.

Switching the Premiership team to a 4-4-1-1 formation and with the Bundesliga I'm starting with a 4-3-2-1 for chemistry and will then change it to a 4-1-2-1-2(2) in game with Keita at CDM, Reus at CAM and Dembele next to Lewandowski up top.

Hoping that those little changes will help tighten shit up.

[John]

A Hawk on that. :drool:

As mental as Suarez is as a finisher, I've noticed my overall play suffers slightly with him in the side over Ben Yedder, so I've gone back to the little hero and gone from winning 3 out of 5 on average to winning 4. He's just so good.

[Gray Fox]

A Hawk on that. :drool:

As mental as Suarez is as a finisher, I've noticed my overall play suffers slightly with him in the side over Ben Yedder, so I've gone back to the little hero and gone from winning 3 out of 5 on average to winning 4. He's just so good.

His card stats are a little deceptive as well. His sprint speed is actually 89, his stamina 88 and his strength is 85. Then you add the hawk card:

https://gyazo.com/80e45740b576f211db482dd8528ae704.png

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fucking servers.

2-0 up in the 25th minute, I get booted and it counts as a loss.

He was clearly trying to boot me too as speed up lag started just after I scored the second then it shat itself completely by locking up.

[Gray Fox]

All you can really do is message them, but this problem has existed for a couple months now so I doubt it's getting fixed.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Genuinely contemplating this:

https://www.futbin.com/17/squad/2654506

I wont though, as I'd have to settle for Pogba's normal, Aubameyang's IF and potentially miss out on a lot of coins when the Bundesliga SBC hits.

It is incredibly tempting though.

[Gray Fox]

You can afford a better Lewandowski than the SBC will offer, now. Make the new team and see how it goes. At worst you lose the 5% tax.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I could but, most have been bought to sell on.

Anyway, I'm seething. Bossing a game against someone who isn't as good as me and he gets the luckiest goal in the 82nd minute (Baines slides it away, it gets caught sort of under his leg, De Gea comes in and pushes it to his only attacker in the box who is square to the play so he has an open goal). He then scores another lucky goal early in extra time.

Thought I was fucked as he went to park the bus but I nabbed a quick goal back from a corner only to lose on penalties when I'm usually automatic. The winning penalty has seriously fucked me off though. I thought he was going to roll it on the ground to the keepers right.

He goes right, but uses the chip shot and De Gea does nothing as it casually goes past him despite only having to move his arm up to block it.

Think I could get away with making the team using Pogba's normal and Auba's IF (non IF if not) without having to lose a lot.

Edit: Nah, I'm going to wait until the SBC comes out.

[Gray Fox]

Clicking your team has lead me to discover there are currently no 89 Pogbas on the xbox market. There's barely even any 90 Pogbas. Quite odd.

Your musings have got me thinking about my 2nd team and have lead me to this:

https://i.gyazo.com/ff08e7c6590b36e8966bafc4a5b13683.jpg

It's obviously very attacking, but it's a very tall/strong team too. Obvious scope to upgrade to Griezmann, MOTM Tolisso is there too. Alternatively I get MOTM Tolisso and use Kante until I afford Pogba.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Probably done for the night on 9-11. Might try and sneak some more in just before bed too but I doubt it.

[John]

I'll have to play essentially my full forty games today (I gave my mate a shot the other night and he lost three on the bounce so not quite the whole thing), and I'm not sure whether it'll help to get into a proper rhythm or hinder and kill me to embark upon that sort of session. It probably depends what sort of start I get off to.

[Gray Fox]

I'm in the same boat. Went to play a few just before 1 last night. Suddenly after one game it was 2:30. I'd forgotten the DST change and said sod it and went to bed.

This is the weekend I can stay up if needed, but I'll need to chalk off 15+ games through the day.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Knowing the servers you might even get the extra day.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.futbin.com/17/squad/2661729

FUCK YOU.

Only 79 rated in game, ugh.

Rubens Sambueza to the rescue.

[Gray Fox]

https://www.futbin.com/17/squad/2661729

FUCK YOU.

Only 79 rated in game, ugh.

Rubens Sambueza to the rescue.

Are you filling it in on the companion app or in game?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Companion app on Nox so I can do everything on my PC.

[Gray Fox]

Companion app on Nox so I can do everything on my PC.

The companion app hasn't had the squad formulas updated. It will still have the correct rating on console.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

How fucking annoying, what is wrong with EA?

[Gray Fox]

How long have you got?

[Shindig]

Well, for starters they bought the FIFA license in 1994 assuming it was a package deal like the NBA or NFL license. Not realising they'd need to approach individual league owners for player and competition rights. :dc:

[Gray Fox]

Ended up buying that MOTM Tolisso and making that team from above, minus Pogba, but with Griezmann in for Martial. That formation is something I can't work out. It doesn't seem to play greatly well, but I seem to score a hell of a lot with it. I do know it's devastating on the counter, especially if you're winning. Once the other team commits to all out attack from a standard formation, you have a 3 v 3 at all times up top

Still as for Lacazette. I love him so far. He has 17 goals in 10 games, which is lol worthy. But I'm aware I have been forcing him the ball at times.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jKjGesh1gs

See him lol through this team. Shrugs off 2 players, keeps Fernandinho at bay then plants David Luiz on his heels. I think I've yet to actually miss the target with his right foot too.

I'm currently 11-2. Only looking to claim my 18 and stop for now. Unless things go amazingly well I don't see me pushing into the 20's.

[Raoul Duke]

Why was that idiot doing stepovers in the centre circle? :D

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Not nearly as good as your record with SBC Lacazette but IF Jesus is doing a real job for me.

17 goals in 18 with 6 assists thus far which isn't too shabby for me.

On a 5 match winning streak right now (best in my 3 WL's) which sees me at 16-13 so Gold 3 must surely be there and I might even be able to get Gold 2.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

His long shot stat and shot power are low (75 and 81 on Hawk) and yet he seems to actually have a cannon at times.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKI0pDAPjXg

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Pushed out 2 more but I wish I hadn't as I'm too tired.

Dropped them both, although I should have won the second.

9 attempts to win 2 (I'm aiming for 5 though to nab Gold 2) tomorrow which is more than doable.

[Gray Fox]

Not nearly as good as your record with SBC Lacazette but IF Jesus is doing a real job for me.

17 goals in 18 with 6 assists thus far which isn't too shabby for me.

On a 5 match winning streak right now (best in my 3 WL's) which sees me at 16-13 so Gold 3 must surely be there and I might even be able to get Gold 2.

It's only because he's new. My new strikers always start off well. If he's still banging them in once I stop forcing him the ball then I'll be very impressed.


Why was that idiot doing stepovers in the centre circle? :D

Annoyance I guess. The penalty I'd just scored saw me finesse it to my right. Nowhere near the corner. He guessed correct and his goalkeeper seemed to move out of the way of the ball.

[Gray Fox]

Pushed out 2 more but I wish I hadn't as I'm too tired.

Dropped them both, although I should have won the second.

9 attempts to win 2 (I'm aiming for 5 though to nab Gold 2) tomorrow which is more than doable.

You know it finishes at 7am right? As in, in 7 hours time?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

ffs, I thought it was at 7pm.

Glad you told me. I'll eat something and get the final 2 wins, Gold 2 can do one.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Took 4 games, done.

18-17 is what I'm finishing on so that's more wins than losses for the first time for me.

It's a shame that I didn't realise that I had 12 hours less than I thought as I reckon I could have gotten Gold 2.

It's also pushed me to 50 wins for the month.

How many wins do I need next week to slip into Gold? I'm guessing something that wont be achievable.

[Gray Fox]

You'll be needing 82 wins to hit Gold 3 for the month.

I've gone 18-7 and done for the week. Lacazette finishes on 25 goals in 18 games. A couple of frustrating games turned to losses. I kept bottling the finish when through on goal and ended up paying late on. I also lost on penalties when 3 of my 4 kicks were turned onto the post and then bobbled across the face of goal. Bloody TOTGS Fahrmann.

As I thought, the 4-3-1-2 is a little more predictable then the 4-3-2-1. Against better players I struggled a bit with it, but Lacazette has seen me through. Griezmann however disappointed. 7 in 11 for him, but mostly tap ins. I honestly feel off chemistry Martial is better. MOTM Tolisso is good, but I'm not sure how much better he feels than his TOTW card. The added height and muscle in the middle was definitely noticable.

I think I need 7 wins next week for Gold monthly. I'm not sure how much I'll play after that. It's been a long while since I did a full 40 games, but my motivation to reach the 18 wins lowers every week. I just done have the time to keep it up.

[Yevrah]

I'm jealous, because I'd love to try at least once, but presumably doing it every weekend has more than the feel of a part time job about it eventually.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I usually do 5 matches maximum a day (average is probably 2-3) so 40 in 3 days is like hell at times.

[The Merse]

I'm not getting matches in. Again I qualified last week again I got a couple of wins on Sunday afternoon then gave up when my internet went to shit. A new relationship, copious travel for that and for work and lots of other commitments means it's unlikely I'll get a full weekend in before May at least. Even hen, I'll probably not do so unless I secure a job I'm going for in London and thus cut out all of the travelling down there and be closer to the lass so I'm not travelling weekends too.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

http://www.futhead.com/news/totw-predictions/50/fifa-17-totw-predictions-week-28/

Piszczek (who should get one) would be amazing.

[Yevrah]

Talking of right backs, has anyone used SIF Semedo? Unreal stats.

[Yevrah]

Fuck it, just bought him.

21k with a sentinel card.

http://www.futhead.com/17/players/58499/nelson-semedo/?chemType=sentinel

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's genuinely obscene for the price.

[Yevrah]

I haven't looked yet, but if there are any decent Portuguese centre-backs in Germany then I could get him into my Bundesliga team without a chemistry hit.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Try absolutely none.

[John]

There are almost no Portuguese players in the Bundesliga, never mind centre backs specifically, but his stats are good enough that you've encouraged me to look at a Portuguese league/national side as my fitness team. I've enough coins in reserve that selling my Bundesliga and Serie A sides (the latter of which I love but isn't as good as my La Liga lads) will let me buy Ronaldo with 250k to spare. I'm not entirely sold on Ronaldo, but he's the highest rated player in the game so given the chance to give him a shot I can't really knock it back. He'll need to be seriously good to stick around though, Carrasco is currently averaging .8 goals a game contributed to and it's far from a small sample size.

[Yevrah]

Bit of a spending spree tonight, but just picked up Hunter IF Ben Yedder for 46k.

[John]

That's a proper bargain. I'm using him over 94 SBC Suarez at the moment. I reckon you'd have to go back to FIFA 12 and the highest rated Podolski in form from that year to find a striker I definitely preferred to him.

He's short, but he'll win headers above much bigger players because his jumping is superb, he's relatively weak but it doesn't much matter because with a Hunter he has 99 acceleration so you're usually well clear of a defender before they get the chance to pull you back, his finishing is perfect, and he can even function as something of a creative force because his passing is excellent for a striker so look for him to bring your wingers into play if his high defensive work rate means you find him in possession closer to the midfield than the box.

https://i.gyazo.com/b2d61f9f10caeaaee6b80f7300f8bca1.png

If I was designing my own striker with a system similar to that which FM uses for your manager that's not far away from what I'd create.

[Yevrah]

I was inspired by the wank requirements for the daily knockout and just bought a few players I wanted. Engine Taison added for 1,900 coins as well. Chemistry is going to be average at best (so I won't be getting the above), but fuck it.

[Gray Fox]

I've converted Ben Yedder to CAM and changed my formation just to include him. I think you'll like your purchase. Still miles better than Griezmann.

[Yevrah]

Let's see how we get on with this:

https://www.easports.com/fifa/ultimate-team/web-app/show-off?showoffId=fcVFghiYq6g:FFA17XBO

Bronze benched the shit out of it too.

[Yevrah]

Might put Biabiany on the left actually.

[John]

Knock five off every stat in that graphic and you're still getting a player worth at least twice what you've paid.

Fox, have you stuck a Catalyst on him to play him at CAM or is his passing good enough with a Hunter/Hawk on him to function in CM? I ask because I've had trouble filling the CM slot beside Kovacic in my La Liga side, with TOTY Kroos and Iniesta proving to be not nearly worth the coins, so I'm considering moving him back to CM and sticking an Anchor or somesuch on him to make him a bit more solid. The alternative is buying 87 Casemiro, which I'm going to try first, but if he doesn't impress I have to start looking outside the box, because I've tried basically every top CM in the league and none have been up to the mark. IF Reyes has come closest and as good as he was, he did stand out as not quite up to the standard of the rest of the team.

[Gray Fox]

Knock five off every stat in that graphic and you're still getting a player worth at least twice what you've paid.

Fox, have you stuck a Catalyst on him to play him at CAM or is his passing good enough with a Hunter/Hawk on him to function in CM? I ask because I've had trouble filling the CM slot beside Kovacic in my La Liga side, with TOTY Kroos and Iniesta proving to be not nearly worth the coins, so I'm considering moving him back to CM and sticking an Anchor or somesuch on him to make him a bit more solid. The alternative is buying 87 Casemiro, which I'm going to try first, but if he doesn't impress I have to start looking outside the box, because I've tried basically every top CM in the league and none have been up to the mark. IF Reyes has come closest and as good as he was, he did stand out as not quite up to the standard of the rest of the team.

He has 85 vision and 86 short passing. Him only having 82 on his card is a result of having 78 for crossing and 73 long passing. As the lobbed through ball is heavily toned down this year, he does fine. I have a Hunter card on him still, as you still want the CAM to score. But him having the 5* weak foot also helps. You don't find yourself trying to shift the ball onto a foot before delivering the pass as you can with other players.

[John]

Made a Portuguese national side to utilise that ludicrously good looking Semedo card, and discovered that TIF Bernardo Silva is also stupidly cheap for some reason, likely a low pace stat on a wide player. 40k and with an Engine card you've got a player on 90+ for pace, dribbling, and passing, with all of that made up of attributes important to the position. The standard 91 positioning and 89 positioning haven't hurt either, as three goals in two games will demonstrate.

GK - UP Rui Patricio
DR - SIF Semedo
DL - Coentrao
DC - Ruben Semedo
DC - Pepe
DMC - UP Danilo Pereira
MC - IF Joao Mario
MC - Renato Sanches
RW - TIF Bernardo Silva
LW - Nani
ST - IF Jota

Played two won two in division two, so at the very least I know they fit my style of play. Bernardo Silva in particular is bonkers good, even disregarding the price. I already had Joao Mario from my Serie A side so the 78k I paid for him (well below current market value) aside that lot cost 140k. I initially forgot I had Mario too, so bought an 83 Adrien Silva who looks very good and cost 1600 coins.

Cheers, Yev. You've put me onto a cracking budget side.

[Yevrah]

You're welcome John.

Check out SIF Bas Dost with a Hunter card as well. It's obscene.

15k I've just bought him for.

[John]

I had a look at him when I was deciding whether to go with a national side or a Liga NOS one. He does look excellent but he doesn't fit my style of play at all.

If you're just looking for cheap quality at the moment I'd suggest having a look at SIF Nicolai Jorgensen of Feyenoord with a Hawk. He's Danish and in an unfashionable league so he's going for 15k on XBox, but his stats are those of a player who should be selling for about ten times that.

https://i.gyazo.com/cde99d382e836620ac77dbe0ee20b872.png

[Yevrah]

It's a shame the Dutch and Danish leagues are such a barren wasteland, I'd love to have a crack with him.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://streamable.com/lt31j

Stunning.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Looks like I sold my MOTM Thiago at the right time.

I got 212k for him (CM) and his CAM is now down to just 167k.

[Gray Fox]

Punted Griezmann back to the market. Having him over Martial almost removed an in-behind threat on his side. I also got 205k for MOTM Tolisso(paid 190k) and bought his TOTW card instead. 130k cheaper, but I don't think the difference will be obviously noticable. That's money saved to look to spend elsewhere on either team.

[Gray Fox]

Some sources are claiming Lukaku has won POTM with 50% of the vote. He's going to be 90 rated, with at least 88 pace and 88 dribbling. At 6"2 with all the strength in the world, that's going to be one deadly card.

The question is now, do you go out and try to predict what EA will do? You usually need some IF cards for these so looking at it, the likes of 86 Coleman, 84 Gueye and 82 Bolasie are likely to be needed somewhere. Maybe some Belgian IF cards too. I'd like to have him, but I can really see him costing 400k+

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I've already got a Coleman and Baines so I'm set if EA do an IF thing again.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://i.redd.it/t4d3sdtyrcoy.jpg

[Gray Fox]

It's a shame they've ruined Forsberg with the LM disease. I'd be delighted with any of the Dortmund lads in my rewards. The rest are all too unrealistic for me to get.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

http://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2017/03/25/europe/wc-qualifying-europe/sweden/belarus/2116193/?ICID=HP_MS_01_01

Soccerway had him listed as a CAM so it's even more annoying.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://i.redd.it/fsi3dtxzvcoy.jpg

Woof.

[Gray Fox]

I look forward to getting no card listed on that page.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

At least you've got a chance.

Hopefully I'll get Josh King but none of the silver IF's in the monthly rewards excite me.

[Gray Fox]

I'd like to think I do, but I'm expecting to be handed some useless MLS cards.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Decided to take out Baines and Gabriel Jesus for this weekend (Baines wasn't sold) and replaced them with Marcos Alonso and the 87 Son (nabbed a ST one for 455k and they've been going for 470ish today).

IF Piszczek and MOTM Thiago are out for SIF Piszczek (well I need to make some coins for him, I hope I get some decent rewards which I wont) and IF Junuzovic.

[John]

I've bought Ronaldo. No doubt he'll be crap and a market crash will mean I lose a few hundred k on him, but you have to try him if you get the opportunity, don't you.

[Raoul Duke]

They should do a bronze card of him with his weird statue

[Gray Fox]

Opened my rewards to not much joy again. A lot of fitness cards, but Joe Hart and Assenjo were my only notable players.

I believe I only need 7 wins to hit Gold for the month. Unless I start really well, I don't see me playing much beyond that. It's my worse weekend for playing coming up and I'm kind of losing the want to do it. It's more becoming a chore to get to the high teens in wins.

The gameplay seems to get worse every week, which is tied to the servers being overloaded and also occasionally deciding to give up altogether. It's really irritating because the game is great under normal conditions. They've also provided fantastic content this year. All of the SBCs, events, some free packs, the weekend league concept and rewards have all been great. The game is finally rewarding people who are good at it too. It's not just on pack luck as to who can afford what.

I'm hoping we get something great for the birthday tomorrow to keep me interested. If not I've about 330k to play with. There's temptation to say screw it and go finish that Suarez SBC, but I don't think he fits into either team I have. Trying to pair him with SBC Lacazette would be something I'd be very interested in.


EDIT: It's twigged that if there is a mass free pack handout and SBCs then I should have coins to take advantage of potential player price drops. To that end I've listed up the expensive parts of my Bundesliga/Roma hybrid, including Aubameyang who got 27 goals in 23 games for me.
I've also got 17 gold squad fitness cards, so one team should be fine this weekend.

At current prices all sold will take me up to 640k. We'll see what tomorrow brings, but after seeing how good Lacazette did me, I'm thinking of going big in one team again.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://streamable.com/3ij8m

This game is amazing at times.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

847810773669875713

Official.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.futbin.com/squad-building-challenges/ALL/236

IF Lukaku, Anderlecht, Premiership and Belgium.

His 86 and 87's are getting insta bought at 500k and his 89 is cheaper than his 88, lol.

[Yevrah]

I sold most of my players overnight in anticipation of the market crash/generally being bored of them.

IF Carvalho and a few golds are all that remain (and are still on the list), well bar Renato Sanches, who I will never let go.

Raised 530k of coins so far, so have my eye on Owen and Shearer. :drool:

[Yevrah]

Oh and is there anything on the birthday stuff yet?

[John]

There might be packs or whatever to come, but for now the birthday celebrations consist of a squad of special versions of players who've been overpowered over the years. There are a few players in it who look properly mental. Eto'o, Candreva, Nani, and Ogbonna look like great fun.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

There's also the following SBCS:

Birthday Day 1 (2.5k or less for a Jumbo Premium Silver pack, win)
82+ Untradeable
TOTW 28 Untradeable
TOTW Tradeable
Torres (his FUT 10 card)
David Luiz (CDM, his FUT 13 card)
El Shaarawary (FUT 12 card)

Torres is 1.4m on PS, 1m on Xbox, Luiz is 1.3m/979k and Stephan is 490k/400k.

I just nabbed a SIF Piszcek for 70k so it seems to be a buyers paradise which is shit for me as I've got a shit ton to sell.

[Gray Fox]

Okay so I definitely sold up at the right time here. However there are now many many pretty things I want and not enough coins.

As a Liverpool fan I'd hated Torres for the entirity of his stint in a blue shirt. But that SBC card is basically him from when he actually was the best striker on the planet. As a result I'm not sure I can resist that SBC. The downside here is that Lukaku is also mental. Ogbonna also looks like a must buy for any EPL team.

Obviously Ogbonna can wait as he's in packs for a week. However I've 650k to spend. Players have never been cheaper. But I'd love both Torres and Lukaku. Only problem being I only have enough for one of them, barring a miracle.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'll be buying the Ogbonna on Sunday.

Largely using my Bundesliga side but when I'm felling Premiership I'll use OTW Bailly next to Smalling.

[Gray Fox]

Now Messi is nearing 600k. Someone give me guidance!

[Yevrah]

Why have players got so cheap? There's been no free packs so I don't get it.

[Gray Fox]

All of the SBCs for the mental cards give pack rewards out with them, combined with lightning rounds of packs and people buying packs to try and pick up the birthday players. All of that is putting a hell of a lot of rare golds back on the market and people are undercutting like mad to get their card to sell. Essentially right now everything rated 86 or over is selling at inflated prices to be used in these SBCs. Also if you have a TOTW Lukaku you're getting 450k for it easily.

Messi for example has dropped 80k or so just since this morning.

I've now no idea what to do. Torres apparently costs 800k to do but he looks damn awesome. If I was a FIFA millionaire I'd have gone into a delirium by now.

[Yevrah]

I'd hold firm if I were you. Maybe pick up a bargain player if you can, but I wouldn't touch the SBC's - the prices for 83/84+ players are fucking lunacy at the moment and equate to spending 100k+ to get an untradeable TOTW player that's bound to be one of the shite players.

[Gray Fox]

I managed to snag a Messi for 605k. I think his price will recover as most of the big FIFA playing regions are asleep now, so less packs will be opened.

Big purchase for me as it represents the best standard card I've ever owned on any Ultimate Team. I figure I can't really justify 800k on a card I can't trade. His 88 rated card is obviously still good, but is more affordable(500k right now) and as a bonus I can actually sell him on again. Depending on how I get on with the 'little genius' will shape what I do in regards to Torres.

I just need to find a way of having Messi actually in my team now. Didn't really think of that before buying him!

[Yevrah]

Michael Owen bought for 261k.

[Yevrah]

And Shearer for 200k.

[Yevrah]

Owen ambulanced off after 8 minutes of his first match. :moop:

[Shindig]

I love all of that. :D I bet he was taking a throw-in.

[Yevrah]

It did look innocuous. :D

4 fucking games out as well.

Shearer's animation is a bit odd, he looks a bit more like Julian Clary on the pitch than the great man himself.

[Shindig]

FIFA Players just look like mannequins to me. I can't fathom which era Shearer (Sh-era?) they're after.

[Yevrah]

Listed Shearer for 222k. If I can sell him for that (and my listing is the cheapest BIN on the market) that'll be 11k profit.

Think I'll do the same with Owen too when he's fit again.

[Yevrah]

How's Messi Fox?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

'Mon the Mane IF.

[Gray Fox]

How's Messi Fox?

Not had chance yet. I'll be having to play him off the bench I think anyway so at 6 chemistry.

I'm aware I'm losing money by the minute, but it's Messi. That Torres card still on the brain, but I'll be a sad bastard watching some reviews before I think to touch that.

@Mahow Coutinho will be getting the TOTW card there.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Yeah, didn't help that Mane went off injured almost immediately after I posted that.

Just bought Ogbonna for 143k so will test him out later on.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Oh shit, Naby Keita scored after 12 minutes today.

If he gets a FIF :drool:

Edit: 2 goals and an assist for Lewa.

Edit: And another assist, ugh. I doubt I'll get the 380k I stuck him up for.

Edit: 2 goals for Keita now and a Hattrick with 2 assists for Lewa.

Edit: Got 380k for Lewa so I've only lost the tax on him while he's been with me.

[Gray Fox]

So that's a new Lewandowski and new Keita coming this week. Probably Coutinho too. Shaping up nicely.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

How is the 91 Lewandowski rising in fucking price?

Ugh.

Cheapest BIN is now 415k.

[Gray Fox]

This game are confusing.

On the plus side. I believe I can use my 90 Cavani, 89 SBC Buffon and my useless 86 red reward cards towards that Torres. If so that could knock me about 200k off the price. I'll get on the console in a second to check, but that could tempt me to sell Messi back as I only use that Buffon and even then most 88+ keeper are about the same.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

His other versions are still dropping as well which is nuts.

[Gray Fox]

So it turns out the red rewards don't count as TOTW items. I did want to use them in the 2nd Torres SBC (requiring an 88 squad rating and 6 TOTW cards is a joke). However they may be more suitable in the first one. "Just" an 88 squad needed there.

Bastards EA are.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Had an awful day today.

Sitting on 5-9 right now as I've only been able to win 2 games today.

Also, early impressions of Ogbonna are really good. He's basically an upgraded Reid and he works really well alongside Smalling.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Just got my first hatemail.

'You fucking lucker, say thanks too fucking EA!'

Beating him 3-2 in extra time after he scored a last minute goal and me having more chances is so lucky.

Edit: Just bought Thiago's 89 as I saw that he was going for 130k odd which is nuts.

Also, Reus seems to be picking up an injury every other fucking game which is annoying.

Done for the day on 8-10 so Gold 3 is looking on once again.

[Gray Fox]

Sharing to check I'm not stupid:

https://i.gyazo.com/4b3f2e38a9bd06abb5a77f351deb6d17.jpg

FUTBIN lists the cheapest way to do this at 590k.

The front 3 there are all untradeable cards I've had. Falcao and Silva are red. Boateng is a rating placeholder for SBC Buffon as I can't put him there on FUTBIN for some reason and I own Chiellini already. So I'd actually have the chemistry and be back down to 2 normal cards.

If you remove the total cost of those I don't need to buy it's 175k for Cavani, 28k for Chiellini, 104k on Boateng, 52k for Bernardo Silva and 40k for Falcao. That turns the 809k you see and makes it 410k. A big saving and the only player I'd maybe miss is Buffon(Chiellini is cheap now).
For my sanity, will this work?

Coin wise I'd be right on the edge of affording this, this week. With maybe needed to pick the last few players up with rewards.

[Gray Fox]

7-2 from my first stint. That's enough for gold monthly so we'll see how tomorrow goes. 1 loss saw me done all ends up in the first half. Came back from 2-0 down to take it to extra time, only to lose to a last minute goal there. The other loss was irritating. Opponent scored 2 goals by my player tackling the ball off the striker through on goal, only to have it hit his shins and bobble in. I brought that back to 2-1 and he tried passing around the back and with 5 mins to go took it to his own corner flag to shield it. I managed to nick it back and fire it into Messi. Quick finesse shot and it was 2-2. Unfortunately my defence parted on a counter and let him in for his 3rd and the last goal of the game. He responded by shushing, running to the halfway line and dabbing. He just kept the ball after that.

I've only been able to bring Messi on in 5 games as I've been playing well and going up 2-0 early in games. People are quitting almost straight away so far. It's odd. Still he's good, but suffers from how I thought he would. He's just too weak. If he gets given space he's lethal but I'm not sure he's worth the 600k to me right now.
That Tolisso card is properly good though. Highly recommended.

[Yevrah]

Sold Owen and Shearer overnight. If it helps Fox it looks like they were both used in SBC's.

[Gray Fox]

I don't think people would use legends in an SBC. They dont really count towards anything more than being a special card. I'm selling Messi back as he does about the same job as Mertens does when I bring him on. Mertens has about 20 more stamina which I think is the difference, especially late on.

But the main thing was seeing him struggle with Bailly and Smalling getting a hand on him. Lacazette is a lot slower but a can body them off the ball. If I had a team of stars around him I'd be fine keeping him, but I don't.

[Yevrah]

Bored of getting spanked online and with now not necessarily the time to buy players, I've decided to do the following single player pursuit having basically cleared out my entire club.

One Single Player Season (starting in division 10) and a single player cup competition constitutes a 'season'.

Starting squad will be comprised of whatever players I get from opening enough 400 coin bronze packs to get a squad of 23. I can keep any consumables, but have to bin any silver players I might get. After that, the following rules apply:

Can only use coins I earn from this game (and not the 580k ish I have going into it).
Can only buy 1 player from the transfer market at the end of each 'season', but that player's rating must be no higher than the highest rated player I already have at the club.
All other players will have to come from opening packs and I can buy these whenever I want, if I have the coins.
I can trade anything I find in packs and I can buy consumables and contracts from the transfer market (but not kits, stadiums, balls etc.)

[Gray Fox]

The method I posted above did work. Pretty much 400k on the nose. I burned my 90 Cavani, 89 Buffon and 88 Chiellini, as well as red Falcao and Bernardo Silva. The only one of those I paid for is Buffon, about 90k for his SBC card.

I've saved 200k doing that, but the Italians are the only ones that got any use. It's 250k for the 1st part of this card and I have it now, but it would leave me with only 10k left. I really want the El Sharaawy card too, but there's no way I can afford him too.

Well maybe I could, but I'd have to sell OTW Dembele, IF Ben Yedder and IF Tolisso and pray for some pack luck. It all looks like this in my head:

https://i.gyazo.com/6c12750352734e62008da659f77965ce.png

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's finally the Sane OTW card paying off then.

Unless Arsenal manage to win ofc.

[Yevrah]

God, that was worse than I ever could have imagined.

https://www.easports.com/fifa/ultimate-team/web-app/show-off?showoffId=fGNNNkgprh1:FFA17XBO

My centre back has 27 pace. :D

[John]

Wouldn't you be better served with Koke in that team, Fox? Torres looks obscenely good, but I'm not sure I can justify the coins his SBC would cost for a backup.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Alejandro Gomez got another hattrick today.

His 4IF is going to be bonkers.

[Yevrah]

Won my first two games and raised enough coins for my first premium bronze pack. Kept pulling squad fitness cards so churned though about 3 packs and in the 4th I've pulled Akinfenwa and some Saudi chap who goes for about 3 grand. :chief:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Foolishly decided to do a TOTW tradeable SBC and got Clint fucking Dempsey.

[Yevrah]

Foolishly decided to do a TOTW tradeable SBC and got Clint fucking Dempsey.

How much did it cost?

[Yevrah]

Finished my first 'season'. Made a decent whack from the bronze packs I'd bought, but not quite enough to get Emre Mor, so settled on Osadebe instead (400 coins) and this line-up for season 2.

http://i63.tinypic.com/2hn6tr7.jpg

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

How much did it cost?
About 65k or so.

I actually used a Dempsey card in my team as well so that made it even worse.

Edit: I actually used Emre Mor the other week in qualifying for the WL and liked him a lot. The high agility and balance makes him really nice to use.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

10 games left and I'm sitting on 14 wins so I'd be stunned if I don't get Gold 3.

Hopefully I can even target Gold 2 but I doubt it as I need a break so it might be difficult to play the games I'd need to make Gold 2.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

87 Son is absolutely dynamite with a finesse.

Currently 11 goals in 8 games with him.

He might be my favourite striker, he's good enough to find some space and with a 5 star weak foot he's just brutal.

If he had a touch more strength he'd be perfect.

[Gray Fox]

Wouldn't you be better served with Koke in that team, Fox? Torres looks obscenely good, but I'm not sure I can justify the coins his SBC would cost for a backup.

That was more a "what if?" In the event I went all out for El Sharaawy. I don't think I can afford him though.

Still, I have this now:

https://www.easports.com/uk/fifa/ultimate-team/web-app/show-off?showoffId=hv0dQ6D1riw:FFA17XBO

Lacazette has 49 in 46 games. He also has 22 assists.
Torres has 14 in 13 with I think 9 assists.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Near post corners can fuck right off.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

18-19.

Played the final match like shit, got a seriously lucky goal from Reus (I'll upload it later) and then went to ultra defensive (I can't go to park the bus) and shat out the win.

Feels shit to do it to the guy (he was Turkish so not all that shit) but gold 3 in this match was important.

[Gray Fox]

I always take the closest tall player and cover that near post shit. 8/10 times it covers that off. The other one you need to watch out for is the manual corner. You can tell it's coming by keeping an eye for their power bar. If there's a pause after it, look for the player in the box that's moving and hunt him down.

Gameplay felt awful through this weekend and it's noticable that this is the case whenever there's a big event on. Still I'll give my thoughts on 91 Torres.

I love him. He was expensive AF, but he finishes everything you give him. He does however come with a slight problem. I've noticed, especially on Sunday, as soon as I kicked off, people would park the bus instantly. I've not faced this tactic much before, but it was quite prevelant this weekend. I did get some hate mail just for having him too.
I'm hoping the above was just the average Sunday player being a lot more difficult and not an effect of people seeing the Torres card. He works very well in my 2 striker system, but I feel he'd thrive as the only striker through the centre. I only have 1 real complaint. His stamina is a little low.
It's not as bad for me as I know I can bring 88 Mertens or OTW Dembele on at any time for him. Even Martial and Coman are great impact subs. My other issue is a personal preference. I would have liked 4* skills, but I'm no skiller so that isn't deal breaking.

I've had a further look at SBC El Shaarawy. Nothing but positive things being said about him. A quick glance on FUTBIN reckons I can get 300k after tax, for my OTW Dembele, IF Ben Yedder, OTW Sanches and IF Tolisso. Problem being that rewards on Thursday included, I can only get to about 350k. That's just on 100k too little to get him. Quite an insane looking card too.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I've been utilising the manual one but I haven't got it down yet.

[John]

Having looked at the Torres SBC it's literally impossible for me to complete it. Shame, but I'm going to buy the special Torres and whack a Hawk card on him so he'll be absolutely obscene anyway. To accommodate him I'm going to switch formation for a bit, allowing me to have him and Suarez up front.

[The Merse]

The TOTW SBC's worked out well. I got an untraceable Pisczeck new IF first, a week after spending 80k on his 84 rated card (now sold for fucking 40k) and then used Michael Keane who I got through the same untradeable SBC, along with an IF who'd been hanging around the club to get a tradeable 89-rated SIF Thiago, so I sold his 86 rated IF for another 40k. That, along with selling de Bruyne (the first 100+ games player I've sold but completely out of the picture with POTM Delle Ali battering teams) allowed me to spend 120k on bringing in MOTM Tolisso and another 80k on TIF Memphis Depay to play outside of him in place of Reus on a trial basis.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

After news that Mane might miss the rest of the season came out, his OTW card has gotten cheaper than his IF.

[Gray Fox]

Something happened overnight and players like Henry, Maradonna, Ronaldo and Zidane started to show up in the game search engine. Also players skill moves and weak foots were changed. For example Ousmane Dembele became a 5* 5* player and Lacazette went to 4* 4*
EA have released a squad update since and all of those changes have disappeared. They've also remained silent on what happened. This explains why Dembele is 40k more expensive than he was when I went to bed last night.

In other news I missed chance to sell my OTW Sanches on hype. He's playing for Bayern tonight and I missed it. They've gone 1-0 down already though so that's basically a non-starter now unless he scores. If I could get a goal out of him or Dembele I'd be willing to sell to afford that El Shaarawy. I've had almost every FIFA source I follow post about how amazing he is.

[Waffdon]

Maybe one game I won't come up against Bailey, Smalling and then Martial up front.

Saudi league is fun to play with. AL Soma and Kahraba :drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

They were also popping up on PS searches too.

https://i.imgur.com/gWiQzVM.jpg

Not going to happen though.

[Gray Fox]

Maybe one game I won't come up against Bailey, Smalling and then Martial up front.

Saudi league is fun to play with. AL Soma and Kahraba :drool:

The full Man United back 5 is pretty much standard for cheap but great in this. If Bailly ever gets a TOTW card I may never play Weekend League again.

[Waffdon]

4312, driven pass with fast black men up front. Wonderful stuff

[John]

In other news I missed chance to sell my OTW Sanches on hype. He's playing for Bayern tonight and I missed it. They've gone 1-0 down already though so that's basically a non-starter now unless he scores. If I could get a goal out of him or Dembele I'd be willing to sell to afford that El Shaarawy. I've had almost every FIFA source I follow post about how amazing he is.

Midweek games are never taken into account for the TOTW anyway.

They'd fucking better not introduce legends into the PS4 version.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

They wouldn't be able to in this game.

I think their exclusive contract with Xbox runs out after this edition.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Of course Niang scores in a midweek game :moop:

[John]

I didn't mean specifically this year's, I meant in general. The idea of 'legends' should be confined to those 'Classic XI' sides with the crap brown kits you let your shit mate go in a friendly. Their addition to PS4 Ultimate Team might genuinely be enough to stop me playing it. I couldn't be arsed with that at all.

[Shindig]

They do the same in PES which annoys me. And annoys Diego Maradona who is suing Konami for illegal use of his image. The only classics I give two hoots about are the ones that are more cult heroes. Tino Asprilla and Dennis Romedahl basically.

[Gray Fox]

So I've had a play around with my my untradeable cards and come up with this:

https://i.gyazo.com/08b8429427c6bd9e9197c9a00f1da7df.jpg

The cards with the loyalty symbol are red rewards. I've got more to use in this as the squad rating requirement is lower. It needs probably about 10k worth of position change cards, but the 4 cards I'd put in would save 150k. FUTBIN lists that at 240k now. It also has me at taking in 310k from sales. If we assume that I only get discard value packs on Thursday, I'll have about 50k to add to that. I'm now about 50k short of the SBC card.

I'd hope for a sudden influx of new 86 rated in form card tomorrow or a lot of those plain rare cards dropping, but I don't see the price dropping too much.

[Yevrah]

I didn't mean specifically this year's, I meant in general. The idea of 'legends' should be confined to those 'Classic XI' sides with the crap brown kits you let your shit mate go in a friendly. Their addition to PS4 Ultimate Team might genuinely be enough to stop me playing it. I couldn't be arsed with that at all.

What's the problem with them?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.futbin.com/17/totw/TOTW29

Naby Keita looks bonkers.

[Gray Fox]

He's better than Gullit in every stat but passing now I think. His TOTS card is going to be the stuff of nightmares.

[Samadini]

I'm sure there are probably plenty of reasons for the introduction of legends being a shit thing, but the chance to have Shearer in my team would probably actually bring me back to the game :drool:

[The Merse]

https://www.futbin.com/17/totw/TOTW29

Naby Keita looks bonkers.
Oof.

May sell TIF Thiago for that.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I'm sure there are probably plenty of reasons for the introduction of legends being a shit thing, but the chance to have Shearer in my team would probably actually bring me back to the game :drool:
Yeah, I'd love to do a United Legends team.

Although there is no left back.

Schmeichel, A LB, Ferdinand, Blanc, Neville, Scholes, Keane, Veron, Giggs, Ruud, Best.

:drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He's better than Gullit in every stat but passing now I think. His TOTS card is going to be the stuff of nightmares.

https://www.futbin.com/17/compare/26/18207


He has the same long passing stat but better short and vision. Gullit has a massive advantage in crossing, curve and free kick accuracy.

[Yevrah]

That IF Benteke looks like a budget Lukaku.

[Gray Fox]

A few decent non-rare golds and silvers in the rewards, but nothing worth shouting about. A steady 1k here and 2k there.

I'll have gone from about 4k to somewhere in the 60's. I'll have a check but, unless OTW Dembele goes up in price(he's my only player that's likely to) I don't think El Sharaawy is achievable. A shame as he looks properly mental, but I'll have to make do with something else. The thought of pairing that birthday Villa and SBC Torres together is dreamy.

[Yevrah]

My bronze crusade continues. Just packed and sold a 58 rated non-rare left back from FC Lugano for 3,200. :cool:

Into division 8 now and this is the starting XI.

http://i64.tinypic.com/szj2b6.jpg

All packed apart from Miyoshi, who I bought at the end of division 9.

Quite enjoying doing this, 23k up so far and building up a stockpile of good bronzes as well.