Usually EA release a big update with all of the transfers sometime in early February. However, this year they did it slightly differently. Since FIFA 13 came out, every year the EA team have made updated OVRs and potentials available for download based on real life player performances. Usually these are just slight tweaks, but after some breakout performances a player’s potential can change a lot (Raheem Sterling is a good example). This is rare, though.
So please bear in mind that the information below is based on the updated squads from 2nd February. However, there’s no need to panic if you downloaded the update on 8th February (or any other subsequent update), as most players will not change (or if they do, it’ll be by a small amount). In any case, this year potentials are very flexible, so if a player you’re interested has his potential lowered in an update, he can still reach his old potential if he plays well for you.
The ‘Avai?’ column is short for ‘available?’ (there is not enough space for the full word), and it refers to whether or not each player is available to buy in the first transfer window. ‘Y’ means yes, they are available, whilst ‘N’ means that they’re not. The number after the ‘Y’ or ‘N’ is the amount of years left on their contract. So ‘Y/2′ means that yes, they are available to buy in the first transfer window and that they have 2 years left on their contract. Similarly, ‘N/5′ means they’re not available to buy right away and that they have 5 years left on their contract. The ones to look out for are Y/1, as you should be able to get these players for less than their listed value. Players who are on loan will have a “-” in this column because information on their contracts is not available.
So, here are my recommendations for right backs:
- João Cancelo
- Santiago Arias
- Elliott Hewitt
First up is João Cancelo. Already very pacey and agile, this player is excellent going forward. Aside from his speed, his crossing and his dribbling are his strong points. He also has 3 star skills, further adding to his arsenal of attacking talents. But he’s not just a winger in the wrong position, he can defend as well and is able to read the game well. For someone whose potential puts him right at the top of this list, he’s also very cheap and has plenty of years in which to develop, making him an excellent choice.
Next we have Santiago Arias, and if you have a little more to spend then investing in him would be a good option. He is equally capable of attacking and defending, possessing a dangerous cross and a strong tackle. He has the combination of both good interceptions and passing, so he can break up an attack and launch a new one from the back. All of his physical stats (bar his strength) are very impressive, and these will get even better with time, making him a real handful. At £2.2m he is very reasonably priced as well.
My final choice is Elliott Hewitt. His speed, agility and stamina are all 80+, and while his technical stats need some work, his young age and high potential mean that he will be a rapid grower. He’s an absolute steal at £275,000 and should be affordable for almost everyone. Even if you only use him as a cheap backup he will be hard to ignore, although he can become so much more than that and is well worth buying.
Now here’s the list in full:
| Pos | Name | OVR | Pot. | Age | Cost (£) | Wages (£) | Club | Avai? | Foot | Weak foot | Skills | Traits | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RB | João Cancelo | 65 | 83 | 18 | 975,000 | 2,000 | SL Benfica | Y/6 | Right | 3 | 3 | ||
| RB | Adam Matthews | 72 | 83 | 20 | 3,400,000 | 7,000 | Celtic | Y/4 | Right | 1 | 2 | Long throw-in | |
| RB | Fabinho | 64 | 82 | 18 | 975,000 | 1,000 | RM Castilla | - | Right | 2 | 2 | On loan from Rio Ave FC | |
| RB | Santiago Arias | 71 | 82 | 20 | 2,200,000 | 6,000 | Sporting CP | Y/5 | Right | 3 | 2 | ||
| RB | Elliott Hewitt | 58 | 81 | 18 | 275,000 | 1,500 | Ipswich Town | N/3 | Right | 3 | 2 | ||
| RB | Tomáš Kalas | 72 | 81 | 19 | 3,000,000 | 7,000 | Vitesse | N/4 | Right | 3 | 2 | ||
| RB | Cédric | 72 | 81 | 20 | 3,100,000 | 7,000 | Sporting CP | Y/4 | Right | 3 | 2 | ||
| RB | Manquillo | 62 | 80 | 18 | 600,000 | 2,250 | Atlético Madrid | N/4 | Right | 3 | 2 | ||
| RB | Andre Wisdom | 69 | 80 | 19 | 1,300,000 | 6,000 | Liverpool | N/6 | Right | 3 | 2 | ||
| RB | Sam Byram | 70 | 80 | 18 | 1,800,000 | 4,000 | Leeds United | N/4 | Right | 3 | 2 | ||
| RB | Sébastien Corchia | 73 | 80 | 21 | 2,800,000 | 10,000 | FC Sochaux | Y/3 | Right | 3 | 2 |