Although this rhythm can be helpful at times it can also be detrimental, especially if your opponent starts to pick up on your pattern of play. He may begin to cut off the passes you are accustom to making, and if you don’t calm down to stop and think you will find yourself giving away possession, and missing potential opportunities at goal.

When I play, I always try to have a conscious thought about what is happening on the pitch to avoid getting into a “rhythm.” With every pass I make I think about three things in this order:  Space, Time, Passing/Dribbling outlets.

Create Space

Whenever I win the ball back or am about to receive a pass the first thing I think about is how much space there is around my player.

How close is the nearest defender? Are they within tackling distance or are they a few steps away?

How much Time?

The next thing I think about after I consciously assess the space around my player is how much time I have on the ball. In other words, how long do I have on the ball before I need to make a move to dribble or pass out of danger? Do I have enough time to turn and face up the defender? Is there enough time to perform a skill move? etc.

The time you have on the ball is not always dependent on space. Defender approach has the largest influence over how much time you have. Sometimes you will have very little space but if the defenders are not sprinting in for a tackle you will actually have more time on the ball than you think.

Other times, you will have lots of space. But if you have defenders sprinting in for a tackle, you will have less time on the ball and will have to make a decision on what you are going to do with the ball quickly.

Passing/Dribbling outlet

Finally,  I think about are my passing and dribbling outlets. Where are the defenders? Where are my passing options? Am I surrounded? At this stage of my thought process I am trying to find the most beneficial passing/dribbling outlet and get the ball to that area.

Something interesting I have noticed is that often times when it seems like you are surrounded by defenders with no way out, you will actually have lots of time on the ball. In these situations, it is important to take that time and allow the play to develop so the outlets will open up.

If you learn not to panic in these situations and take your time on the ball, you will see your attack begin to really open up in ways that you could not imagine.

Effective Dribbling Techniques

Now that I have talked about the general thought process, I will move on to specific dribbling techniques, discussing when to use them based on defender approach and spacing. I will explain the different techniques in order of speed, from the fastest dribbling technique (the knock-on) to the slowest dribbling technique (the ball-stop ).

The Knock-On

The knock-on is one of the most underused dribbling techniques online. Most players only use it after they have beaten a defender and are trying to accelerate away, but the knock-on is actually a very effective maneuver to use to beat defenders.

When to use it

• Use the knock-on after beating a defender to accelerate away.
• Also use the knock-on anytime a defender is approaching you at an angle of greater than 90 degrees.

In other words, the direction in which you knock the football on to should be greater than 90 degrees in relation to the angle at with the defender is approaching you. The greater the angle, the better. (Diagram below)

In the diagram above, the arrows show the LB approaching the RM directly. Since they are moving in exactly opposite directions toward the same spot, they are said to be moving at a 180 degree angle (opposite) in relation to each other (on the other hand if they were moving in the same direction toward the same spot they would be said to be moving at a 0 degree angle in relation to each other).

In this scenario, you can use the knock-on to knock the ball left or right of the approaching defender (obviously you cannot keep at the 180 degree angle in relation to the defender otherwise you run right into him).

As long as you don’t knock the ball to an area that is less than 90 degrees in relation to the approaching defender (broken lines), you can beat the defender. (Diagram below)

So as you may be able to deduce from this, whichever direction the defender is running to, the knock-on should be used to move the ball AGAINST that direction.

So if the defender is moving to the right, knock the ball to the left. If the defender is moving upfield, knock the ball downfield etc.

You also need to make sure there is enough space in the area in which you are knocking the ball to; otherwise you will end up knocking the ball right to a defender.

The knock-on can be used in tight spaces with multiple defenders around; you just need to make sure the outlet area is clear.

Sprinting

This refers to the general sprinting dribble when not using the knock-on.

When to use it?

• You can sprint anytime there is space in front of you toward the direction in which you are dribbling.
• Use it to also sprint away from defenders at your back or your side.

When you should not use it

• You generally should not sprint in tight spaces or if a defender is approaching you from head on (unless of course you have an outlet to knock the ball in to).
• Also do not try to sprint against a standing/jockeying defender in front. They will easily win the ball back. If you are sprinting against a jockey defender you should be sprinting away from them, not towards them.

Normal Dribble

This refers to the normal dribbling pace when you are not using any of the triggers or the right stick.

When to use it

• This dribble can be used when sprinting defenders in front of you are approaching from a large enough distance. If you have enough space, you can turn and maneuver around the oncoming defender before he is able to go in for the tackle.
• The normal dribble can also be used to dribble away from defenders at your back or to your side whether they are charging in or jockeying in.
• If the defenders are sprinting at you from the back, you can easily get past them by taking a single dribble touch to the side. The sprinting defender will rush by you due to his momentum.

When you should not use it

• Like the sprinting dribble do not use the normal dribble in tight spaces and do not use it to dribble towards a nearby standing/jockeying defender, (unless of course you have an outlet to knock the ball into if he attempts a tackle).

Pace Control Dribble

This refers to the dribble when using the pace control button.

Controls

• Xbox 360 -

When to use it

• Use the pace control dribble in tight spaces.
• Also use the pace control dribble as you dribble towards a jockeying/standing defender.
• Since the frequency of touches is greater, you can more easily maneuver and turn away if the defender suddenly goes in for a tackle.

When you should not use it

• Do not use the pace control dribble to try to maneuver around any defender who is sprinting towards you, whether they are in front, to the side, or behind you. Sprinting defenders usually win the ball back against the pace control dribble. As soon as you see a defender committing to a tackle by starting to sprint at your attacker, you should switch to the normal dribble to maneuver around him or look to use the knock.

Skill Dribble

This refers to the dribble maneuver when holding both the pace control button and sprint button.

When to use it

• Use the skill dribble when faced up toward a standing/jockeying defender.
• Also an excellent technique is to use to slide away from a pressuring defender coming in from the side to create a bit more space to turn (very important maneuver).
• Can be used in tight spaces as well depending on how much time you have on the ball.

When you should not use it

• Do not use the skill dribble with back turned directly to defender sprinting in (only use if defender is on the side or in front).

Ball Shield

This refers to the dribbling maneuver where you shield the ball against an oncoming defender. The ball shield in this game is not the same as the ones in FIFA 09 and FIFA 10. No longer can you use it to “hold-up” the ball against an oncoming defender for an extended period of time, but despite that it can still be used to buy time against the defense, especially in tight spaces.

When to use it

• Use the ball shield against defenders sprinting in for a tackle that are close by.
• Use the ball shield when defenders are approaching from the sides or from directly in front. When defenders are coming in from the side you can quickly shield the ball, and then dribble in the opposite direction (which has the same effect as the stop and turn skill move).
• Do not always take a dribble touch immediately after shielding the ball. The ball shield is a great way to hold up the ball momentarily and assess how the defenders are approaching your attacker (i.e. are they sprinting in or are they jockeying). The defender’s approach to your attacker will ultimately determine your next move after shielding, so pay attention to the defenders approach when shielding and try not to assume that the defense will do anything. Let the defense show their hand, and then react to it.
• The ball shield is also safe to use against jockey/standing defenders.

When you should not use it

• Do not use the ball shield if a defender is sprinting towards your attacker from directly behind. I do not know why, but for some reason when defenders approach a shielding player from directly behind they usually win the ball.

Face-Up

This is the maneuver where you pivot around the ball to face the opponent’s goal when holding the trigger run button. I like this maneuver because it allows you to quickly face-up a defender without moving the ball, and because you are pivoting rather than stepping, there is not as much momentum to overcome. This allows for a rapid change of direction after the pivot.

When to use it 

Note: In all cases, the defender will initially be at your back.

• Use against a defender sprinting towards you if there is enough time to make the pivot. If you can make the pivot in time you will be in position to quickly blown past the incoming defender with knock-on, or simply side-step the incoming defender with the normal dribble.
• Use against a jockeying/standing defender. Since the defender is in jockeying mode he will not commit for a tackle as you pivot. Once you are turned around and facing the defender you can use the skill dribble, or even skill moves to try and get by the defender. As soon as you see the defender commit for a tackle, either blown by him with a knock-on or side step him using the normal dribble.

When you should not use it

• Do not try to face-up a sprinting defender if he is too close to your attacker. Rather, use the normal dribble and try to maneuver past the attacker by dribbling to the side. If the defender changes from the sprinting to the jockeying animation (which many players online do) as he approaches, you can then turn to face him up.

Ball-Stop (Very Important)

This refers to the animation that occurs when you tap either the sprint button or the trigger run button to quickly bring your dribble to a stop without any type of pivot.

I like this dribbling technique because it allows me to quickly bring my dribble to a stop and assess what the defense is doing.  It also allows me more time for the players (around me) to make runs in support. It is also a good way to quickly change direction and make sharper and crisper turns when in tight spaces. The ball stop also allows you to switch into different dribbling techniques a lot cleaner than you could without it.

When to use it

This is an excellent technique to use in tight spaces especially when it seems like you are surrounded with no outlets. Whenever you bring the ball to a stop, and you consciously assess what the defenders are actually doing, you realize that although you have very little space, you actually have lots of time on the ball because the defenders are not actively going in for a tackle.  They are just surrounding you and trying to cut off passing lanes.

If you are able to remain calm in these types of situations you will eventually force a defender to commit to a tackle, and when he does, an outlet will usually open up to either dribble or pass into.

IF YOU LEARN TO STAY CALM EVEN IN THE TIGHT AREAS WITH SPACE CLOSED DOWN, YOUR ATTACK WILL REALLY OPEN UP. THE KEY IS TO FORCE THE DEFENDERS TO COMMIT TO A TACKLE BEFORE YOU COMMIT TO A DRIBBLE.

Too often, players panic in the tight areas,take dribble touches when they don’t really need to, and end up running into defenders ultimately giving the ball away. Don’t give the ball away, make them come and get it.

As far as I am concerned, it is much better to stop your dribble and force the defender to come towards you and make a tackle, than it is to run into the defender and give the ball away.

When you should not use it

Obviously if you see a defender sprinting at you committed to making a tackle you should maneuver away from him. BUT THEN AGAIN, MAKE SURE HE IS COMMITTED TO MAKING THE TACKLE BEFORE YOU TAKE YOUR DRIBBLE TOUCH.

Conclusion

As you may have been able to deduce, dribbling in this game (and attack in general) is determined by what the defense is giving you. The way you take on a pressuring defender is different from the way you take on a jockeying defender.

An important skill to have is being able to discern between when a defender is committing to a tackle, when they are just jockeying to stay in front, and when they are moving to cut off a passing/dribbling lane.If you can distinguish between those three movements and follow the advice I have given above, your ability to retain possession in attacking areas will increase, and your attack will undoubtedly improve.

Further Reading

• Dribbling in the Penalty Box Tips
• New Skill Moves Tutorial
• Attacking Tips Guide

Big thanks to Chuck for the original guide and This11 for the diagrams.

Q – In general play in relation to dribbling, do you just use the LS and R2 or just dribble with LS.

Good question. I dribble with LS 90% of the time. I use sprint (RT for Xbox & R2 for PS3) when either dribbling  in open space or running away from a defender.

Remember each player has an energy bar that runs out for every second you hold down sprint. The more you sprint, the longer it takes for your player to regain energy. Something to think about.

Q – Whilst trying to regain possession, do you advise to tackle with the circle button on the PS3 or the cross. Is holding down R2 to jockey the best way to regain possession

I only tackle when I am sure to win the ball. Jockeying is great because you will automatically attempt a tackle if the opponent runs into you.

The problem with tackling is if you miss, you are completely out of position. Sometimes you will give up stupid PKs too. It happened to me A TON during my 1st couple of FIFA 12 online matches.

Let’s get started.

Best FIFA 12 Attacking Tutorials

Here are some of the best attacking tutorials available online.

• FIFA 12 1 Star Skills Tutorial
• FIFA 12 2 Star Skills Tutorial
• FIFA 12 3 Star Skills Tutorial
• FIFA 12 4 Star Skills Tutorial
• FIFA 12 5 Star Skills Tutorial
• FIFA 12 Head to Head Seasons Attacking Tips
• How to Overload the Box when Attacking

My FIFA 12 Attacking Strategy

My basic strategy is to attack down the wing then cut inside or create 2 vs 1 situations using the 1-2 pass to open up space for my striker. Other FIFA gamers use certain attacking strategies to score more goals and win more games.

Here’s a few tips:

• Use the flanks to your advantage. There are fewer defenders on the wings than in the midfield.
• Pass the ball often between your teammates.
• Use the goalkeeper when needed.
• Be patience. Take your time when attacking and do not be afraid to go backwards
• Let go of the sprint button. Only sprint into open space.

Best FIFA 12 Attacking Formations

As I’ve always said: “Your squad determines your formation.” There is no one size fits all in FIFA. That being said, I want to share a few formation tips with you. They will help you find the right FIFA 12 formation, improve your squad morale, and win games and/or tournaments.

• 4-1-2-1-2: Great formation for a balanced attack. Watch this 4-1-2-1-2 video for more tips.
• 4-4-2: Old time favorite and probably the most commonly used formation in FIFA 12. Watch this 4-4-2 video for more tips.
• 4-3-3: Ultimate attacking formation of FC Barcelona & Brazil. It gives you very strong wing play.

What are the FIFA 12 Attacking Buttons and Controls?

I am currently working on publishing the entire FIFA 12 attacking controls and buttons. Please check back here for a link soon.

Common FIFA 12 Attacking Problems and Concerns

 Q: Does Anyone have attacking tips on going forward?

A: Yes. Here are the following tips and hints to help you out:

• Don’t be afraid to have shots from far out with your better players, use wingbacks a lot, the extra men forward really helps, think before you pass, make sure you can see some space around the man you’re passing to. Don’t be afraid to trap the ball and have a think, the engine runs the same in every league so its not as fast paced as the Premier League and its not as slow as say Serie A. Use precision (R1 or RB) when you pass too, really helps.
• try using more through balls, and when the defender is running along side you, suddenly stop, and they will run past you, and you will keep possession and have space.

Q: What’s the best strategy for going into attack?

A: Here are a few proven attacking strategies

• i play 4-2-2-2 and just pass and eventually will work your way to a shooting opportunity. If possible take it around a defender using the skill moves and then it all opens up for you to either run into and shoot or run into a pass for a goal scoring opportunity.
• Counterattacks are critical so take advantage of them.. Regular wise, try going into an area and roam around for some time then when you feel like people are coming towards you switch the ball across the field then you have space and got towards the space you have And houd have some options
• According to my experience, you should change the tactics to ultra offensive and keep pressing on. Andy Gray himself tells Attack is the best form of Defense. More attackers more chance of creating chances. That’s how I play. Hope this will help. Thank you.
• Keep pass and move, pass and move. DO NOT give the ball away or risk it until you’ve found a good opening

I will update this attacking tips guide as I learn more about how to dominate FIFA 12. Please leave your comments below. Thanks!

This post is going to cover Dribbling in the Penalty Box Tips to help you score more goals and kick some ass!

In a previous post on short range dribbling tips, I came across a great question from a loyal reader named Jerry:

any advice on how to dribble in the penalty box? I always try to use L1, but maybe I should master elastico chop or something.

This is a great question and I can think of 5 super easy tips to help you dribble better in the penalty box.

Tip #1 -- Use Pace Control

Pace control helps you slow down while in the box and keeps the ball closer. You can also spin around defenders or back up out of trouble easier.

• Xbox 360 -- Hold LT
• PS3 -- Hold L2

Tip #2 -- Enter the Box on the Right or Left Wing

A great example of dribbling into the box via the right wing was posted by my buddy Danny on his website, FIFAMonster.com. Basically, you will only have to deal with 1 to 2 defenders thay way.

If you enter through the middle, you have both center backs as well as midfielders giving you problems. FIFA 12 is notorious for glitches & more defenders = more problems.

Tip #3 -- Dribble with the Highest Rated Players

Call me a noob. Call me lazy. Either way, the top rated players are better dribblers because EA Sports jacks up their player ratings.

Have you ever tried dribbling with Ronaldo, Kaka, Ronaldihno, Xavi, or Nasri on FIFA 12? It’s a work of art.

When I play with DC United, I feel like pulling my hair out because the dribbling quality is SOOO low. LOL.

Browse the La Liga and Premier League Players Ratings to find players that dominate the dribble.

Tip #4 -- The Ball Stop

My #1 favorite move for FIFA 12 is the simple ball stop. You press LB on Xbox 360 or L1 on PS3 to initiate this move.

Your player will stop the ball with his nearest foot and sometimes you can beat a defender who is holding down the sprint button.

Simple yet effective.

Tip # 5- Use the Chop

The chop is trademarked by Ronaldo in FIFA 12. You cut the ball behind your body to fool your opponent. There’s also a slight variation called the elastico chop.

• Xbox 360 -- Flick the RS down then right/left twice
• PS3 -- Flick the RS down then right/left twice

Tip #6 -- Use the Ball Roll

The ball roll is a simple move to use when your defender lunges at you. Imagine attacking in the box and your defender tackles you? You could attempt a wild skill move, which increases your chance of losing the ball. Keep the ball close and a simple roll may do the trick.

Controls

• Xbox 360 -- Hold RS to the Left/Right
• PS3 -- Hold RS to the Left/Right

Tip #7 -- Stepovers

My #2 favorite Brazilian player of all time, Robinho, shows us how stepovers are done.

The key to stepovers is pace and deception. Your opponent reacts to each stepover, so you can fake him out easily.

Many FIFA gamers HATE stepovers with a passion. They think you are showing off. Often, they slide tackle you to show their frustration. You can earn A LOT of penalties this way.

Controls

• Xbox 360 -- Hold RS Up then roll to the right/left
• PS3 -- Hold RS Up then roll to the right/left

Tip #8 -- Learn All the new FIFA 12 Dribbling Skills

Watch the following videos that go into more of the skills you can use in the penalty box:

FIFA 12 Precision Dribbling Skills

FIFA 12 Dribbling Tutorial featuring Lionel Messi

When you’re done watching these 2 videos, check out the official FIFA 12 New Skill Moves video as well. Many of these skills work well in the box.

Group Discussion

Now it’s your turn to voice your opinion on dribbling in the box.

• What tactics did I forget?
• Which strategies work well for you?
• What is your #1 tip for dribbling in the penalty box around defenders?

Leave your thoughts in the comments! Thanks

Then keep reading. Here I share 10 quick tips to boost your VP faster than ever!

Tip #1 – The most effective way to improve a Virtual Pro is by having a five star team play against a one star team during Exhibition Mode. This combination will lead to the greatest amount of improvements in player attributes.

Tip #2 – If you are attempting to improve a Pro’s attacking attributes, place him on the five star team. This way, his team will have the ball very frequently and he will gain many opportunities to score.

Tip #3 – If you are attempting to improve a Pro’s defending attributes, place him on the one star team.

This way, the opposing team will have the ball most often, providing him with an opportunity to improve on tackling.

Tip #4 – When playing an Exhibition Match, always be sure to choose the “Control Squad” option instead of the “Control Pro” feature. This way, you can always pass the ball to your Pro, regardless of whether or not giving your Pro the ball is the best decision for winning the match.

Tip #5 – If your Pro is playing in an offensive position, make his body shorter and thinner in order to provide him with increased sprinting speed and dribbling skills.

Tip #6 – If your Pro is playing in a defensive position, make his body taller and heavier in order to improve his ability to head balls and tackle other players.

Tip #7 – Focus on improving only one attribute at a time. Many of the attributes that can be improved upon contradict each other and cannot be accomplished in the same game.

Tip #8 – Always use the World Class difficulty setting rather than the easiest difficulty level.

Tip #9 – Edit the amount of time that each half of the game will take in order to better suit the goal you are currently seeking.

Tip #10 – Find a good team to play with. Even the best player in the world will never win if his team is terrible.

Overall, there are many steps that can be taken in order to improve your Virtual Pro, and those who implement these tactics will develop a Pro that can bring immense value to a team.

Hey!

It’s Tarik here and Welcome to the FIFA 12 Shooting Clinic. I want to answer a comment on my website left by Rob who needs help scoring from short range.

I always say practice makes perfect, but there are also a few things to keep in mind when shooting up close.

1. Lay Off the Turbo

Remember to take your hand off the sprint button before you shoot. This will improve accuracy.

2. Feed your Playmakers

If possible, try to use your best shooter to take the shot. For example, If I were playing with Real Madrid, I would automatically be looking for Ronaldo when I get around the penalty area.

He has a higher percentage chance of scoring. His shooting rating is 90. Use that to your advantage.

3. Use the finesse shot

I rarely meet gamers online who use the finesse shot well. Initiate a fineese shot by holding RB for Xbox or R1 for PS3. This adds a nice curling effect to your shot, which could make it harder to save.

4. Create Space using a Fake Shot

The last tip requires using a fake shot. To perform a fake shot, Hold B then Press A for Xbox or Hold O then X for PS3. You can fool your opponent into thinking your shooting, then you often will be all alone in front of goal with a much better angle.

I hope these 4 shooting tips help. Let me know what you think. Peace

I was playing FIFA 12 Head to Head season all night and began searching Google Adwords Keyword tool to see what cool content to add to the site. There are tons of cool FIFA sites out there, and there are tons of crappy sites as well.

…AND THEN IT HIT ME.

We are 38,000 strong. Why in the F*&*ck aren’t we all working together on FIFtips? I blame myself for this. Too much partying and not enough planning/goal setting.

I need your help to make this the #1 SITE IN THE WORLD for FIFA gamers.

New Changes to the Site

1. The Forum has been closed

Managing a forum is HARD work. It was constantly being attacked by spammers, and was rarely active. If you need a great forum, go to the official EA Sports FIFA 12 forum. The moderators there are great, plus it’s active 24/7/365.

2. We need 5 FIFA 12 Bloggers & Editors (First Come, First Serve)

If you are interested in writing/blogging about FIFA 12, then please reply in the comments. You can write about any FIFA 12 topic you like as long as the content is easy to understand and read. If you are interested in studying journalism or becoming a writer, it will look pretty cool on your resume as well.

3. We need 5 Youtube Video Producers (First Come, First Serve)

If you are interested in creating videos about FIFA 12 on Youtube, then please reply in the comments. We are looking for video on: goals, tutorials, gameplay, funny scenes, etc. Please be creative and have fun with this.

4. FIFtips will be translated into Spanish This Month

I am looking for translators to translate all the english content into Spanish. If you speak spanish fluently, please reply to this blog post in the comments.

I know this is a lot of changes, but I think it’s time to take FIFtips to the next level. My goal is 100k unique visitors per day by December 31st, 2011. 

We can do this.

What do you think?

I want you to be brutally honest about the new changes. Am I crazy? Do you think we can do 200k per day?

Please share your thoughts. Both good and bad.

Wishing you Good luck playing FIFA 12 (unless we meet online LOL),

Tarik

P.S. Head to Head Season is AWESOME!!!!! FIFA is just getting better and better

Also, don’t forget to share this page with your friends on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube.

Check out the EPL ratings now!

Any comments? Please leave them below. Thanks!

Too many people only play with 1 squad, which causes the following problems:

• Players play too many games and face lots of injuries
• Contract and Healing cards eat up the majority of coins when playing games
• Failure to play in profitable tournaments because you don’t meet the tourney requirements
• Frustration leads to deleting squads and starting all over again
• etc.

Build a 1^st Team and Bronze Team of Reserves

Build multiple squads in FUT to achieve greater success just like Manchester United and FC Barcelona do in real life. For instance, I manage 2 squads:

• Modupe FC: My First Team Senior Squad with the best talent
• Modupe FC B: My 2^nd team made up of mostly bronze players and a silver GK

This is huge! You win games (especially single player tournaments) with your 2^nd team instead of wasting contracts and risking injuries with your 1^st team squad. It’s easy to acquire bronze players. You buy a few bronze packs, and assemble a full squad for less than 2k coins.

When a player’s contract runs out, you either discard him or put him up for sale. Unless you’ve got a great bronze player, it makes little sense to waste contracts on him.

Save Your Coins for Players on the Open Market or Gold Packs

Your 2^nd team squad earns you the same amount of coins as the 1^st team squad without the injury risk. Purchase specific players or gold packs with the extra coins. I recommend saving up at least 10k before buying players in the marketplace as a rule of thumb. If you are short on coins, then learn some easy ways to make coins in FIFA 11 Ultimate team.

How to Choose the Best FIFA 11 Ultimate Team Formation

Your formation has a tremendous affect on how well you play and which players make up your squad. Generally speaking, you should place players in their preferred positions/formations. Now some of you already know that gamers are beating other gamers with a squad full of Gks to prove that chemistry and formations are flawed in FUT. That’s true, and EA is working on correcting those issues. In the meantime, build your squad the right way so when the update arrives, you gain a boost in chemistry immediately while other gamer must fix holes in their chemistry rating.

Below is a screenshot of the average FUT formation to help you estimate the market demand for each formation:

According to the screenshot above, we know the top 5 most common formations are:

1. 4-4-2: Wing play, 8 behind in defense, lots of passing angles
2. 4-1-2-1-2: midfield build up, attacking and defensive strategy, 7 behind in defense
3. 4-3-3: attacking formation, good for strong strikers
4. 4-2-2-2: Double CDMs, 6 behind in defense
5. 4-3-1-2: Attacking formation, CF up top, CM’s across

If you choose a popular formation, then you pay a premium on every card. Any formation with a backline of 5 or 3 players has less demand, therefore the price is lower.

Personally, I use the 4-4-2 because this formation suits my style of football/soccer. There is no perfect formation.

You have to TEST THIS YOURSELF.

Refer to the notes above for some general tips. Just experiment yourself and see what works best.

How to Prevent Injuries

Truth is there is no 100% way to prevent injuries in Ultimate Team. Any football/soccer fan knows that injuries are a part of the game, but there are a few ways to avoid them:

• Rotate your players every few games: The lower your players’ fitness is, the more likely he will get injured. This is because he runs and recovers slower on the pitch, making him a target for harsh tackles. I rotate my entire lineup (except GK) every 2-3 games to give my top players a rest. It only takes 1 game rest for your players’ fitness to return to 100%.
• Load up on Physio Staff: Don’t ignore the power of staff. For every staff member you have, you receive a multiplier effect. Purchase Physio staff members to receive a bonus multiplier when you apply a healing card. You get them in packs or straight from the trading marketplace. Each Physio staff has a percentage next to the healing factor I.E. Leg 15%. When you apply a leg healing card, you receive an extra 15% of healing power towards your player. This heals your player much faster while spending less coins in the process. Just add every Physio member to your MY CLUB to receive the full benefits.
• Save stars for Online Games: Another huge mistake is playing your stars in offline matches. The CPU sucks and you don’t need Messi for a game against the computer. If your star gets hurt, then let it happen against a competitive online game. How embarassing is it to lose Messi for 5 games against West Ham United on Pro level in some random offline tourney?!?

How to Save Coins on Contracts

Another largely overlooked tactic is the importance of managers. Most people buy 1 manager then ignore the rest by either discarding or trading them.

Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Shiny manager cards are worth SO MUCH because they have a contract multiplier that adds additional contracts to your player when you apply a contract card.

Example.

I have about 11 shiny managers which add up to around 30% on all my contracts. Whenever I apply a contract card, I get an 3-4 extra contracts FOR EVERY CARD! I save SOOOO many coins.

1. Buy shiny manager cards with contract multipliers
2. Send them to your My Club
3. That’s it!

You can reap the extra contracts for as long as you keep the managers.

Example

I bought a 93 Sir Alex Ferguson 4-4-2 w/ 3% contract boost for 250 coins!

If you spend too many coins on contracts, then buy more shiny managers (bronze, silver, and gold alike), and make your contract cards worth more instantly!

How to Boost Team Chemistry

EA Sports is working hard on improving chemistry, so do not expect any huge positives from a 100% rating. If you’re like me, then keep your chemistry high since you’re prepared when EA improves chemistry.

There are 3 ways to get 100% chemistry:

1. Same Nationality: For example, An all-English squad achieves 100% chemistry rating. Each player will be linked in green if they are in their preferred position.
2. Same League: For example, An All Barclays Premier League squad achieves 100% chemistry rating if they are in their preferred position.
3. Same Team: For example, an All FC Barcelona squad achieves 100% chemistry rating if they are in their preferred position.

I recommend these nations for 100% chemistry based on nationality:

• England
• Spain
• France
• Brazil
• Italty

These 5 nations provide TONS of talented players so you can achieve a 100% chemistry rating plus have a squad of good players. It makes no sense to build a same nationality squad if you sacrifice talent in the process.

I recommend these leagues for 100% chemistry based on league:

• Serie A
• Barclays Premier League
• La Liga BBVA
• Ligue 1

The UEFA Champions league consists mostly of teams from these top 4 leagues. Build an awesome FUT squad from these 4 leagues.

How to Get High Rated Players

Want to build a squad that consists of Messi, Kaka, Ronaldo, etc? Well, you have two options:

• Buy/Trade for them in the marketplace
• or Buy packs with the hopes of pulling them

Buying/Trading is the easiest and fastest way to get the best players. Here are a few trading tips that will save you coins and help you get great deals:

• Buy during NON-Peak Hours. The majority of FUT gamers live in the UK. You get the BEST deals when UK players are either away from their console or sleeping. These hours are 4AM to 4PM GMT or 10PM to 10AM EST.
• Hang around the last minute. Alternatively, you can grab some more deals by hanging around the last few seconds of the auction. BINs do not apply here. Bid higher than the current bid to win the auction.
• Search for specific players. Finally, Zero in on a specific player then scroll through ALL the auctions to find the lowest BIN price. You do this by sorting via Position, Level, Nation, League and Team.

How to Get The Best Players For Cheap Using the 59th Minute Method

This method gives you awesome players for very few coins. When gamers want a quick sale, they post an attractive BIN price for only 1 hour. If you hang around 59th minute auctions, you will grab some AMAZING deals. Simply sort by Gold – Position – League, then scroll until the 1 hour mark.

Most Common Asked Questions

Here’s a few questions

Are Ultimate Team Packs Worth Buying?

I believe in consistency and flow when playing FIFA 11. If you read my ebook, then you already know how I select my teams. It’s easier to build the proper confidence by choosing 1 or 2 teams to rely on. However, sometimes you want to keep things fresh or reverse an embarrassing losing streak. The best place to start is with the top ranked teams, of course!

This article compares the top rated FIFA 11 teams online and recommends which clubs you should play with. Whether you’re looking for good, popular, or even the biggest FIFA 11 teams, you should be able to experiment with a few clubs and find the best fifa 11 team for you. Below you will find lists of the greatest FIFA 11 teams. Enjoy!

Top 10 FIFA 11 Club Teams

These ratings are the average of their Attack, Midfield and Defence combined. Roma and Man City are underrated, while Lyon should be 75.

1. Barcelona 82.6
2. Inter Milan 82.3
3. Real Madrid 82
4. Chelsea/Man United 81
5. Arsenal/Man City 80.3
6. Bayern Munich 80
7. AC Milan 79.6
8. Tottenham/Lyon 79.3
9. Athletico Madrid/Roma 79
10. Liverpool 78.6

Top FIFA 11 International Teams

England scored pretty high…higher than Brazil! Germany is rated too low. Way too low.

1. Spain 84.3
2. England 82
3. France 81
4. Brazil 80.6
5. Argentina/Germany 80.3
6. Portugal 80
7. Holland 79
8. Italy 78.6
9. Croatia 77.6
10. Russia 77.3
11. Uruguay 76.6

Best FIFA 11 3 Star Teams

Compare these 3 star teams to play with.

• Feyenoord
• Dundee United
• Portsmouth
• River Plate
• Dynamo Moscow
• Anderlecht
• Sao Paulo
• Botafogo
• Borussia Munchengladbach
• St. Pauli
• Corinthians
• Twente

Best FIFA 11 4 Star Teams

Compare these 4 star teams to play with.

• Panathinaikos
• CSKA Moscow
• Genoa
• Lazio
• Sunderland
• Galatasary
• PSG

My Favorite FIFA 11 Teams

I would rank my favorite teams to use in this order:

1. Chelsea – The athleticism and skill of “The Blues” is the most deadly team in the game. My default squad.
2. Santos FC – Playing with Neymar is fun, plus Ganzo and others keep things crispy in midfield.
3. Tottenham – Great balance and skill. Spurs can beat any EPL team, and are solid in this year’s game.

Group Discussion

Now it’s your turn to give your opinion on the best FIFA 11 teams to play with.

• Which teams do you play with online?
• Which teams did forget?
• Which teams don’t deserve to be on the list above?

Let me know what you think.