FIFA Beginners Guide.

[BradyBunch88]

I've written up a "beginners guide" to FIFA. Now, there's a lot I haven't gone into and it's focused mostly on Career Mode. But I keep seeing so many threads on here that say "Need help going from one difficulty to the next" or "Career Mode help" or "How to loan players" etc.

I always like to help newcomers to FIFA, but it got a little bit tedious typing out the same advice in threads. So I thought it'd be a good idea to type up a beginners guide to career mode. This isn't just for you guys, it's also for me, if for whatever reason I lay off FIFA for a while and decide to pick it up again, I'll be able to remember how I used to play and remember some handy tips and tricks in FIFA.

Like I said, it's not amazing and there's probably a lot of stuff I've left out which maybe the more experienced FIFA players can help me out with.

I go into a lot of detail about progressing youth players because, for me, that's my favourite part of the game. Starting off with a 72 OVR rated 16 year old and then progressing them as the seasons go by to an 89 OVR beast!

So here is the document let me know what you guys think, if you have any info you'd like to add, any links etc.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxsCAnxBuiCOU1R6djhhUkVnb2c/view?usp=sharing

By the way I'm not getting any money or any recognition for posting the links at the end, they're just some links and websites that have always helped me when playing FIFA.

[bvb24]

Re: FIFA Beginners Guide.

I just can't bring myself to use the saves and reload every time something happens that I don't like. That just feels like cheating to me.

[BradyBunch88]

Re: FIFA Beginners Guide.

I just can't bring myself to use the saves and reload every time something happens that I don't like. That just feels like cheating to me.

And that's fair enough, I like to use it but only for scouting reports. I just wanted to try and cover all areas of career mode more or less. To tell everyone that the option is there if you want to use it or not.

[nyquil99]

Re: FIFA Beginners Guide.

How much of this is still applicable to FIFA 14? I'm a little late to the FIFA game, still playing last year's, and I don't want to give up my career mode team just yet ...

[snyder5man]

Re: FIFA Beginners Guide.

I have a question.


You talk about getting players grades up and keeping them up.
You also talk about good times to sub.


Most games, my CBs have low grades. A good grade from one of my games is 6.8.......
Also, if you sub someone, their grade goes down. I took out my ST (who had 3 goals) came out with a 9.8 and at the end of the game he had 8.9......
The person I sub in has a good game and only gets graded as 5.1?

[BradyBunch88]

Re: FIFA Beginners Guide.

How much of this is still applicable to FIFA 14? I'm a little late to the FIFA game, still playing last year's, and I don't want to give up my career mode team just yet ...

I was exactly the same! In fact, I held off playing FIFA for a couple days until I finished my last season on FIFA 14. In my opinion, FIFA 14 was one of the best FIFA titles of recent years. I’m really into FIFA 15 and if or when you make the jump, I’m sure you’ll like it too.

The good news is that all of this is still applicable to FIFA 14. In fact, that’s where I learned about most of these tips and tricks.

[BradyBunch88]

Re: FIFA Beginners Guide.

I have a question.


You talk about getting players grades up and keeping them up.
You also talk about good times to sub.


Most games, my CBs have low grades. A good grade from one of my games is 6.8.......
Also, if you sub someone, their grade goes down. I took out my ST (who had 3 goals) came out with a 9.8 and at the end of the game he had 8.9......
The person I sub in has a good game and only gets graded as 5.1?

I try not to control my back four and what’s interesting was, I saw Match of the Day last weekend and Martin Keown spoke about not moving your back four, you don’t want them out of position. It’s for obvious reasons. It’ll open too many gaps.

Players lose grades when they’re out of position. So try to keep them in position as much as possible, at least when defending. Making all of your passes helps too. When you have a corner and you have your CB’s ready to head the ball, try and cross it to them. Check out a corner tutorial on YouTube on how to score more frequently with corner kicks. Making tackles and I don’t mean sliding tackles or even standing tackles. But mark your man, stay in front of him, if he beats you, then your grade goes down because he’s run past you or whatever. I don’t know the controls for Xbox but for PS just be patient and use “X” to make the tackle when the time is right.

All these things combined should up your CB’s grades. I don’t think it does anything more than keep your players in form. Last year in FIFA 14, I believe that it helped the progression of players.

As for the substitutes, the good times to sub was something I saw in an article which, for me, was interesting. It has no affect either way in FIFA.
But yes, I know exactly what you mean. I saw this in FIFA 14 too. I’m not sure if it’s a bug, but when you do sub a player who might be 9.8 in a game, you sub him and then by the end of the game he’s like 8.9, it’s silly. And I don’t know why EA do that.

But I’ve had subs come into the game and score one or two goals and get a solid 8.2 grade. I think (just like real life) it depends on a few factors. What the situation is. If you’re 4-0 and your sub scores two goals, then maybe he’ll have a 7.2 grade. But, if you’re 2-0 down and your sub scores two or three goals, he could have a 9.5 grade. It depends how important the goals are. If he doesn’t score goals, but has a good game, then - also depending on how much time is left - he could get any type of grade.

So yeah, I don’t know about the player grades going down, that annoys me too. But I hope I answered your questions! Good questions too by the way!

[snyder5man]

Re: FIFA Beginners Guide.

Good stuff! I do try to avoid using my back 4, but I do need to improve on that. As far as subs, I've become hesitant to sub.... I want to get appearances for my guys, but I often get poor form from a 80th minute sub.
If I'm up by 3, I might sub a ST/RW/LW for an extra CB and move from 4-3-3 to a 5-4-1.


Either way, great response. I'm constantly learning new things about this game. I'm unsure if I will ever get bored of it. Thanks for unlocking some new things for me.

[BradyBunch88]

Re: FIFA Beginners Guide.

Good stuff! I do try to avoid using my back 4, but I do need to improve on that. As far as subs, I've become hesitant to sub.... I want to get appearances for my guys, but I often get poor form from a 80th minute sub.
If I'm up by 3, I might sub a ST/RW/LW for an extra CB and move from 4-3-3 to a 5-4-1.


Either way, great response. I'm constantly learning new things about this game. I'm unsure if I will ever get bored of it. Thanks for unlocking some new things for me.

You're welcome. I'm here to help man. I'd say sub sooner than the 80th minute then. I only do it because I have a super sub who's contract is "important player" so I have to play him frequently, even 10 mins of game time is enough!

Anyways, any questions drop me a comment here.

[snyder5man]

Re: FIFA Beginners Guide.

BB88, have you picked up any more tips for your guide?


How many guys do you want on your senior squad?
I've heard people say 23-25. I'm curious as to why you need more than 22. 11 starters, 7 bench, 4 reserves. If you get in trouble with injuries, call a loaned player back. It's easier to keep everyone happy with less players.


When do you start scouting for free transfers?
I always forget to line up anyone up. I'm trying to loan guys out or bring guys in. I'm guessing I need to find these guys prior to January. What is the next step? How do I offer them?


In your guide, you say to ask for money in January. I play with Southampton. I always change my top XI to my worst XI before I start my career. The board expects to not be relegated and round of 32 FA Cup..........I will get both. How much should I ask for and for what? I should finish top half (usually top 5). Last few times, I get to the semi finals (FA Cup).


Thanks for your help.

[BradyBunch88]

Re: FIFA Beginners Guide.

BB88, have you picked up any more tips for your guide?


How many guys do you want on your senior squad?
I've heard people say 23-25. I'm curious as to why you need more than 22. 11 starters, 7 bench, 4 reserves. If you get in trouble with injuries, call a loaned player back. It's easier to keep everyone happy with less players.


When do you start scouting for free transfers?
I always forget to line up anyone up. I'm trying to loan guys out or bring guys in. I'm guessing I need to find these guys prior to January. What is the next step? How do I offer them?


In your guide, you say to ask for money in January. I play with Southampton. I always change my top XI to my worst XI before I start my career. The board expects to not be relegated and round of 32 FA Cup..........I will get both. How much should I ask for and for what? I should finish top half (usually top 5). Last few times, I get to the semi finals (FA Cup).


Thanks for your help.

Yeah, I have actually there’s a few things I need to add. But, this thread disappeared among the other threads I just thought people weren’t interested.

It’s preference really. Some people like a big squad and like to rotate. Others like to have a tighter unit and play the same players consistently. At the moment, I’m reading PEP - his first season in charge at Bayern (last year). It’s a great book and he speaks about keeping a minimal squad (like Barca). I can’t remember why but it’s his preference. I’ve had big squads like 42 players before! But now I’m down to about 28 and I want to keep cutting that number down to about 25.
Another reason for big squads is youth development. You might have a lot of youth players your really love and want to develop - to take over once the older players retire. But if you go check out Gdbraden’s tip for sending youth players abroad, that’s a good way to keep a smaller squad whilst having your youth players develop overseas.

Free transfers. Yeah, I just got a couple scouts who’s instructions are to look for players with a 0-1 year contract left. I sent one to England and one to Germany and they just constantly do it now.
So just hire the best scouts you can, if they’re all rubbish scouts, wait until Monday and they get refreshed (I think). Then choose the best scout, give him the 0-1 year contract instruction and send him to whatever country you like.
Then in the winter transfer window, when you see a player with a contact running out, it’ll say something like “6 months remaining on contract) and you’ll see “approach to sign on contract expiry” select that, offer them the wage they want and the contract length and you should get them!

A club like Southampton I would’ve thought would’ve been pretty rich. But ask for realistic money. Southampton, in January, I wouldn’t be afraid to ask for an extra 3 million. It’s always low for some reason. But it depends on what you select and what you can achieve. If you select the highest, you’ll get more money.

I only do this for poor clubs. I started off with Nott’m Forest and they gave me like £6 million - not much I could do with that so I asked for more money in January. But that was before I did free transfers.

Thanks!

[snyder5man]

Re: FIFA Beginners Guide.

Thanks for the reply and for the guide.


I currently have 35 on my team. 23 of those are active, the others are on loan. I prefer to play my best XI about 75% of the time. So I kept 11 back ups (one got hurt, that's why I have 23 now). I use the back ups in cup games and around Christmas (as there are a ton of games on top of each other). Guys that I know that won't fit into my team, but will grow, I loan out. Once I get to the finally rear of their contract, I sell them. I basically invest in their stock (low) and sell high. If I have injury problems, I pull someone back from a loan.


As far as money, Southampton gets 9 mill (11 mill before the boards cut). I typically don't ask the board for money. I ask because the first year would be my best year to ask, being that they expect very little (because I changed my team sheet before my career).


Also, I've been considering starting a team in a lower league. Nott'm Forest is high on my list.

[Resurrection403]

Re: FIFA Beginners Guide.

How do i take advantage of free transfers? How do I find someone who's contract is up in 6 months and approach them? Help!

[Keano16]

Re: FIFA Beginners Guide.

How do i take advantage of free transfers? How do I find someone who's contract is up in 6 months and approach them? Help!

In the Global Transfer Network sent your scouts to leagues with instructions to look for players with 0-1 years remaining on their contract. That should bring some up for you.

[Chef Matt]

Re: FIFA Beginners Guide.

What do the parenthesis around the last numbers I see in some formations mean? For instance
4-3-3 (5) 4-4-2 (2) ?