The final round of price rises has now been and gone, and we’re all looking to spend that well-earned extra cash (many thanks to both dadoune30 and Teddy for your McFifa posts) in our managerial budgets before tomorrow‘s afternoon deadline.
Obviously, the last 16 draw plays a large part in who’s best to pick for your McFIFA teams; no point in stocking up with loads of England and Germany players when one of them is flying home on Sunday, so the likes of Uruguay-with a fairly straightforward run to the semi finals a more than distinct possibility- becomes a much more attractive proposition than perhaps previously anticipated.
With the balance of that draw in mind, then, here’s a look at some of the best picks, consisting of some high-rollers and the players proving to be the bargain basement buys of the tournament, for a well-rounded squad…
Goalkeepers/Defenders
Nestor Musrela 5.5m
Along with Portugal, Uruguay are the only team with a 100% clean sheet record in the group stages, and with keepers bagging 6 points for clean sheets, Musrela’s lowest score was 9 pts in his first three games. With South Korea up next, progress to the quarter finals shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
Maximiliano Pereira 4.9m
Uruguay’s shape in recent games has seen Diego Forlan behind a front two, meaning there is extra onus on Pereira to provide attacking impetus down the right. The full-back has excelled in this role, picking up half of his team’s Attacking Bonus Points (4pts), as well as grabbing 5 Defensive Bonus Points.
Antolin Alcaraz 4.5m
Paraguay are another South American team with a solid defensive base, conceding just one goal in the group stages. Alcaraz has already shown his eye for goal, netting against Italy in his team’s opener. Add his three Defensive Bonus Points to the equation, and the new Wigan Athletic man is well worth consideration, given he’s £1m less than his central defensive partner, Paulo da Silva. Made more clearances than any of his team mates, despite having played a game less.
Maicon 8.8m
This fantasy game seems tailor-made for the Brazil right-back. His marauding runs down the flank for 90 minutes have been one of the standout features of his team’s displays, and as well as opening the scoring against North Korea, Maicon’s 18 solo runs (joint-top with Lionel Messi), 8 attacking and 3 defensive Bonus Points, he’s a proving to be an absolute bonus points magnet.
Gregory Van der Wiel 6.9m
A yellow card caused the left-back to miss Holland’s third group game against Cameroon, which, coincidentally, was the only match the Dutch conceded in. His scoring has been solid, if not spectacular; an 8 & 9 in the two games he participated in, but Van der Wiel is good both defensively and going forward, meaning he is capable of picking up both attacking and defensive bonus.
Ashley Cole 7.7m
The top scoring points defender in the England side, Cole has 2 attacking and 3 defensive Bonus Points to add to his tally. Outside of Lampard and Gerrard, he has the most deliveries into the opponent’s penalty box, increasing his likelihood of bagging an assist or two. His scoring is more consistent than Glen Johnson’s on the other flank; Cole has bagged bonus in all three group games compared to Jonson’s one.
Midfielder
Andre Ayew 3.9m
The Ghana man has put in a series of dynamic displays over the three group games, and his points returns have been outstanding. Ayew has picked up 10 Bonus Points in total; a third of his team’s entire amount. 6 Attacking Points and 4 Defensive shows he’s as going forward as he is defending, with 11 solo runs also to his name showing his ability.
Keisuke Honda 4.5m
Japan haven’t exactly set the Bonus Points alight, but Honda’s two goals and one assist have made that issue irrelevant. The ideal out of position player; his technical ability and eye for goal means he can lead the line on his own, and is on set pieces, as his beauty that sent Denmark packing showed.
Michael Bradley 5.5m
Has been a one man engine room in the middle of the park for the US, picking up 6 of the 7 defensive bonus points dished out to US midfielders. Added to his goal against Slovenia illustrates an impressive all-round performance from Bradley in this tournament to date.
Mesut Ozil 8.9m
Given how stingy the Germany and England defences have been so far (one goal each conceded) it may well take a moment of inspiration from someone to unlock the other side’s defence. Ozil’s performances have suggested if there is one man capable of doing so, it will be him. Somewhat surprisingly, he has only 2 bonus points to his name so far, but as this average position map shows, he plays almost as a forward, giving him license to threaten opponents as he brilliantly displayed against Ghana.
Andres Iniesta 9.4m
Missed the game against Honduras with a knock, but was reintroduced to the starting XI for the Chile game in place of Jesus Navas. As this position map shows, his positioning is far more central, meaning any width down the right came from Sergio Ramos practically playing as a wing-back. Iniesta responded with a goal and 2 attacking Bonus Points and, match fit once again, will surely be a starter for the Portugal game.
Kaka 10.0m
Perhaps not at his very best so far, but Kaka has still racked up the points for Brazil. Five attacking Bonus Points in his first game against North Korea, followed by two assists and a further two attacking Bonus Points against Ivory Coast, before the red card towards the end of the 3-1 victory over Sven’s men brought a premature finish to his group stage appearances. With the likes of Iniesta excelling in centre midfield against Chile, Kaka will take to the field in the last 16 with a growing sense of anticipation.
Forwards
Arjen Robben 9.3m
Despite only playing 17 minutes in the final group game against Cameroon, the Bayern man still picked up 2 attacking points for 4 solo runs. His ability to take the game to the opposition will be rewarded with the scoring system in the McDonalds game and if fit, he will surely start against Slovakia.
Landon Donovan 7.3m
2 goals in his first three games was one of the main reasons the US topped Group C. Donovan also picked up 4 of his side’s total of 9 attacking Bonus Points, a stat indicative of his importance going forward. Given that Ghana are next up, it would be no surprise to not only see him net again, but for his team to triumph in a most definitely winnable fixture.
Lionel Messi 10.7m
Despite his brilliance, the little man has yet to find the net (or assist a goal) in this tournament, and these statistic will surely change sooner rather than later. Currently, he is joint top with Maicon for the most solo runs in the tournament, top for most shots at goal, top for most shots on target and top for Attacking Bonus Points, with 12. He looks set to continue his form, and terrorise Mexico is what should be a fantastically open game this weekend.
Cristiano Ronaldo 10.1m
Portugal have yet to concede a goal in the tournament, but with a game against Spain up next, it would probably be unwise to go for a defender. There is perhaps only one man worth a punt, and that is, of course, Ronaldo. Is only one solo run and, with 11 attacking bonus points, is one behind Lionel Messi, but has managed a goal and an assist too boost his tally. Being on penalties and free kicks too makes it impossible to write him off, despite the team scoring in only one of their three games.
Diego Forlan 8.7m
Quite simply, Uruguay’s kind draw means they must be considered at both ends of the pitch. Forlan has been their most impressive player in attack so far, is their top scorer with 2 goals, and as well as being the most likely to score from open play, he is on free kicks and penalties as well.
David Villa 10.3m
Has really hit form since being moved out to the left wing in order to accommodate Fernando Torres down the middle since the defeat to Switzerland; of the four goals Spain have subsequently scored, Villa has netted three and assisted the other, as well as picking up 4 attacking Bonus Points. Torres is clearly nowhere near 100% though and Villa may start through the middle again in the game against Portugal, but there’s no way you can ignore the current top-scoring forward in the game.