I was wondering how everyone was managing to play it on Extreme Mode. 5* with Auto-Save's what I play on, I can't post a starting XI as it really does depend on who's fit and up for it.
I play a 3-4-3 diamond formation, which works pretty well with the WF's doing the outlet counter-attacking.
The Ones That Stand Between the Sticks and Kick the Ball Straight to the Other One That Stands Between the Sticks
Oliver Kahn - He's poor though, can't catch. I need a better 'keeper, like
Toldo.
Hector Fabian Carini - When I saw his stats I was chuffed and bought him. Then he started becoming liable to mistakes. Gets the odd cup game.
The Ones Who Stand in a Straight Line Pretending to be Useful When All They're Doing is Kicking the Ball Straight to the Other Line Who are About 70 yards Away and Wearing Different Shirts from Them
Lilian Thuram - Speaks for himself, really. Part of the African French contingent that every good squad needs.
Fabio Cannavaro - Quick, good in the air. Not bad at tackling, either. Can feed the quick attackers over the top with 87 Long Pass Accuracy.
Solomolomolomon Capmbell - Probably the best of the bunch. Simply a rock. Gives away penalties, which is nice and realistic.
Celso Ayala - C'mon, you know you all bought him to partner
Jorge Bermudez at the back near the beginning of your game. When his contract runs out, he goes.
The Ones Who Can Give the Round Thing to Other Ones Wearing the Same Shirt as Them
Roy Keane - Better than Vieira. In the game. Definitely. Solid as a really solid thing.
Phillip Cocu - He's got the non-yellow-but-almost-yellow attributes syndrome, which by default makes him quality. He's been one of my favourite players in PES2 and 3, plays well beyond the capabilities of his attributes. Good, and versatile.
Emerson - Has a nice hair-do, pretty skillful, gets stuck in, covers a lot of ground. Plus he ran rings around Beckham a couple of years ago when Deportivo played United. Yes, that's right, it's the crap Emerson. Not the pansy one who broke his hand pissing about in goal at the World Cup, the big tall one who loves doing spinning back-heels.
Claudio Lopez - Another one of my favourites. Play him on the left side of midfield, and he's skillful, though he may very well need to be replaced. Might just stick
Nedved there instead, and put
Okocha behind the front two.
Luis Figo - Not bad. Has a habit of getting sent off in the first minute of games, though. I suspect that's more my fault rather than his. His first touch is absolutely superb, whether it be to make space for himself, or to knock it into someone's path. He's also surprisingly good in the air.
Marc Overmars - Twat. Waste of space in most games, though he had an absolute corker recently. He was everywhere, he hit the post, made tackles, set up numerous chances. The game gave him a rating of 4.5.
Javier Zanetti - Another one of these stupid side-midfielders I managed to get tonnes of. He's my solid option, because he can tackle as well as go forward. Normally sets up a goal if he plays. Which he doesn't. Ever. Looks like a zebra, too.
Pavel Nedved - Now we're talking. He was my first real class signing, and he'll be in the first team come the final shake-up. All-round, there aren't many better than him on the game, and he blatantly deserved to win World Footballer of the Year. Just because he's Czech, they thought "No, we'll give it to
Zidane, because he's Algerian, or French, or something, apparently." Scores, sets up goals, and occasionally tackles. Never dribbles. Doesn't need to.
Jay-Jay Okocha - 99. Dribble Accuracy. End of. Story. And yes, I know
Ortega has it too. But I had him. And he was poor. Jay-Jay's been scoring a lot recently, getting on the end of through balls and such. Indirectly, he's keeping
Claudio Lopez out of the team. Another one who seems to get his £2.50 shape-up from Hackney Market.
The Ones Who Hit It Into the Arms of the Other One Between the Sticks, So that He Can Hit It Into the Arms of Their Own One Between the Sticks
Hernan Jorge Crespo - Main target man. Good at headers. Only plays when he wants to. Has a stupid curly hair-cut, and looks like a three-toed sloth. Sometimes decides he'd rather sit down than score.
Thierry Henry - Everything. He is. And does. Everything. Counter-attack maestro. Basically, give him the ball. Hold down control pad direction. Watch in amazement as he scores.
Oliver Neuville - I've got a Swiss player in my team. And it's a good team. None of you can beat that. And yes, I know he plays for Germany. He was born in Switzerland though. He's getting into the scoring habit at last, and also creates a fair few goals. Likes doing Zidane-style pirrhouettes around Galatasaray defenders and then slotting it past their 'keeper. Well, once.
Adriano - Tall, powerful runner who I had to make slightly worse because he was too good. Gets the odd game.
Klose - Has a habit of nut-megging 'keepers with penalties. Very good in the air. Utter shite on the ground.
Sorry about the length. But I thought I'd give you a run-down of how it
really feels to have a zebra named Javier in your team.
