One of the perks that separate footy video games from other sports games is the amount of playable teams. Different from its other big league brethrens, clubs from all around the world are available. For Manager Mode aficionados, this means having the pleasant problem of choosing which one to start with. So hereby is a list of five interesting teams to use in FIFA 2012’s Manager Mode. This is not a list of top five clubs in the world, per se, because we can argue forever -- or when England wins a World Cup, whichever comes first. Think of this as more of a list of teams that provide a distinctive way, or talking point, to play with in FIFA 2012's Manager Mode.
Manchester City
Love them or hate them, you have to put City on the list. After all, oil stained money is still money. For folks who don’t like cheating, but still want to the ability to snap out many of the game's best and brightest, City’s petrol dollars are the closest, morally-OK alternative. You already start with somewhat of a fantasy squad with Aguero, Silva, Dzeko, Tevez and Nasri. But if it happens that you don’t like certain players, send ‘em packing! Then go out and buy, one, two, three or ten more. For many, it might rob them of a challenge, but hey, leave some room for others (though admittedly, not me) who like this sort of stuff.
Barcelona
There's really not much more to say about the team of choice for what seems like 90 percent of the online populace. But I suppose I'll say it anyway: Barcelona’s football is pretty; passing, moving, passing and moving again. This year, with the increased time and space in midfield, FIFA seems tailor-made for these masters of the tiki-taka style. You have Xavi and Iniesta in the middle, acting as the metronome, while Messi and Sanchez do the scoring further upfield. If you’re a purist, and you want to play the way the game was meant to be played (thankfully there’s no dive button in FIFA for Busquets), it’s hard to look past Barcelona.
Stoke
Now you can really answer the questions that seem to trouble many a British commentators: "Can Barcelona beat Stoke on a wet night in the Britannia?" While the answer "duh" seems clear to those of us whose glasses aren't tinted by the Red Cross of St. James, it's nonetheless telling that Stoke is the team mentioned. This club is well drilled at the back with imposing defenders, and has the right players for the way they attack: direct. Don’t look to get pretty with this collection of players, just get the ball wide, up the park and into the box. It's fun to play set pieces with Stoke, just because of the amount of aerial threats they have, and not to mention Rory Delap's monster throw-ins. Why not give yourself a challenge and try to win the Champions League with Stoke while maintaining this distinctively British style?
Bayern Munich
This is more of a personal favorite. I love quick, incisive football, and the players Bayern have suit that to a tee. An all round midfielder in Schweinsteiger who does the dirty work; a blossoming creative mastermind in Toni Kroos; two lethal wingers on either flanks in Robben and Ribery; a clever striker in Gomez. But my favorite — and this is influenced partly by his real life performances — is Thomas Muller. He can play anywhere up front, can roam, pass and dribble.
Swindon Town
Or really, any team in the lower divisions. It’s been a half myth/half truth that FIFA plays best with lower league teams because lower rated players mean less than perfect passes and shots, which leads to a more measured pace and more chippy style of play — in short, more realism. So far, I’ve found that to be somewhat true and somewhat placebo. Either way, it’s always a nice challenge, especially if you want to play the game for the long haul and start off with a lower division team to grind your way to the top. Just don't jump ship when you get close to the top and the big boys offer you a job.
What's your team of choice when playing FIFA's Manager Mode?
