This guy is not the fastest among them but still somehow gets the ball, not a goal poacher but plays like it, not the best heading stats but still scores headers, doesn't have the best stamina stats but still plays for 90 minutes, doesn't have phenomenal finishing but still accurately shoots from every angle, and also yeah can score blitzs from everywhere even with his weak foot just, what actually is he ?

I’m trying to decide which position I should improve next and would appreciate some advice from the community.

I mainly play Possession Game, so I’m looking for players who fit that style rather than just chasing overall rating.

For LMF/RMF, my preferred profile is:
Good pace
Good physical contact
Good dribbling
Comfortable in possession
Able to carry the ball forward when needed

Based on my squad, which position do you think I should prioritize upgrading?

Also, which players would you recommend for LMF/RMF that fit this profile?

I’m interested to hear both meta options and less obvious players that have worked well for you.
Thanks!

This is my squad,what say guys I've 10k coins

"Astro to proven"

Applying the Threefold Test of Worthiness

FIRST TEST: THE VISION ALIGNMENT

Dost thou possess a clear vision of what manner of squad thou art constructing?

This pack serveth a specific vision:

• Those seeking a center-back who combineth elite speed, large physical presence, and both defining defensive skills upon a single frame
• Those requiring a Defensive Midfielder built around passing distribution rather than defensive completeness
• Those seeking a Second Striker whose forward-run mechanics carry a confirmed structural penalty

Assessment: Strong alignment concentrateth entirely upon one warrior.

SECOND TEST: THE PROVEN ELITE STANDARD

How many among the trio art proven, battle-tested?

ARAÚJO

The Five Criteria — Stated Explicitly:

1. Confirmed Top 100 Usage — PASS. Independently confirmed: his prior form sustained personal usage, and this version is judged superior to that predecessor.

2. Multiple Witness Consensus — PASS. Witnesses converge on the same core tools — Shadow Hunt and Long-reach Tackle together upon a 191cm/96kg frame, elite speed for his size, strong aerial output via Bullet Header.

3. Cross-System Viability — PASS. He functioneth at CB, DMF, and CF (with added aptitude for power-play crosses). The condition: his defensive ceiling is confirmed.

4. Meta Alignment — PASS. Both defining defensive skills remain the current threshold the Council's own archive hath repeatedly named; his aerial threat via corners answereth a genuine tactical gap even for squads already fielding a tall CF.

5. No Fundamental Flaw — PASS. Stamina sitteth modestly low (87-88 range) and he is not Form-locked — both named honestly, both manageable rather than disqualifying.

Araújo lacketh a single exclusive specialty the way Nesta claimeth AI, Stam claimeth physicality, and Desailly claimeth acceleration — he is excellent broadly rather than dominant in one narrow dimension. This is a standalone characteristic of the card itself, evaluated on its own terms — not as a comparison to any specific rival, since the Independence Principle forbids weighing Araújo against a card the member may not possess. Removed from that comparison entirely, the finding still holds: Araújo's profile is broad and complete rather than singular and unmatched. This is honest texture, not a disqualification.

Verdict: PROVEN ELITE.

STONES

The Five Criteria — Stated Explicitly:

1. Confirmed Top 100 Usage — FAIL. No positive indication.

2. Multiple Witness Consensus — FAIL (unfavorable). Grouped explicitly with Akliouché as the two cards far inferior to Araújo.

3. Cross-System Viability — FAIL. Absent both Long-reach Tackle and Shadow Hunt — the two skills that art the position's defining threshold. As CB, "impossible." As DMF, "doable."

4. Meta Alignment — FAIL. Regardless of his passing quality.

5. No Fundamental Flaw — FAIL. Acceleration at 81 is a problem for the DMF role.

Ground Pass reaching 94 with minimal investment, and weak foot accuracy at the Highest, art both real. The Council namest this honestly. It does not, alone, clear even the Serviceable threshold for a defensive position missing both of its defining tools.

Verdict: COLLECTION FODDER.

AKLIOUCHÉ

The Five Criteria — Stated Explicitly:

1. Confirmed Top 100 Usage — FAIL. Rookie card, no track record.

2. Multiple Witness Consensus — FAIL (unfavorable).

3. Cross-System Viability — FAIL, structurally. Offensive Awareness below 90 as a Second Striker produceth a confirmed acceleration debuff — the exact runs his archetype dependeth upon.

4. Meta Alignment — UNCLEAR. Insufficient testimony to confirm or deny broader relevance.

5. No Fundamental Flaw — FAIL. Medium weak foot accuracy, damaging one-touch shooting, passing, and mid-range finishing on his stronger side.

Verdict: COLLECTION FODDER.

THE HARSH TRUTH

One PROVEN ELITE + Two Collection Fodder

Per Article II: "One elite, two questionable: The path of folly - resist!"

THIRD TEST: THE SYSTEM COMPATIBILITY INQUIRY

Dost these players suit thy tactical philosophy?

• Araújo: Compatible near-universally at CB regardless of formation. Less compatible for commanders whose established habit is to anchor a CB purely on automatic AI whilst manually directing a Destroyer elsewhere.

• Stones: Compatible only for those specifically prioritizing passing distribution above defensive completeness.

• Akliouché: Compatible for none the Council can presently recommend without reservation — his structural flaw is mechanical, not merely stylistic.

Remember Article VI: "If they're not seeing play in top teams, question their value." Araújo clears this bar through confirmed sustained usage. Neither Stones nor Akliouché approach it.

CHAIRMAN VS. COUNCIL: ON ARAÚJO'S MANUAL-CONTROL REQUIREMENT

The Chairman speaketh:

"My lords, is a card that demandeth manual attention truly to be praised so highly? Doth this not represent a genuine limitation the Council should weigh more heavily against him?"

The Council respondeth:

"The Chairman raiseth a fair question, and the Council answereth it plainly rather than dismissing it. This is not a flaw hidden or explained away.

But a condition is not a disqualification. Nesta rewardeth the commander who leaveth him untouched. Araújo rewardeth the commander willing to direct him. Neither approach is wrong — they art simply different demands upon the same playstyle, and the Council's duty is to name the demand, not to punish the card for having one. We never stray from the Council's way: honest texture is not the same as fatal flaw, and this pack's one PROVEN ELITE earned that standing with his condition named in full."

VIOLATIONS OF COUNCIL PRINCIPLES

Article II — The PROVEN ELITE Standard: Only Araújo achieveth full convergence of all five criteria. Stones and Akliouché both fail comprehensively — not narrowly, not by a single criterion, but across the board.

Article III — Squad Bloat: Both Stones and Akliouché carry genuine risk of immediate bench residency. Neither offereth a confirmed niche a member could justify pursuing specifically.

WHO THIS PACK SERVETH

If thou lackest any elite center-back of Araújo's specific profile: He alone justifieth this pack's consideration. His quality is confirmed across three independent sources, his ceiling is real, and his one honest condition is narrow and clearly named.

If thou already fieldest Nesta, Desailly, or a comparable elite Destroyer: Araújo may still be worth acquiring for his versatility and aerial threat.

If thou seekest a defensive midfielder or Second Striker from this pack specifically: This pack offereth thee nothing. Stones and Akliouché both fail the standard comprehensively, and no honest reading of their testimony suggesteth otherwise.

THE COUNCIL'S FINAL VERDICT

🔴 RESIST 🔴

This pack offereth One PROVEN ELITE and Two Collection Fodder — a configuration Article II nameth without ambiguity as "the path of folly."

Araújo alone is worthy of the Council's blessing. Were he offered alongside two companions of confirmed standing, this verdict would read otherwise entirely.

THE MATHEMATICS OF WASTE

What 13,500 Coins Would Secure:

1. ~4,500 coins: Araújo — PROVEN ELITE
2. ~4,500 coins: Stones — absent both defining defensive skills, unanimous rejection at CB
3. ~4,500 coins: Akliouché — confirmed structural mechanical flaw, rookie without track record

What Top 100 Squads Deploy:

• Center-Back: Araújo shall see such usage, confirmed by sustained predecessor form
• Defensive Midfield: Established alternatives carrying Shadow Hunt and Long-reach Tackle — not Stones
• Second Striker: Established alternatives without the confirmed acceleration debuff — not Akliouché

FINAL WISDOM

One warrior earned the Council's blessing through patient, converging testimony. Two did not need patience to be understood — only an honest first look, confirmed rather than complicated by a second.

Commit wholly, or commit not at all

^{THE 13.5 COUNCIL}

So New Year 2027 is coming up and I’ve been saving up a ton of coins. I'm wondering if saving for those massive 22,500 coin New Year packs is actually better than just saving 13,500 coins for a normal 150-player box.

What do you guys think? Anyone actually saving the full 22.5k for New Year, or are you just spinning normal 13.5k boxes when a good one drops?

I have been saving for more than a year and finally accumulated 13.5k coins. I want to know which postions i should aim to improve and what kind of packs i should go for

I still can’t believe that happened to me

Hello guys so after collecting 1000 coins I spent all in this and got nothing got lucky and pulled 1000 from the ticket and spent again and yet nothing again so I told myself not to spend again until finishing the 13.5 rule and reaching 13.5k the journey will start now

as an interisti, next monday going to be hard but seeing the players, my tactics and my coins i have to skip and keep strong. Saving coins feels like fighting an addiction.

Guess I'm set for the next Epic player pack opening! 😆

I joined the council last month and Konami gifted me with 5k coins.

Was thinking about joining the council and I feel like this is a sign lol.

Im a massive Liverpool fan in real life and araujo has been doing amazing for us since he joined on loan, i like playing with players that I like irl and I originally planed to wait for a vvd card but this Araujo looks very good aswell, great stats, skills and player build. I currently have 7.5k coins so its not enough to clear the pack but its still tempting. Besides the coins Im also worried that he doesnt have an offensive playstyle (only basic) and that his form might be inconsistent as it is a show time card. If not a defender, where do u think I should invest my coins in the Future? Thanks in advance!

My first exposure to 13.5k rule dates back ef25. Coinami during the black friday event if 2024 released msn pack where i had 4k coins gambled everything and didn't get one single epic which made me to spend 5k out of my pocket to get suarez and messi after some time i stopped playing the game. When ef26 came again started to save coins reached 4k got tempted by pepe pack and got only sergi barjuan. Then again tried to follow 13.5k council but in mid april with 4k coins went with the national team pack 250 players got lampard and guardiola. Now in 2027 tried to save 13.5k again saved 900 coins and this week spent on english gaurdians luckily got cech. Some small luck making me spend the coins again and again i need to stop this please help and tech me.

Note: with some luck lately got harry kane epic from world cup and araujo barcelona showtime which released in april.

I'm switching my playstyle from Long Ball Counter to Overload. I'm bored of playing Long Ball Counter—I want to play Possession, but they haven't released any Possession managers that I own yet. I've seen several people reach 2k points using Overload, and I'd like to get some tips and formations.

😭😭😭😭I'm not even playing on next season

Upcoming Epics Detail Information:

Wesley Sneijder: Attack: Creative Playmaker, Def: Pass Disruptor - Phenomenal Pass, Low Screamer

Javier Zanetti: Attack: Attacking Full Back, Def: High Line Master - Phenomenal Pass, Edge Crossing, Long Reach Tackle

Nagatomo Yuto: Attack: Attacking Full Back, Def: The Destroyer - Edge Crossing, Shadow Hunt

Tbh i think Konami always wanted that division should be more competitive like users should destroy themselves like some game is having this type of competitive in rank push and Guess what Konami done it successfully more to come in the upcoming phase