Real Madrid Champs of FIFA 13

The stage was set. Eight of the best teams in the world. One blockbuster event to give FIFA 13 the official send off it deserved.

We saw the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, PSG, Manchester Utd, Juventus, Dortmund and Chelsea battle it out for the Cab Merlot Cup. Sure, this title didn't exactly have the same pedigree as the Champions League, however it would certainly put on a show for fans worldwide, and more importantly give rivals SB and JM one final chance to face off and take bragging rights into a new era with FIFA 14.

And what did we learn from this cup? Well, that Real Madrid and JM are serious contenders. And had a little luck been on their side throughout the year they might have even won a title or two.
Disposing of Cup favourites Bayern Munich in the group stages, and Juventus in style before them, PSG in the semi final, and then taking care of Chelsea with ease in the Final, JM and his team looked every bit the real deal! Bring on FIFA 14.

What else did we learn? We learnt alittle more about the mentality of SB than we knew before. We already knew he is not quite the player he once was and with every new editon of EA Sports FIFA he drops a peg or two, but now we also see his nerves tested. An outburst such as what was witnessed when rival JM and Real Madrid won the title has not been seen by SB before.
Is this a case of one off frustration? Or a new side of SB which we should be prepared to see more of?

On the field, Barca showed fight against a determined Chelsea, but couldn't hold on despite coming back from a 2 goal deficit from game 1 of the tie. Chelsea's front man Eto'o proved the difference over the two legs and Barca were left with only their little tails between their legs as they were knocked out against opponets they were expected the beat.

In a year when neither player was able to lift a significant trophy, this comes as a special victory. Well done JM. We hope SB can find improvement in himself and his team before a new campaign begins.

Today is also a special time for FIFA fans everywhere. We welcome a new edition to the fifa family and prepare for a new and exciting journey.

Good luck to both SB and JM on behalf of all at FPA and we look forward to plenty of action and controversy in the months to come.

Here's how we stand after several years of EA Sports FIFA. 
SB and his special treble still lead over JM who is yet to win a Champions League. Will 2013/2014 be the year?

FIFA 13 in Review - Who is King?

Well as another year of EA Sports FIFA is now behind us, we wait anxiously for the arrival of FIFA 14. But as we wait, and as we do every year in September, we officially review the season that was and make an informed decision, based on statistics, on who was the more dominate player for the 2012/13 year.

And after collating the below data - its quite clear that neither player can claim a victory based on the year that was. In fact - both SB and JM would most definitely label this past 12 months as not only disappointing, but embarassing.

Both big time players in world FIFA managed a total of ZERO trophies in the past 12 months.

Both managed an FA Cup Final appearance. But both managed to lose the FA Cup Final. Woohoo

Best result in any league was JM and his Real Madrid team last season, finishing a very close 2nd to Valencia when play was suspended and Valencia were controversially handed the trophy.

We've said it before and we'll say it again - the game is crying out for a champion! Can someone please step up!

Based on recent Classico performances, JM would apear to be the current better player, but these things have a habit of levelling out. Time will tell.

You decide for yourself from the below digusting statistics. I can't read it anymore - makes me sick.

SB - FIFA 13 in review:

Season 1

Team: Chelsea -
English Premier League (DNF)
FA Cup (Round of 16)
Champions League (Group Stage)

Season 2

Team: Chelsea -
English Premier League (4th)
FA Cup (Runners-Up - Final)
Champions League (Round of 16)

 
Season 3,

Team: Barcelona - 
La Liga (3rd)
Copa Del Rey (QF)
Champions League (QF)



Such a disappointing year for SB



JM - FIFA 13 in review:

Season 1

Team: Manchester United - 
English Premier League (DNF)
FA Cup (Runners-Up - Final)
Champions League (Group Stage)

Season 2

Team: Manchester United - 
English Premier League (5th)
FA Cup (QF)
Champions League (Round of 16)

Season 3,

Team: Real Madrid-
La Liga (2nd)
Copa Del Rey (Runners-Up - Final)
Champions League (QF)

JM would not be happy with his results for the past 12 months - or this photo


  

Now is the Time for SB and JM

A new season always promises so much. Yet for some reason, season after season it has failed to deliver on that promise for our respective star players in this crazy game we like to call EA Sports FIFA.

But now, a new frontier is upon us. New technology dawns and it is finally now that we may see true greatness rise from the depths of failure and disappointment. I am talking about FIFA 14 and how we here at the FPA expect our rival players SB and JM to finally step up and grab a season by the balls!

For SB, its been a terribly dry spell. No one can deny he's done it all. A treble with Barcelona. World Cup victories with numerous nations. He has his name inked on that famous Adidas ball more times than JM and PM put together.

But...this was all in the past. For over 2 FIFA years we have not seen a trophy lifted. For all the talking there has been no delivery. Yeah sure, we have seen a final or two here and there - most famously a Champions League final when his Chelsea went up against AC Milan. We know how that ended.

We need to see something special from this man. Now is the time. Many will argue that his treble was won during a special time for Barcelona. A truly gifted team. At a time when EA Sports FIFA perhaps lacked tactical technology. If he could come close to replicating this again - then there would be no questioning the legacy.

 

A new look SB prepares his Barcelona team for training drill

JM is a different story. A tale of what could have been up until now. A La Liga Championship and Copa Del Rey title his only highlights to this point - and too many finals lost to remember.

You might say its been a difficult time for this aging star. The Treble success of SB was a particulary bleak time in his career. The unlosable Champions League final to Bayern Munich. And then there was the 'Black Friday' events of 2011. When JM led in all competitions and looked certain for Champions League glory (deep into the QF's stage) and an admin/system error saw the complete end of his campaign. Some said it was SB's attempt to sabotage and prevent a possible JM treble. But we will never know the truth.

But now in late 2013, we begin to see a new JM. He seems to have ridden himself of the demons of his past. Gone are the uncontrollable fits of rage and temper which has seen him placed on self imposed bans on so many occasions. Now we see a more controlled and relaxed personality. Perhaps fatherhood has something to do with it. Nonetheless, many are now tipping JM - with this ridiculously talented Real Madrid team to do what he has never been able to do - win everything possible.
Some are calling him the new King of FIFA - but lets put things into perspective. Even though he is clearly now one on one a better player than SB, he needs to win titles to prove his is the best there is.


The new JM (And his team of Assistants) see over Real Madrid training this week

This is the year for history to be made. Who will be the man to step up?

JM and SB are pals outside the playing arena

Real Madrid devastated to lose another title

JM and his Real Madrid team are inconsolable after another loss in a cup final - this team to Valencia in the Copa Del Rey final. The same team coincidentally which  took out this seasons La Liga title.

Despite looking odds on favourite to add to their Kings Cup crown of 2011, Real Madrid suffered another case of Cup blues going down to 2-1 to their unfancied opposition.

"Today I am really angry." JM told reporters
"This is a really big missed opportunity by me and my team. We deserve at least this title this year. I am very disappointed."

None the less, the final marks a rather successful campaign for JM on his return to Spain this season - having outplayed Barcelona all season and drubbing them in this tournament 8 nil over 2 legs.

"I am proud of the achievements - but this is still not enough."
"Next year, with personnel changes - I am confident we will be unstoppable."

Bring on FIFA 14.

JM extremely disappointed with final loss

CLASSIC-CO HUMILIATION! All hail a new King!

Is this the official passing over of the Crown? The King of Fifa dominance crown which SB and his teams of control have held for what seems like as far back as the beginning. But slowly with each passing season, each passing new evolution of this thing we like to call EA Sports Fifa, SB's control has slowly dwindled and withered away like a glass of ice on a hot summers day. 

All the way back to that famous Treble year, even back to the PM vs JM vs SB days - SB dominated. With this fact not open for dispute or discussion - SB and his 'special' Barcelona team clearly were the better player.
Season after season.
But what has he won since?
We have clearly seen a shift. As the game has become more sophisticated and technical, SB has been left with a style of play which is no longer relevant or capable of winning on the big stage.

This could not be more evident than what was witnessed by the world on Friday night. This was the 'Classico' which was billed as the official decider for champion of FIFA 13 between the great rivals SB and JM and their respective teams.

Not only was Barcelona outplayed over 2 legs - they were humiliated and destroyed.
Never has an SB controlled team been as legless as this display. The final result, 2-0 win to Real Madrid in Game 1. And 6-0win by Real Madrid in Game 2. Madrid move on to the Semi Finals of the Copa Del Rey and Barcelona go home to reflect on what has gone wrong.

With the release of FIFA 14 only a matter of weeks away - does JM start the new cycle of FIFA as King. The fact remains - JM and his Real Madrid have been undefeated over Barcelona all season long. And despite not picking up a trophy - Real Madrid clearly dominated all competitions this season over his rival SB's Barcelona.

For SB this new off season needs to be a time to reflect. Look in the mirror and decide where things need to change. In every great players life comes a time when he asks himself - is it that time to hang up the controls? We certainly hope that this is not that time - but perhaps an opportunity for SB to reinvent himself. We look forward to a new version soon.

SB jokes have now gone viral all over the world

Spanish Disappointment Once Again in Champions League

This was meant to be the year of Spanish dominance in the Champions League. Both Real Madrid and Barcelona promised show much - and in the end, delivered so little.

After overcoming Napoli in grand style, Madrid was ousted by the eventual Champions Manchester City, who appeared to have more than just luck on their side - they had pockets full of fucken four leaf clovers because every ball fell in their lap over the two encounters.

"We were certainly up against it in Manchester - they just got every bounce of the ball. We played well - but nothing worked for us." JM said after the losses.

"But we will try again next year - with an improved squad - I am confident we can do better."

Real Madrid's Ronaldo stands dejected after their loss to Manchester City

Perhaps the biggest disappointment award goes to Barcelona. With perhaps one of the easier ties of the draw against Spanish rivals Valencia, they were expected to go through with little resistance. 
However Valencia hadn't read the script. They dominated the 2nd leg of the tie at home to Barcelona to clinch a memorable victory.

"I can't believe whats happening. First we saw what happened in La Liga, now this." SB was left with little to say after the defeat.

"Its so hard to win a Champions League these days." He added before storming off.

A shell shocked Barcelona after their defeat to Valencia

It appears we must wait another season - for another version of FIFA before SB or JM can compete for Champions League glory.

For SB, he must forever cling to the treble win of 2011. With nothing new to celebrate in over 2 years, Who can blame him.

For JM - his dream of a Champions League title will continue until he can put together a Real Madrid team that can finally put to rest the demons of a heartbreaking final loss to Bayern Munich 2 years ago.

Until then my friends.

Black Friday...Worst Night in Fifa History

We didn't think it could get any worse then when an entire season was wiped away with a blink of an eye by a technical error as it did back on a certain Black Friday in 2011.

Well, things just got worse. The curse of Black Friday strikes again.

This is how it happened.  With 3 games still remaining in La Liga,  League leaders Real Madrid lost a crucial match in the lead up to the conclusion of the season which saw them drop to second on the ladder. Barcelona, with a game in hand sat in 3rd position, only one point adrift of Real, and 4 points from new league leaders Valenica.

This is where things get crazy. A Fifa/EA systems error hands Valencia the title - due to the fact they will eventually go through the remaining 3 games undefeated, therefore maintaining top spot and winning the league ahead of rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona.. We use the word eventually because to everyone else invloved this competition was still wide open.

We are not sure at this point can or will this be investigated. However with a new version of FIFA and Sony operating system on its way, we can only assume these errors are not possible in the new era.

The EA Sports office responsible for the farce on Friday night

For Barcelona and especially Real Madrid, this is no doubt a huge opportunity blown to win a La Liga title which seemed within their grasp all season long.

"It all went downhill very quickly on our return from the long holiday break". JM spoke after Friday night's nightmare events.

"It was as if we almost forgot how to win games. I am very disappointed. I cannot even blame EA Sports or Fifa at this point - this is our own disappointment I am feeling.

Barcelona boss SB was left angry and confused.
"I feel like calling EA sports right now and letting them have it." SB spoke immediately after Valencia was handed the title.

"I mean, how can this happen. We still had games to play. Its a farce! I want an investigation"

A sad end to a great season. A bitter taste left in everyone's mouth. Yuk.