A New Dawn: FIFA 15 is here

After probably the most turbulent period in the history of the FPA and its teams, we can finally say the chaos is over.

This time last year Fifa 14 was unveiled to much fanfare, and with good cause. A great product, for players, teams and the fans. Then came to most eagerly awaited update of our time - PlayStation 4 was welcomed into our world with open arms. But then came the disappointment. A standoff between the FPA, Fifa and EA sports meant there would be no official League season during FIFA 14.
And while the Batalla De Titans Super League filled the gap, and proved a great success amongst players and fans - it certainly does not compare to the feeling of playing a League season, and certainly not Champions League football.

And so here we are - all agreements in place - we stand united in welcoming back what our hearts have so sorely missed for over 10 months.

But where exactly does that leave our main contenders SB and JM? Where do they stand after a 2014 which brought very contrasting outcomes for our two heroes?
The competition's greatest ever champion SB has had a turbulent time. No doubt these were his darkest days, but has he recovered? Whether he failed to adjust to a new system, whether his team was simply not good enough, or whether his competitor was just far too good - whatever the reason, he seemed a shadow of the player who had only weeks prior to PS4 won the 'Double' - The La Liga and Copa Del Rey crowns.

JM on the hand has grown another leg in the new system. Dominating the Super League's two seasons with ease - but how much can we really read into this.

With FPA's introduction of the official rankings system, here is where we stand.
1   SB  (700 points)
2.  JM  (600 points)

SB can hang his hat on a very good World Cup and a surprise Easter Cup victory which extraordinarily still puts him in front of JM in the rankings. Though clearly it is JM with all the momentum.

So just who will be favourite for the new season - well this writer will need to some action before he makes a decision, its just too close to call.

Welcome back boys!

 

FPA Rankings Update: SB back on top

SB's recent performance with Argentina at the World Cup has returned him to No. 1 spot on FPA's official rankings.

Argentina's runner up display rewards SB with 500 points - giving him a new total of 700.
JM's Brazil failed to finish third therefore leaving Brazil with no points to show. He remains on 600.

Congratulations SB. A return to the top. Great way to silence those critics.

Current FPA Rankings:
1   SB  (700 points)
2.  JM  (600 points)

Argentina heartbreak as Germany wins memorable World Cup

It finished the way it began. A thoroughly exciting tournament from start to finish.

After working their way through the group stages, our big guns Argentina (SB) and Brazil (JM) had to manoeuvre themselves past difficult opposition in both the Round of 16 and then Quarter Finals to take a seat in the Semi Finals respectively.

Brazil somewhat controversially moved past World Champions Spain in the Round of 16 before making light work of Italy in the QF's. While Argentina did it tough against Switzerland, and then also Portugal, winning both games only by a single goal.

The semi finals pitted Brazil against Germany, and it was the Germans who after a titanic struggle for 70 mins or so found a way through Brazil and then finishing it off with a second before full time - knocking the home favourites out the World Cup.

While arch rivals Argentina had it all to do against Holland. Once again it would be just a single goal in extra time which would move the Argies through - Holland desperately unlucky not to find a way through to the final.

The third place play off preceded the final - Brazil still emotionally drained from the semi final defeat never looked quite ready for this encounter. Holland ran away winners and taking 3rd place with honours.

The final played at the Maracana in Rio, brought together Argentina and Germany. The surprise packets against the favourites. And it was the surprise packets who took an early lead and controlled things throughout a frantic first half. It took until mid way through the 2nd period for Germany to find a way in and level the contest at 1 a piece. They then held on through a dramatic extra time period before the dreaded penalty shoot-out loomed.

The exact penalty takers and the order in which they took the kicks will of course be forgotten in time. I actually have already.

This penalty shootout will be remembered like this. Messi steps up. Messi's penalty is saved. Germany win the World Cup.

SB cries.

Argentina disappointment as Germany lift the trophy



 

Germany - World Champions Brazil 2014

Golden Boot: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Golden Ball: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Golden Glove: Manuel Neuer (Germany)

Manuel Neuer of Germany receives the Golden Glove trophy and Lionel Messi of Argentina receives the Golden Ball and Boot during the award ceremony after the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Final match.

 

World Cup 2014 - Who will win it?

World Cup 2014 in Brazil has begun and with so much anticipation also comes pressure.

For SB and JM, 2 men very familiar to pressure - this scenario is perhaps like nothing they have dealt with before.

SB takes charge of Argentina. With his main man Messi in his line up, he knows he has a team that can go all the way. But can he get them to perform and gel. Friendlies pre-tournament showed he had a lot still to do. For the people of Argentina, nothing but bringing the trophy back home will be acceptable.

And playing in their own back yard in Brazil - the expectation is even more intense. To add to the pressure, SB's recent results in club land caused much debate in Argentina whether he was the right man to take charge at this time. However his pedigree and list of achievements won him the job. Now he must perform once more.



"I love pressure" SB talks to media pre game in Brazil

For JM, well he couldn't have a tougher assignment. Taking control of Brazil - at home - with the weight of a nations support - it can only be described as intense. However, the most successful manager in PS4 history was an obvious choice for a country who could not afford to take any chances this summer.

As we kick off - this is so much more than just a rivalry between men - this is a rivalry of nations.
Who will lift the trophy - Argentina or Brazil?

#Daretodreambig

"I feel like we can go all the way" JM talks up his chances with the home nation Brazil

 

Super League Title Stays in Madrid

Well with as little fanfare and attention as possible, Real Madrid managed to secure their second straight Super League title.

It must also be noted that this was achieved with 3 games remaining. In truth, it was actually achieved even earlier, however due to the introduction of the new FPA rankings, Barcelona were still in contention for some points from this disastrous season - so teams were forced to play on until that was also decided.

And so as it stands - Real won a total of 23 games, 1 draw and only 6 losses out of 35 games. Bringing a whopping season total to 75 (with games in hand).

For Barcelona, there is no hiding the fact this season, as impossible as it sounds, was even worse than the season previous. Barca, managed only 13 wins, 9 draws and 12 losses from 35 games - a poor total of 48.

To make matters worse for Barcelona, Real Madrid secured all 500 FPA points on offer - taking JM's total to 600 and making him the new No. 1 player in PS4 Fifa.

Barcelona managed no points, therefore SB has 200 points from his Easter Tournament win - and is now relegated to 2nd spot. Not something he could say he's felt before in FIFA.

The once dominate professional, SB only late last year won the double in Spain with Barcelona, however he has since clearly struggled to adapt to a new system of play.

With a World Cup upon us - one can only hope SB takes the time away from club football as a positive and return to Barcelona again next season with renewed vigour.

For JM, his past 2 seasons could not have gone any better. With recruitment a big focus for Real in the off season - JM is now taking charge of his chosen country and attempt to continue his astonishing run of form and maybe even win the whole damn thing!

JM is flung to the air by his team after winning the Super League for a 2nd time

Title race all but over as Barca hit new low

The Super League title race appears all but over after Barcelona suffered their 4th loss in row, going down to a resilient Monaco side overnight.

For the 2nd consecutive season rivals Real Madrid have run away with the trophy - with their most recent big victories against English giants Manchester City and Chelsea respectively, all but wrapping up the title.

Although Barca have a game in hand, they are currently 18 points adrift the league leaders, and with only 8 games remaining would need a miracle and a complete collapse from JM and his squad to claw back into contention at this point.

Helping the Barcelona cause is the recent injury to Madrid star Ronaldo, with early diagnosis of a knee strain being 3 weeks on the sideline, and with games against Bayern Munich and the Clasico ahead - just how Madrid handle the loss of their main man could prove pivotal in the title race.

It is not completely inconceivable that Real Madrid lose several of these remaining games, which gives Barcelona hope - however it is more of a concern of how exactly Barcelona is going to win any of their remaining fixtures after suffering their worst slump in recent memory.

SB has his reputation on the line now and more importantly the world number 1 ranking at stake.
Remembering the winner of this competition takes home 500 FPA ranking points.
If Barcelona can finish within 6 points of their rivals SB and his team still receive 400 ranking points, and within 12 points they receive 250 for effort - however if they fall more than 12 points behind at completion of the season, as they currently sit, they receive a big fat zero.

A stress out SB struggles for answers against Monaco last night

 

Super League Resumes - Barcelona suffer 3 straight losses

With the re-commencement of the Super League season following the Easter break - Barcelona fans would be hoping that it didn't. Once again we find a team struggling to find momentum despite possessing a player in incredible scoring form as Messi is - a further 3 losses on the trot will do nothing to quieten rumours of a rift between players and manager.

SB is now certainly under pressure to keep his position - 12 points adrift of league leaders Real Madrid, who themselves are guilty of not capitalising on an opportunity to even further widen the gap after 2 draws and a loss.

However, with a little more than half of round 2 remaining, it is looking more and more unlikely Barcelona will claw this lead back.

"It's amazing that for 2 seasons in a row now they have struggled to match it with Real Madrid in this competition format." an FPA official commented today.

"It appears that SB and his team either struggle with this format of competition - or maybe it is with the new PS4 systems. Technically this is the same team that won a double on FIFA 14 (PS3 system) late last year. But they have looked a shadow of themselves since the change."

"But in saying that - I would admit Real Madrid also seem a better side since the old PS3 days - this also plays a part."

Barcelona now have little time to make up for lost points - their next match is MUST WIN you might say!

Messi reacts to his teams recent disappointments

SB arrives back in Barcelona for a press conference in surprisingly high spirts despite claims of a 'rift' at the club

Barcelona wins Easter Tournament

Despite recent form and struggles in the Batalla De Titanes Super League, SB and his Barcelona team brushed aside all recent criticism and produced a gold medal performance to edge out arch rivals Real Madrid to this seasons first Miscellaneous tournament trophy.

In a competition which featured 5 of Europe's best teams, Barcelona (SB), Real Madrid (JM), the hugely disappointing Bayern Munich (PM), PSG (MP) and the surprise packets Liverpool (SP) - it always appeared obvious that the final would consist of the overwhelming favourites - Barca and Real Madrid.

The final went the way of the Catalans this time - a dubious penalty late in the first half the major talking point of a match which probably failed to live up to expectations.

But Barcelona couldn't care less - they win the Easter Tournament and more importantly claim 200 FPA ranking points, while runners up Real Madrid will take home 100.

Messi slots the dubious penalty home for Barca

Ronaldo celebrates a late consolation goal

Barcelona celebrate a special night

Therefore, as things stand at this present time - Barcelona are the current number 1 team after the tournament victory.
However this will most certainly change when play in the Super League resumes - as it is Real Madrid in the box seat to claim a 2nd successive title.

New Super League Season off with a bang!

In what could be the last Batalla De Titanes for now, with a World Cup nearly upon us, and hopefully FIFA 15 (with the return of League seasons) not too far behind, we celebrated with two cracking games of football to start the new campaign.

Current Champions Real Madrid got us started with a solid display against a disappointing Zenit in Madrid.
The BBC ( Bale, Benzema, Cristiano) combination up front again proving to be lethal - with Bale scoring a classic brace while his team mates came ever so close to adding to the Russian sides misery.

Over in Barcelona, SB and his team brushed aside the disappointments of last season and showed they mean business this time around. In what was meant to be an each way bet - Barcelona had it all their own way against what can only be described as a hopeless Arsenal, with Messi scoring 2 on their way to a brilliant 3 nil start to their season.

After the game, SB will very confident in his team's chances this season.
"We want to go undefeated all season." SB said

Its a bold statement from a boss who barely managed to hand on to his job following the most disastrous period of his career.

With such a great start to the season, we can be sure this will be much closer fought competition than the one horse race it turned out to be last time around.

"We want to go undefeated all season." Bold statements from a bold man.


 

FPA Introduces First Ever Rankings System

For years now, through countless editions of FIFA, the PS world has begged the question: just who is the better player - SB or JM.

Currently the only way to celebrate achievement is counting total trophies won, and of course this must and will continue. However The Fifa Players Association has acknowledged a rankings system must now also be introduced for a number of reasons.

• Firstly it provides a way to distinguish just who is achieveing better results on an ongoing basis. In the past unless you won a trophy, you really do not recieve any reward for a good season.
• We can now test head to head finishes and placings on all competitions between SB and JM - as ranking points are accumulated.
• This will prevent blowout seasons where certain players may have thrown away half a season when it became clear they had no chance of winning.
• Players will be deducted points in the League if they finish outside the Top 4. This keeps a season interesting even if a player is out of winning contention. 

While SB currently clearly leads the All-Time Trophy count with a total of 5 Stars across the three competitions we count (2 League Titles, 2 Cup and 1 Champions League). Two of those Stars were won just last season when he won the League and Cup double with Barcelona.
Prior to that it was the famous Treble season also with Barcelona.
In between it could be argued SB has done very little and it was a long, trophy-less era after the Treble.

JM has a very long way to go to catch his great rival on all-time achievements. He trails with only 2 Stars to his name (1 League and 1 Cup title). And although he has come so close on so many occasions, sadly JM has little to show for the hard work.

It could even be argued at times throughout his career he has been the better player - early 2014 for example, but this is an argument for another day.

Now a new Ranking systems will allow us to truly say who is the number 1 PS4 FIFA player on Earth. No disputes. Results will tell the story.

This is how it will work.
Both players will start with a clean slate of zero points from the new Super League season.
The points will carry over every year, through each new season, and through new editions of FIFA.

League:
1st Place: 1000 points
2nd Place: 500
3rd Place: 250
4th Place: 100
Outside 4th position: -250 points (this will not be deducted if player is already on zero)

Cup:
Winner: 1000
Runner Up: 500
Semi Final: 250

Champions League:
Winner: 1000
Runner Up: 500
Semi Final: 250

Batalla De Titans Super League: 
Winner: 500
2nd Place within 6 points: 400
2nd Place within 12 points: 250

World Cup:
Winner: 1000
Runner Up: 500
Third Place: 250

Miscellaneous Tournaments:
Winner: 200
Runner Up: 100

The Golden Awards...

In the aftermath of what was a very successful Batalla De Titanes: Super League season, we can now award the individual and team awards.

Golden Boot  (currently commercially termed "adidas Golden Ball") for best player;

• the Golden Boot - (Top Goal Scorer)

LIONEL MESSI (Barcelona)

Messi collects and kisses his well deserved Golden Boot award.

Messi was oustanding in this Super League, with a total of 27 goals to his name. This included a bunch of hat tricks and man of the match displays. With Barcelona next best being Neymar on 7 goals - it is clear without a doubt Messi carried Barcelona through the back half of the season.

Who knows what could have been if he had been able to find some of those 27 goals in the first half of the season.

Messi's closest rival to the Golden Boot award was of course Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, on 17 goals.
However the biggest difference would be Ronaldo's contribution to the team, having gifted many a goal to his fellow team mates including Benzema (12 goals) and Bale (8 goals). Which is a clear reason why he was given our next award.

• the Golden Ball - (Player of the Season)

CRISTIANO RONALDO (Real Madrid)

Without doubt the best player on the planet this season - Real Madrid's Ronaldo

• the Golden Glove Award (for best goalkeeper)

DIEGO LOPEZ (Real Madird) 

Diego Lopez accepts his award via satelite.
His contribution to the Champion team was crucial to their success and has been acknowledged

• the Most Entertaining Team (award for the team that has entertained the public the most during the League season, as determined by a poll here at the FPA.

BAYERN MUNICH

A somewhat controversial choice - but theres no doubt they were great to watch in this league season



Real Madrid Win Super League

Its finally official, although we have known for quite some time, our winner of the inaugural Batalla De Titanes: Super League is goes to this seasons most consistent player - JM.

Most pundits agreed SB would enter this League season with the favouritism tag sitting safely in his left pocket, but it wasn't long into Round 1 of games when it all began to unravel for SB and his Barcelona men.

Its been a super disappointing season for SB, who will do well just to keep his job for next season, as it wasn't just the number of losses they managed to accumulate over the 1st half of the season in particular - it was the manner in which they occurred.

Although they definitely improved at the back end of the season, when it was clear the League was already won by Real Madrid. However it was the early struggles which most people will remember about this campaign for Barcelona.
It was clear SB had struggled early to adapt to a new system of play, or perhaps a hangover loomed over his players from last seasons double success. Whatever the case, SB refused to take responsibility for the poor forms and dismal performances of his team and for this has surely lost many fans.

On the flip side, our Champion, JM has had a season to remember. His Real Madrid team have stepped up under the new system, even burying a few demons by finally defeating arch nemesis Bayern Munich several rounds ago. And who can forget their biggest achievement this year - the biggest Clasico result in history - the 5 nil embarrassment of Barcelona.

Modric gets a chance to lift the Super League Trophy for Real Madrid

Despite this being a strange kind of year - with no official League or Cup tournament/league fixtures - we have still been treated to some lovely football at times and with the announcement of the return of Super League for another and perhaps final season - we can be assured another brilliant league prior to the World Cup in July.

Can JM and Real Madrid take the prize again - or will SB find a way to return to previous dominance.
We can't wait.

Real Madrid continue to celebrate

SB odds on to lose job

Ex-Barcelona greats have come out in disgust of the current team and boss SB as the team continue to embarass themselves in the biggest one on one competition in history - Batalla De Titanes: Super League.

With bitter rivals JM and Real Madrid now running away with the competition in style, many are now tipping Barcelona to part ways with their long time man in charge, perhaps even before the scheduled end of the Super league season.

"It appears obvious should the league season become out of reach in the coming rounds Barcelona may simply concede the tournament and move the boss out straight away." Club insiders have revealed.

"And rumours inside SB's camp reveal he is also considering a fresh start at former club Juventus or European Champions Bayern Munich after he claimed he finds his Barcelona team terrible this season and feels there is nothing he can do about it."

A very stressed SB knows his time might be up

Whether he can turn the tables on what has been a shambolic start we will wait to see, however there is still 23 rounds remaining which is more than enough time to turn things around and maybe save his job this campaign. He does however remain odds on to surrender his post within the next 10 rounds.

JM and SB after the recent classico - JM obviously the happier of the two bosses

Super League Update: A tale of two cities

One of the most eagerly contested competitions in history is proving all too much for the favourite after just 15 rounds of play.

SB and his Barcelona team have struggled their way through the opening round of fixtures in Super League, managing only an horrific 3 wins from 15 starts.

Despite being clear favorites when competition started in early 2014, it is now beginning to look obvious SB and his Barcelona have not handled the step up in class or playing systems to that of his direct rival JM and Real Madrid.

Real Madrid on the contrary, have taken 10 wins and 2 draws from 15 fixtures, displaying confident attack and defence against the best of the best in world football.

It is a far cry from the Barcelona and Real Madrid teams we saw at the end of last season.
As we now know, Barcelona went on to have a stellar season - winning both the league and cup double. Madrid coming up with doughnuts again. But now, it seems the tables have completely turned.

Football analysts have noted Barcelona's complete lack of dynamics. The team looks flat, the players lack composure in front of goal and defence has been a huge problem - leaking goals all season long.

The telling blow was the Classico. Barcelona could somehow still salvage some shred of dignity should they have managed a decent result against Real Madrid. A chance to perhaps start their claw back with more than half the season still remaining. However, this was certainly not the case. Perhaps it will go down as the darkest day for SB and Barcelona - conceding 5 goals to nil on a night they will choose to forget forever.

Completely outclassed and outplayed - it was a complete shock considering only 1 month earlier these two teams had fought out a penalty shootout to decide the Copa Del Rey.

However as Sony systems have now upgraded, it seems SB has not coped well. Whether he can muster a challenge in this league season we can only hope. Many fear he has already thrown in the towel - after a string of performances former players are calling shameful and not worthy of the wearing of a Barcelona shirt.