FIFA 14 | Good teams for career mode – SD Ponferradina


Introduction: How do these articles work?

Each Sunday I examine a different team in detail and look at why they’re a good team for FIFA 14’s career mode. The teams are broken down into the following categories:

  • Tier 1: Teams in tough divisions that can push on to challenge for silverware
  • Tier 2: Teams that will have to fight for survival in a challenging division
  • Tier 3: Teams that start in a lower division but can hope to get promoted and work their way up higher leagues
  • Tier 4: Teams that start right at the bottom of the pile, with few funds or high potential players

They don’t have much, but that’s all part of the charm – a career with Spain’s SD Ponferradina is certainly never dull.

SD Ponferradina

SD Ponferradina (Tier 4)

Contents

  1. Why choose SD Ponferradina?
  2. Lineups
    1. Strongest starting lineup
    2. Highest potential lineup
  3. Recommended purchases part 1: loans
  4. Recommended purchases part 2: free transfers
  5. Suggested sales
  6. Future considerations
    1. Renew contracts

Starting transfer budget: £190,000
Starting wage budget: £3,000
Default formation: 4-2-3-1
Board expectations: Fight for promotion, reach cup round of 32
Key player: Yuri
Best young prospect: Yuri

Why choose SD Ponferradina?

I seem to have a bit of a knack of choosing teams with ridiculously over-expectant boards, and so it has proved with this week’s selection. SD Ponferradina are one of the poorest teams in Spain’s Liga Adelante, and with just two players with potential 70 or higher (the second lowest in the league), the future doesn’t exactly look bright. Still, that hasn’t dissuaded the board, who cheerfully inform you that they expect you to fight for promotion. Righto.

I’d be lying if I said they had some great players or high potential gems, because they don’t really. With most teams like this you’re expected to avoid relegation, but you’ll have to play out of your skin in order to keep your job here. But that’s exactly it – because there’s so much to do with so few resources, this is a career that will test your playing ability and your negotiating skills. It’ll keep you hooked because you just can’t take anything for granted. Sure, I could have picked Real Jaén FC, who have even less money and fewer “high” potential players, but they just want you to avoid finishing bottom. Where’s the challenge in that? 😉

SD Ponferradina’s key player is Yuri, and you’ll need him to be firing on all cylinders if you’re to get anywhere near promotion. He’s strong, has a good long shot and decent pace. What could turn out to be his best stat, however, is his positioning, as this will hopefully mean he’ll appear in the right place to bag those all-important goals throughout the season. However, at 30 years old he won’t last much longer before he’ll need replacing. Interestingly, in FIFA 08 he had OVR 66 and potential 65. Good job EA.

As for promising players, the best I could find at SD Ponferradina is, erm, Yuri, with 70 potential. Juande also hits the 70 mark, and could conceivably exceed it, but at 27 years old he will struggle to do that. In short, you’re going to need to bring in young talent if you want to grow in the future.

Strongest starting lineup

So here is SD Ponferradina’s strongest starting lineup, with OVRs in brackets:

SD Ponferradina's best lineup based on OVR

Suggested formation and starting lineup

I’ve switched the formation to 4-4-2 to get more slightly more talented players on the pitch, but really this is up to you seeing as there aren’t any hidden gems in the squad who will grow a ton. Potentials are in brackets.

SD Ponferradina's best lineup based on potential

Recommended purchases part 1: loans

Key signings required: CB, RB, LM, ST (and probably more).

Now, this is a bit difficult given SD Ponferradina’s miserly budget. I know many people would say you should scour the free agents market, but I’ve decided against that. The reason is that free agents usually have inflated wages. To get a player decent enough to break into the team’s starting lineup would require spending at least £3,000 (i.e. the team’s entire wage budget) on one player – and that’s the minimum. Also bear in mind that any free agent will have a maximum potential of 69, so they’re barely worth it beyond one season.

SD Ponferradina need players who can make an instant impact, not players who will take a few seasons to grow. You need to “fight for promotion”, after all. The problem with buying players, however, is that only very low OVR players will be affordable. As we need quality signings, that pretty much rules that out.

So what do we do? Well, there is still one way of bringing in top quality players for very little money, and still have players for the long term. To do that, we need to bring in some players on loan to make an immediate impact, then sign cheap, high quality players (usually from the lower leagues) on free transfers in January. As you may have seen in my recent series on the best free transfers in FIFA 14, you can get some fantastic players for miniscule wages. This loan/free method is a great way to bring in top players now, then get excellent replacements for the next season. As well as that, I want to show that you can still make dramatic improvements to your squad even if you lack serious funds.

First of all, adjust your budget ratio to 32:68 so that you now have £110,720 in transfer funds and £4,524 in wages. Now, without further ado, let’s move on to the first batch of transfers: the loans.

Alberto Masi

Alberto Masi
Club: Terni
Position: CB
OVR: 66
Potential: 79
Age: 20
Cost: £0
Wages: £1,000

I wasn’t really sure where to start with SD Ponferradina’s transfers – there were so many places that needed improvement. However, one obvious place was at centre back. The team’s centre backs are all in their late 20s so won’t be growing much (and will decline soon). If you’re to meet the board’s expectations and keep your job you’re going to need to be tight at the back, so improvement was needed urgently.

I decided to bring in Alberto Masi from Terni in Serie B. He starts with 66 OVR and has 79 potential, so he should grow quickly while you have him. He’s strong, great in the air and has decent pace for a centre back. His tackling stats are also very impressive, so he should instantly shore up your perhaps questionable defence. His wages are only £1,000 so he’s easily affordable.


Enzo Beloso

Enzo Beloso
Club: Newell’s
Position: RB
OVR: 64
Potential: 75
Age: 19
Cost: £0
Wages: £750

While the team’s right backs are worse than their other players, the main two contenders are both 29 and so will be declining in your first season. The third choice, Feijoó, is rated 58 and has 64 potential, so he doesn’t really make the grade. I therefore wanted to bring in someone as a temporary solution, then acquire a long-term alternative on a free transfer in January.

Enzo Beloso of Argentina’s Newell’s was the player I chose to loan in. He’s a pacey player and his tackling stats are among his strongest assets, so he’ll be a valuable line of defence when your team is under attack. His best stat is his 83 stamina, which means he can play game after game and grow quickly. With two declining full backs, that means you won’t need to rely on worsening players as the season wears on.


Timo Werner

Timo Werner
Club: VfB Stuttgart
Position: LM
OVR: 69
Potential: 85
Age: 17
Cost: £0
Wages: £2,000

Technically, SD Ponferradina have enough cover on the wings. They have four players, and although there’s only one dedicated left midfielder, you could move a right mid across and get him to adapt. The problem is that none of these players are particularly special (as I’m sure you had guessed). To “fight for promotion” you have to score goals, and that’s not going to be easy if you have to rely on players who peak at 68 OVR. We need someone exciting to create – and score – the goals you’re going to need.

So, borrowing from VfB Stuttgart (a team I covered in a guide a few weeks ago) we have Timo Werner. He’s lightning fast, can dribble and even finish well. He’s also got a four star weak foot, and with all that he’s covered exactly the sort of ground that SD Ponferradina’s starting wingers don’t. He’s only 17 but he starts out better than any of them, and his 85 potential means he’ll grow comfortably into the 70s before the season’s up. And don’t think he’s out of reach, his £2,000 wages mean even this little club can afford to bring him in on loan.


Héctor Villalba

Héctor Villalba
Club: San Lorenzo
Position: ST
OVR: 72
Potential: 83
Age: 18
Cost: £0
Wages: £750

As I mentioned earlier, Yuri is the team’s best player and also their most promising (depressing for someone aged 30). However, he’ll be declining pretty much from the first whistle, and there’s not an immediate replacement to hand. Diego Sánchez has some decent stats but is some way off Yuri’s level, while Berrocal isn’t going to grow much beyond his current level. We’ll head to the loan market before working on a more long-term solution in January.

But don’t think that means we’re getting a bum deal here. Oh no, quite the opposite – Héctor Villalba of San Lorenzo in Argentina will easily be the team’s best player when he arrives. He’s a speedster with 91 acceleration and 90 sprint speed, and his 83 stamina will see him maintaining that level all game. His 76 dribbling will make light work of defenders, while his powerful shot and four star weak foot will make him lethal even when there’s not much time to react or switch feet. He can finish from close range, pass, cross and volley, so should be useful whatever the situation. And for £750 in wages, he’s an irresistible prospect.

Recommended purchases part 2: free transfers

With that little lot you should stand a fighting chance of getting near the top of the table. However, what about next season? Well, just wait until January then approach the following players and choose the option to “sign on contract expiry”. They’ll then join at the end of the season. Get ready, because we’re going on a (modest) spending spree.

Ricardo Ribeiro

Ricardo Ribeiro
Club: Estoril
Position: GK
OVR: 67
Potential: 74
Age: 23
Cost: £0
Wages: £1,500

Santamaria is adequate enough for now, and I didn’t feel it was necessary to loan in a replacement for the first season. However, you’ll probably want a player to take over in the long term because he is 28 and will decline in a few years’ time. SD Ponferradina’s other keepers aren’t up to scratch, so I wanted to find a replacement who was within the team’s rather limited budget.

My solution was Ricardo Ribeiro of Estoril in Portugal. He’s got the ability to keep goal for the next few years, and if you later decide to get a high potential option then you won’t have lost much at all. He should arrive at your club around 70 OVR, which already will top out your current keepers. Given that goalkeepers can keep growing into their 30s, I wouldn’t be surprised if he made it beyond his potential. Even if he doesn’t, he’ll be a solid shot stopper and you’ll have bagged yourself a great bargain for just £1,500 a week.


Darryl Lachman

Darryl Lachman
Club: PEC Zwolle
Position: CB
OVR: 71
Potential: 75
Age: 23
Cost: £0
Wages: £1,750

With Alberto Masi returning to Terni at the end of the season, we need a new centre back who is going to command the back line and ensure your upwards trajectory isn’t interrupted by costly defensive lapses. Because as I mentioned earlier, central defence is one of the key weak areas at SD Ponferradina.

My selection, Darryl Lachman, is a special player that I singled out for praise in my article on the best free centre backs in FIFA 14. He’s got 89 strength but is very fast for a centre back, with 74 acceleration and 75 sprint speed. His tackling and interceptions are fantastic and his passing is good too, and when he arrives in the second season he will be like a brick wall at the back. His low wages of £1,750 are as expensive as it gets in this section, which shows you how much of a bargain he is.


Pawe? Olkowski

Pawe? Olkowski
Club: Górnik Zabrze
Position: RB
OVR: 67
Potential: 73
Age: 23
Cost: £0
Wages: £1,000

The situation at right back is similar to that at centre back: a good young loanee leaves, and a vacancy must be filled. Luckily, Pawe? Olkowski of Polish club Górnik Zabrze is available for free. He has blistering pace with 88 acceleration and 89 sprint speed, but his 91 stamina will be just as useful as he’ll be able to play match after match. That’ll enable him to cement the right back spot as his own, hastening his development. His 73 strength is also unusual for a speedy full back, so he’ll be able to hold his own whether attacking or defending. For £1,000 in wages, he’s still not the cheapest purchase yet, but he’s definitely one of the most valuable.


Jacobo Mansilla

Jacobo Mansilla
Club: Górnik Zabrze
Position: LM
OVR: 68
Potential: 72
Age: 26
Cost: £0
Wages: £750

Timo Werner leaving will leave a big dent that will be extremely hard to fix with SD Ponferradina’s budget. While Jacobo Mansilla of Argentine club Colón won’t have as much longevity as Werner, he can have a big impact when he arrives. He should come to your club in the mid 70s (perhaps even at his potential), which in the Liga Adelante can have a very big effect. Apart from his excellent speed and stamina, he also specialises in free kicks, so could provide important goals from dead ball situations. You’ll get a few excellent years out of him, and although he’ll have to be replaced sooner than some of my other suggestions, at £750 a week he’s well worth a punt.


Germán Cano

Germán Cano
Club: Indep. Medellín
Position: ST
OVR: 73
Potential: 75
Age: 25
Cost: £0
Wages: £750

My final recommended free transfer is another player I picked out in the recent free transfers series: Germán Cano. Playing at Colombian club Indep. Medellín, he is more than capable of filling Yuri’s shoes. He’s 5’9″ but has fantastic heading and jumping so should easily be able to compete for crosses. His long shots and shot power should be into the 80s when he arrives, while his finishing and dribbling won’t be lagging far behind. He’s a great all-rounder who can fire you towards the top of the league, and at £750 he will be absolutely invaluable.


Those loans leave us with £110,720 in transfer funds and £24 in wages or, if it’s all moved into wages, £2,153. The January free transfers cost £5,750 in total wages, so if you want to do all of them you’ll have to offload a couple of players.

Suggested sales

Óscar Ramírez

Selling Óscar Ramírez could more than double your budget

SD Ponferradina have quite a small squad, but there are still a few players you could sell to make some extra cash. The good thing is that selling pretty much anyone is going to have a noticeable effect on your budget – after all, it’s not hard to improve on £190,000.

The first player I’d sell would be Óscar Ramírez. SD Ponferradina have three right backs already, and bringing in Beloso adds to that number. It’s not really worth selling Feijoó and Carpio is decent enough to keep, but Ramírez could net you around £275,000. You’ve more than doubled your budget with that one sale. Easy! Right?

There’s a similar situation with the centre backs. The team start with four, and bringing in Masi and later Lachman means you can afford to sell one or two. I’d either ship out Robusté or Alberto Aguilar. Both are rated 64, 28 years old and worth £230,000, although Aguilar could grow a point.

That should add around £500,000 to your coffers, amazing considering the team starts with such a low budget. It just goes to show how much difference money makes at this level – and how there’s such a fine line between being able to afford someone and not.

Future considerations – renew contracts

Seeing as I’ve included the January transfers above, there’s just one section on future considerations tonight. As in my article on Plymouth Argyle, SD Ponferradina have a ton of contracts that need renewing. There are 13 players whose contracts will expire at the end of the first season, as opposed to 11 who won’t.

The problem with renewing that many contracts is there’s a chance a player will turn one down or demand more in wages. With a team with fragile finances like SD Ponferradina, that could be difficult. Still, it’s unavoidable unless you want to lose them for nothing, so it’s a good idea to save some money just in case you need to offer improved terms to a player or two.


There we go, another detailed guide to a good team for career mode. SD Ponferradina are a strong choice if you love starting right at the bottom and working your way up, and especially so if you like a challenge as difficult as the one their board sets you. And hey, it just goes to show that you don’t need riches to be able to bring in good players. If you’ve given them a go or want to share your ideas about them, let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

I’d also like to hear if you have any thoughts about the format of the article itself. Did you find it useful? Conversely, do you think it was missing something that you’d have liked me to include?

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