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In my spare time, I have finally completed one season of Football Manager 2010. For every release, the first game I usually play will be one which I edit with a Data Editor to give me a large transfer budget. Then I would buy players that I reckon would be good in the new release of the game and test them out with a mid-table Premier League team. Hence, some of the players you see in the pictures might be over-valued. After which, I would start a new game and play properly without the aid of any data editors. And usually in my new game, I would purchase players that have served me well in the past. Below are the top 10 buys, that I think given sufficient transfer fund, most clubs should make. My edited game is based on the Premier League side, Sunderland.

Note: Click on images for larger view

1. Guillermo Ochoa (Goalkeeper)

Ochoa started off in the game as a fairly average player. Nothing too spectacular about him and he is probably on par with most of your normal Premier League keepers. I remember when I just purchased him, the fans of Sunderland was pretty unhappy as they felt he was not worth 11 million price tag. However, half way into the season he proved everyone wrong as he improved at such a tremendous pace he quickly became one of the best keeper in the game. Just make sure you have a good goalkeeping coach in order to maximize his true potential. Ochoa average rating for me in the whole of the first season was 7.3 for all games. Put him behind a strong back four and you will probably be getting plenty of cleansheets. He always seems to be able to be in the right place at the right time to make those spectacular saves. I remember there was this game I beat Arsenal 4-2 with Arsenal having twice as much shots on target as me. Needless to say, he kept made tons of spectacular saves for me. A must buy if you are having goalkeeping issues. He will be a reliable solution for many years given his young age.

2. Darijo Srna (Right Back)

Srna is a natural born leader, starting the game out at 20 Influence and the Croatia national team captain. He is a beast at the Right Back position. One of his strongest traits is his crossing which you can see, develops into almost a full 20 after 1 season. I have seen my right winger lay the ball off for him to make a killer cross into the penalty box countless times throughout the whole season. He is also my current Sunderland captain and is a real hardworking team player. He’s relatively pacy and his work rate is immense. His only weak point is his poor marking attribute which at times allow good wingers to dribble past him, but with two good central defenders you should be fine.

3. Gareth Bale (Left Back)

If you look at his attributes, there is nothing too fancy about this young left back, but strangely he is one of the most consistent performers in my Sunderland squad for the first season. Bale has never made a single mistake that has led to a goal, and he always seem to be up field to support the left flank when my team is attacking, yet strangely, I can always count on him to be back in my own half when the other team launches a counter. My guess is, at the tender age of 21, he will develop into a really good left back give a few seasons.

4. Miguel Veloso (Defensive Midfielder)

Veloso is a fairly young DM who always can be relied on to be an effective DM. He is the first player I pick when I am playing a big team with a very creative midfield. Watch him break up play with his tackles and also he is pretty good in the air compared to most midfielders. His other trademark is to rifle powerful shots from outside the penalty box, and he has done that for me on quite a few occasions. Veloso is all about effectiveness, he does not run with the ball much, the moment he receives the ball, he will quickly make a pass. Pretty much what you would expect of your normal DM. Great player. Real Madrid made a 44 million bid for him after the first season.

5. Luka Modric (Winger, AMC)

Perhaps my best buy of all, Modric never fails to entertain the crowd. This guy is an absolute assist machine down the left flank, and the best part is that he is good with both feet, meaning he can also play down the right flank, but I found him to be ruthlessly effective down the left as compared to the right. Having a good right foot also means that Modric can cut in from the left flank and lay a killer through-pass with his right foot into the penalty area. In addition, I have seen on many occasions where Modric will happen to be on the far post to tap in a cross coming from the right flank. If you badly need a winger get Luka Modric. You will not be disappointed.

6. Jack Rodwell (Central Midfielder)

Jack Rodwell starts of the game as a nobody. But for a teenager of 18 years old when the game started, his stats are surprisingly good. My guess was that he was going to be a wonderkid in the game, and right from the start I played him for twenty games in a row in the heart of midfield. And sure enough, after half a season, he was already being one of the more consistent performers in the team. His passing was great and his passes were simple but effective. After one season his stats are the above, far from being a really good midfielder, but my point being that, if you are going to invest in a young player for the future, look no further than Jack Rodwell. In my game he is touted as the next Steven Gerrard.

7. Marek Hamsik (AMC)

Initially, when I bought Hamsik, I thought he was going to be a flop because he produced nothing spectacular for me for the first few games. This was because of his inability to speak English. But I gave him time to settle in, and when he eventually did, he was an endless creative source of energy in the heart of the midfield. His trademark is his runs from the midfield into the penalty box, that many a times, even the commentators will make a remark that his runs are a constant threat to the opposition. He will often make those runs that go unnoticed by defenders, until it is already too late when he is through on goal or having so much space to take a long shot on goal. This can be attributed to the fact that his Off The Ball attribute is pretty high. Hamsik still has many years ahead of him, but at the moment he is already proving to be quite a player.

8. Xabi Prieto (Right Winger)

Prieto is what completes my midfield. He is a constant menace down the right flank as he is a good dribbler of the ball. His crosses into the penalty box are usually of high quality, and he has won many Man-of-the-Match awards throughout the whole season for me. The Sunderland fans absolutely adore him. Besides he has never missed a single penalty for me. A great penalty taker. In addition for some reason, Prieto is pretty good at heading in goals from cross or set-pieces. His Jumping attribute is pretty high for a tricky right winger, something that reminded me of Christiano Ronaldo.

9. Mirel Rãdoi (DC)

Rãdoi is great Centre Defender. His high anticipation allows him to make many key interceptions and also he is largely dominant in the air. Might not be one of the best Centre-backs in the game, but for a price around 10 million+ , it is unlikely you can find someone better than him. A consistent performer.

10. Edin Dzeko (Striker)

Dzeko is one of those players who can create something out of nothing. He is one of the key people in my squad that enable the team to unlock really tight defenses that we have trouble breaking down. He is also very good in the air, making him a potential target man if you play the ball to his head. Will probably go on to be one of the best strikers in the game. Dzeko is pretty good with both his feet, meaning he can shoot from almost any angle. His tall frame of 193cm allows him to score regularly from corner kicks as well.

Leave me a comment! Tell me about your best players and finds!

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