FIFA 16 Team of the Week Predictions: Week 6
EA dropped a huge curveball and decided to include 23 players in last week’s TOTW, so I in the end I managed 13 out of, er, 23. So this week will consist of 23 players and if the chaps in Vancouver then decide to change anything else, we’ll go from there!
Your time to shine, kid
And boy did Neymar shine. With Lionel Messi out for the foreseeable future and with Barcelona’s defence in disarray, someone needed to grab the current European champions by the scruff of the neck and carry them through. He could’ve found the back of the net multiple times if it weren’t for Sevilla’s goalkeeper, Sergio Rico, before the international break. However, after the break, Rayo Vallecano would not be so lucky. The Brazilian superstar netted four goals; two of them penalties which he won on his own accord, and in all honesty, he should’ve had two more.
An outstanding performance from the future best player in the world and one some of the best Brazilian dribblers of all time, such as Ronaldinho and the late Mane Garrincha, would’ve been proud of.
And now it’s your time to shine, kid
Not a typo, I promise you. Neymar had his time in the limelight over the weekend, however there was a chance for England’s brightest star to show everyone what he can do in a depleted team. With both Sergio Aguero and David Silva unavailable for the blue half on Manchester going into their game against newly promoted Bournemouth, it was clear that a lot of responsibility was going to fall onto Raheem Sterling’s shoulders.
Bournemouth had injury problems themselves, with summer signings Tyrone Mings and Max Gradel as well as Callum Wilson and captain Tommy Elphich all out. I’m not sure any of them could’ve done much from Raheem Sterling dominating proceedings however; he netted a first half hattrick and linked incredible well with stand-in striker Wilfried Bony all game.
Starting XI
GK: Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover 96) – 5 saves, 1-0 vs FC Cologne
CB: Mamadou Sakho (Liverpool) – Great performance, 0-0 vs Tottenham
CB: Mathieu Bodmer (Nice) – 1 goal, 4-1 vs Stade Rennes
LB: Marcelo (Real Madrid) – 1 goal, 3-0 vs Levante
LM: Georginio Wijnaldum (Newcastle United) – 4 goals, 6-2 vs Norwich
CAM: Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) – 3 goals, 5-1 vs Bournemouth
CM: Miralem Pjanic (Roma) – 1 goal & 1 assist, 3-1 vs Empoli
LW: Neymar (FC Barcelona) – 4 goals & 1 assist, 5-2 vs Rayo Vallecano
RW: Dirk Kuyt (Feyenoord) – 3 goals, 5-2 vs Heerenveen
ST: Wilfried Bony (Manchester City) – 2 goals & 1 assist, 5-1 vs Bournemouth
CF: Max Kruse (VfL Wolfsburg) – 3 goals, 4-2 vs Hoffenheim
Substitutes Bench
GK: Benjamin Lecomte (Lorient) – 8 saves, 1-1 vs Marseille
RB: Oleg Kuzmin (Rubin Kazan) – 2 goals, 3-1 vs FC Ufa
CM: Mahmoud Dahoud (Borussia Monchengladbach) – 1 goal & 1 assist, 5-1 vs Eintracht Frankfurt
CAM: Marco Asensio (Espanyol) – 3 assists, 3-1 vs Real Betis
ST: Alejandro Gagliardi (Nueva Chicago) – 4 goals, 5-0 vs Newell’s Old Boys
ST: Nemanja Nikolic (Legia Warsaw) – 3 goals, 3-0 vs Cracovia Krakow
ST: Omar Al Somah (Al Ahli) – 3 goals, 4-2 vs Al Nassr
Reserves
GK: Jesse Joronen (Stevenage) – 1 goal, 2-1 vs Wycombe Wanderers
LM: Valon Berisha (Red Bull Salzburg) – 2 goals & 1 assist, 8-0 vs Admira Wacker
RW: Bobby Grant (Fleetwood Town) – 2 goals & 1 assist, 4-0 vs Buron Albion
ST: Roman Buess (FC Thun) – 3 goals, 5-1 vs Zurich
ST: Jamie Vardy (Leicester City) – 2 goals, 2-2 vs Southampton
Squad Link (Buess for Botia): http://www.futwiz.com/en/custom-squad/10256
