8. Wilfried Bony
Strong-Man StrikerClub: Vitesse Nation: Ivory Coast Position: Striker Overall FIFA 13 Rating: 78 Not actually the strongest player in the whole of FIFA 12 - that accolade went to Northampton Town icon Adebayo Akinfenwa who shrugged off the apparent restrictions of reality to muscle in at a 97 strength rating - but Wilfried Bony, who plays for Vitesse Arnhem in Holland was the strongest, most realistic talent in the game. At 30 years of age in FIFA 12, and with an overall ability and potential of just 63, Akinfenwa wasn't going to be troubling too many top flight first-teams, but Ivorian striker Bony, whose potential was 80 could have done a job in upwardly mobile Championship and lower top flight teams who sought strength for their front-line. One year on and EA Sports clearly still believe Bony to be a beast, with a massive 93 rating for strength, as well as an increased overall potential of 80, from a starting rating of 78. He's close to the finished article at 23 years of age, and while he is far from a complete player, his key striking abilities have gone up almost across the board.
Worth buying? Strength plays just as big a role in FIFA 13 as it did in the last game, despite the tweaks to the impact engine and dribbling system - as players jostling for the ball is far more quickly resolved than in past games, and strength plays a major part in that system. So in that respect, Bony should still be a big draw for FIFA 13 players - and particularly for those players who look for a more robust approach to attacking play to free up runners. It's a shame his other abilities don't quite match up to his strength, but with solid striking skills, peaking at 79 for Heading Accuracy, 81 for Finishing, and 86 for Shot Power, Bony could be considered something of a battering ram who could also chip in with some goals. If there are any other FIFA 12 star buys that you've rediscovered in FIFA 13, share your observations below. You can read our full
FIFA 13 review here. Thanks to SoFIFA.com and
FIFAFanatic for the stats.