Team Of The Week 13 Predictions | TOTW

With the amount of META players being released in promo’s this year TOTW is somewhat falling behind the curve as shown with this potential side coming on Wednesday, Rudiger, Atal, Courtois and Barella are the best of the bunch but with the former two already having strong cards elsewhere this really is an underwhelming side.
 

 

Goalkeeper

Thibaut Courtois – GK - OVR 89>>90
There were a few big keeper shouts but with Real Madrid playing the Madrid Derby I feel that Courtois edges it, especially with EA already highlighting the match as a showdown SBC. In total the Belgian made six saves to deny Atletico any hope of gaining points, including an impressive late save against Joao Felix. A high-profile game, a high-profile keeper, what more could you ask for

 

Defenders

Angelino – LWB - OVR 83>>85
Nkunku was named MOTM, as is often the case, from Leipzig’s win this weekend but it is highly unlikely that the Frenchman will get yet another special item for a while yet. Instead, I have opted for his teammate in Angelino. The Spaniard was an active threat down the left-hand side, providing two assists during the 4-1 win over Gladbach.

Duje Caleta-Car – CB - OVR 78>>84
Ligue 1 offered very few options this week besides a couple of defenders and thus I would expect both of those to receive the nod. The first is Marseilles Caleta-Car. The Croatian scored their second goal as they managed a 2-0 win away at Strasbourg. Caleta featured in L’equipe’s TOTW as a result with a 7/10

Antonio Rudiger – CB - OVR 83>>85
Comparing Chelsea’s defence, the past month to the rest of the season is like looking at two different sides with the number of goals conceded being skewed massively towards the most recent fixtures. The Blues did manage to scrape the three points against Leeds thanks to a last minute Jorgino penalty, making the score 3-2. Despite the defence being questionable, it is still a Chelsea defender predicted in the side after Rudiger won both Chelsea penalties and claimed MOTM with an 8/10 for doing so. 

Youcef Atal – CB - OVR 76>>84
There is a slight risk with this selection in the sense of Atal’s recent signature signing card and if that is too close for EA it will be Dante in this position instead, with both receiving an 8-match rating. Nice recorded an impressive 2-1 win over a strong Rennes side, with Atal scoring the second and decisive Nice goal while Dante was solid at the back making a total of 12 clearances, 3 blocked shots and 2 tackles.

 

Midfielders

Cristian Pavon – LW - OVR 78>>82
Over to Argentina now of which since being able to receive IF’s has regularly featured in TOTW. Boca Juniors recorded a convincing 8-1 win on Saturday evening with an obvious IF candidate of Pavon occurring, with two goals and two assists from the wing

Youri Tielemans – CDM - OVR 84>>86
Leicester recorded a convincing 4-0 win at home to Newcastle on Sunday who will be hoping the cash injection will turn their fortunes around in January. Both Maddison and Tielemans were among the best performers but with the former claiming a recent inclusion into TOTW it then leaves the door open for Tielemans of whom after his RTTF card flopped will be an extra kick in the teeth for those who invested in the Belgian.

Nico Barella – CM - OVR 84>>87
Barella is a fun player to use this FIFA and although has steadily been decreasing, is still one of the only early cards this year to be worth something. The Italian is now set for a SIF after claiming MOTM, with a 7.5, for providing two assists during Inter Milan’s 4-0 win over Cagliari. Martinez also scored twice but with the Argentine receiving a 7 I feel that Barella is in the better place.

Javier Puado – LW - OVR 78>>84
Although my featured players the past couple of weeks have been incorrect, those I have predicted have still been included in EA’s side with there being no clear trend as to who they will select for the featured boost. This week I have opted for Espanyol’s Puado, who scored twice from the LW during their seven-goal thriller with Levante. Espanyol came out on top as 4-3 winners with Puado being the best performer on their side.

 

Forwards

Dusan Vlahovic – ST - OVR 78>>84
Vlahovic was recently snubbed of a SIF which was presumably for too little of a gap but this time around with a six-week gap there shouldn’t be a problem for his inclusion. The in-demand youngster took his total to 15 for the season, which in just 17 games is impressive to say the least. Gazzetta awarded him an 8/10 which should see him walk into the side this week.

Stefan Jovetic – ST - OVR 77>>81
Not many strikers scored more than once this weekend and thus I would expect a surprise or two. With the majority of Bundesliga options being silver I can see Jovetic being a surprise inclusion. Despite only scoring once the Montenegrin was named MOTM and featured in Kickers TOTW. EA seems to give a heavy preference to the Bundesliga and thus with the limited options, he seems to be one of the stronger shouts for the potential one goal striker inclusion.

 

Substitutes

Nick Pope – GK - OVR 83>>85
There were multiple keepers in the Prem this week with a shout but I feel that Pope edges it over both Ramsdale and De Gea after Sky awarded him with a 9/10 this weekend, despite making the least saves of the three. With several vital saves, Pope ensured that Burnley held West Ham to a 0-0 draw. With Pope being a popular FIFA choice, a potential upgrade will come as a happy surprise to many.

Aissa Mandi – CB - OVR 80>>83
Annoyingly Mandi was not named MOTM which did make this decision more difficult but realistically a defender with a goal, a clean sheet and a goal line clearance in a top five league should be making the side and thus Mandi makes the cut for me. Villarreal ended up beating Vallecano 2-0, putting some much-needed distance between them and the relegation zone. Alternatively, Rulli could feature

Djibril Sow – CM - OVR 77>>81
One of the surprise results this weekend came with Frankfurt recording a 5-2 win over Leverkusen. Ndicka is a popular IF choice with the potential card being strong but I feel that Sow is the more realistic option. The Swiss midfielder dominated the match from the middle of the park and added both a goal and an assist to his name. Kicker went on to give him MOTM with a strong 1.5 match rating.

Farid Boulaya – LW - OVR 76>>81
With only four 8’s being given from L’equipe this week, two of which will be unable to receive an IF, I would expect the two that can to be in as a result. One of those is Boulaya of whom scored once and assisted another a vital 4-1 Metz win against Lorient, lifting them above them into the relegation play-off zone and just 1 point from guaranteed safety.

Michy Batshuayi – ST - OVR 76>>81
Batshuayi often interacts with EA regarding FIFA and if anything, that increases his chances of being involved in TOTW. Not that the Belgian needs much help however after scoring twice and assisting another during Besiktas’s 4-2 win over Kayserispor.

Darwin Nunez – ST - OVR 76>>81
A second hat trick in just a few weeks for Nunez, this time in a non-scandalous match will inevitably result in the Uruguayan picking up his first IF of the year. Rafa Silva also picked up one goal and three assists however I still feel that the outright hat trick will be the selection from EA.

Manolo Gabbiadini – ST - OVR 75>>81
Gabbiadini will be a player to remember for pub quiz knowledge after his second goal was awarded after his substitution thanks to a lengthy VAR consultation. That is not the reasoning behind the selection however, but instead the 8/10 Gazzetta awarded him for his brace during Sampdoria’s 3-1 away win over Genoa.

 

Reserves

Sean Johnson – GK - OVR 73>>79
It’s often the case that EA award teams' hero items upon earning the title in their retrospective league and with the MLS being a playoff system its all the more likely to happen. Portland and NYCFC went down to the wire facing a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw. NYCFC came out on top 4-2 in the shootout with Johnson saving two of the four he faced.

Connor Gallagher – CM - OVR 74>>80
Gallagher has really hit some form this season for Palace and looks to continue to build his profile in the Premier League. The youngster should already have a couple of IF’s but the fact he is a silver option really holds him back. With a limited reserve selection this week however he really does stand a chance of making the side. Gallagher scored twice against Southampton as Palace recorded a 3-1 win.

Matej Pulkrag – ST - OVR 69>>77
There were a couple of strong candidates for TOTW from Sparta Prague this week as they managed a 5-1 win over Bohemians with Hancko, a gold defender with one goal and one assist narrowly missing out. Pulkrag’s hat trick was just too difficult to ignore in the end and is the first of three reserve hat tricks selected this week.

Joe Ironside – ST - OVR 64>>74
I had this one shortlisted for an ignored hat trick with Ironsides treble coming during a midweek fixture but with limited options for the reserve section, Ironside now looks a nailed-on option. Cambridge hammered Cheltenham 5-0 away from home with Ironside’s three playing a big role in that.

Karim Adeyemi – ST - OVR 71>>78
Usually, when a player comes off the bench EA ends up snubbing them but, in this scenario, I simply can’t see that happening. Adeyemi is a highly talked about youngster and it's easy to see why with some of the performances he puts in for Salzburg. Coming off the bench this week with the score at 1-0 the German scored three times and assisted another to help Salzburg on their way to a 5-0 win over Tirol