The 10 Players You Must Sign On Football Manager 2010

Football Food For Thought / Dan Fitch / 16 November 2009 / 53

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Make Edin Dzeko your top target.

Edin Dzeko is the ace goalscorer of FM10. His height, allied to high ratings for heading, first touch, finishing, passing, technique, jumping and acceleration make him a perfect target man.

Football Manager 2010 is out and ruining relationships across the land. Dan Fitch pinpoints the players you should sign to get to the top.

Football Manager 10 is now available and I have been sending my virtual scouts out to find me the best players to sign. The results are in and my cheque book is poised...

Here are the 10 players you must sign on Football Manager 2010.

10. David Beckham - Midfielder (Right, Centre)
34 years old -LA Galaxy - Start of game value: £475,000

Yes, you read right. Beckham may be getting on, but he still has the ability to play at the top level for at least another couple of seasons and can be picked up for as little as £700,000.

With the ability to play as a central midfielder and wide on the right, Beckham is a great quality squad player at a bargain price. With his corner and free kick taking ability, he will soon be flying up the assists charts and scoring crucial goals.

9. Igor Akinfeev - Goalkeeper
23 years old - CSKA Moscow - Start of game value: £7,250,000

Every great team needs a great goalkeeper and with Casillas and Buffon difficult to prise away, then Russia's Igor Akinfeev is the best you can get.

With high ratings in handling, one on ones, reflexes and positioning, Akinfeev is a brilliant shot stopper who will save your team from defeat on countless occasions.

Unless your keeper at the start of the game is really poor, it may be worth waiting until the second or third season to pick up Akinfeev, as his value tends to decrease in this period.

8. Diego Renan - Defender/Wing Back, Midfielder (Right, Left)
19 years old - Cruzeiro - Start of game value: £3,400,000

If your team is after an attacking full back, then Diego Renan is your man. Crucially Renan can play on both the right and left sides, making him a very handy man to have in your squad.

Like most Brazilian full backs, Renan is very comfortable going forward, possessing good stats for crossing and long shots, along with high marks for acceleration and pace.

As Renan is uncapped it's likely that he might struggle to earn a work permit for British sides, though it should go through after an appeal.

7. Nicolas Otamendi - Defender (Centre)
21 years old - Sao Paolo - Start of game value: £2,300,000

This Argentinean defender can be picked up relatively cheaply and will mature into one of the best centre backs in the game.

Initially his heading is a weakness, but this can be improved with training. Otamendi has high ratings for marking, tackling, positioning, strength, acceleration and pace, so team him up with someone good in the air and watch his value soar.

6. Stevan Jovetic - Attacking Midfielder (Left, Centre), Forward (Centre)
19 years old - Fiorentina - Start of game value: £5,500,000

This young wonderkid will cost a pretty penny, but at just 19 years old you'll be getting an attacking midfielder that can be doing the business for your team, for years to come.

Jovetic is a two-footed player who is at his best when drifting infield from the left and cracking powerful shots with his right. This boy will get you goals.

His dribbling, finishing, first touch, creativity, passing, technique, acceleration and pace are all worthy of a top team and he will only get better as he matures.

5. Miguel Veloso - Defensive Midfielder, Midfielder (Centre)
23 years old - Sporting Lisbon - Start of game value: £4,400,000

Flair players are all well and good, but they can't function without a water carrier to do all their dirty work.

Finding the perfect man for that 'Claude Makelele role' can be tough, but for our money the best you can get is Veloso and what's more, he can play a bit too.

Veloso has all the attributes that you'd expect from a top defensive midfielder, such as passing, tackling, technique, positioning, teamwork and strength, but also possesses a cracking long shot in his arsenal and is a deadly free kick taker.

4. Marek Hamsik - Attacking Midfielder (Centre)
21 years old - Napoli - Start of game value: £5,500,000

Everyone wants a Gerrard or Lampard in their team; a central midfielder whose goal tally is guaranteed to be in double figures each season.

Step forward Marek Hamsik of Napoli. The Slovakian is brilliant at ghosting into the box unmarked. Play him as an attacking box-to-box midfielder and you won't go far wrong.

With great stats for passing, finishing, heading, technique, penalty taking, off the ball, creativity, teamwork, fitness and stamina, Hamsik is the perfect attacking central midfielder.

3. Mario Balotelli - Attacking Midfielder (Right, Left), Striker
18 years old - Inter Milan - Start of game value: £5,750,000

Balotelli is still one of the best players available, though he'll prove more expensive on this version of the game.

If you can raise the funds though, you'll find that it will be worth it. Though most effective as a central striker, Balotelli is also comfortable on as an attacking midfielder on either flank, making him an important addition to any squad.

Balotelli has everything a forward needs, with impressive scores for dribbling, finishing, technique, aggression, acceleration, pace and strength.

2. Yoann Gourcuff - Attacking Midfielder (Right, Centre)
22 years old - Bordeaux - Start of game value: £6,500,000

If you like to play with an attacking midfield playmaker, who operates behind the strikers, then Yoann Gourcuff will exceed your expectations.

Also able to play in the centre and the right hand side of midfield, Gourcuff excels when played in the hole between the opposition midfield and defence, where the space is perfect for his long range shooting.

As well as his ability from long range, Gourcuff has high marks for dribbling, free kicks, first touch, passing, technique, creativity, acceleration and stamina.

1. Edin Dzeko - Forward
23 years old - Wolfsburg - Start of game value: £6,750,000

When all's said and done, it's goals that win you games. Finding someone who can score 30 goals a season is the difference between winning the league, or being an also ran.

Edin Dzeko is the ace goalscorer of FM10. His height, allied to high ratings for heading, first touch, finishing, passing, technique, jumping and acceleration make him a perfect target man.

Wolfsburg will make you sweat to get your man, but it will be worth it.

Most of these players will be appearing in South Africa this summer. Check out all the latest World Cup Odds in our dedicated World Cup section.

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Chris | 24 December 2009

David Beckham is a great shout, Bought him for my Europe bound Reading team in last years edition and i assume his stats wont have changed much.

I usually played him at centre mid mind and you could always rely on him for that killer through ball or free kick.

However his fitness is shocking so don't expect to get 90 minutes out of him more than once a week.

Great buy for a Prem team with a budget
Robbie | 10 January 2010

I would have Sergio Aguero in there he is extreamly quick and can bag you 30 plus goals at the age of 21 only problem might need about 45 mil but defonetly worth it also i recomend kerrison for teams such as sunderland as he can score and will attractintrest from big clubs i sold him after one season for 40 mil to man utd
Greg | 18 January 2010

Wheres Vagner Love?? On Fm09 he would get you 30 plus goals a season and would only cost you about 7 million and he is exactly the same in fm 2010 if not cheaper
Dan | 28 January 2010

Bought dzeko, you should not he works best in a 4-5-1

-eduardo is immense
-douglas costa great young player can be bout for £5 million start of game
- you can "approach to sign" donnovan, who is good and very diverse.
-Arouna Kone is for sale at £1.6m at the start of the game, high wages but good player.

- Amr zaki costs £2 million and is excellent.

- Gennaro Gattuso is excellent..

but for me rooney is the best player in the game, he is just allround excellent.
matt tilstone | 02 February 2010

i play as stoke city and brought artem milevskiy for about £13 million and he's bin a class act winning european golden boot 3 years running. really advise anyone to buy him also oscar cardozo will score at least 25 goals a year.
Ross Dawson | 08 February 2010

mohammed sakho is an excellent buy i got him and juventes made a 65 million pound bid, also there is simon kjaer hes excellent too.
kieran | 15 February 2010

rooneys the best not dzeko
abbas | 15 February 2010

i play as arsenal and i signed pato from a.c.milan for 49.5m and he scored 36 goals in the leauge and 59 all togethor in 1 season
scott marshall | 15 February 2010

A must buy is David Villa, very expensive; around the £60million pound mark but has never failed to not score goals for me. In 3 seasons his been top goal scorer twice with Chelsea and once with Manchester City. In all 3 seasons together his managed nearly 100 goals in all competitions!
MrRossko | 16 February 2010

Agree that Otamendi and a 60mins per game Beckham are great buys. I also stumbled across Angelo Palombo from Sampdoria WHAT A PLAYER! Amazing phyiscal midfielder who has bagged me 7 goals so far in my 2nd season. Yes he was dear. Worth every penny. A striker that seems to be worth his weight in gold for me is Javier Saviola. Calm finisher.
Ben Dover | 18 February 2010

IM THE MIGHTY POTTER AND FLYING HIGH!
ARTEM MILEVSKYI! - SIGN HIM UP AS SOON AS YOU START THE GAME.

EITHER PAY £4M-6M
OR
JUST GET HIM ON LOAN FOR A SEASON AND PAY £2M AND AGREE A FUTURE FEE OF AROUND £5M
manutdrule | 18 February 2010

great list. I would also have a player named marco verratti [from pescara serie c] only 16years old and only a few hundred thousand pounds. After 2-3 years he is world class scoring 16 goals and getting 10 assissts in an injury plagued season. Also higuain is very good as to is luis suarez and ignacio camacho. But the best of the best is that man WAYNE ROONEY!!!!
treaser green | 20 February 2010

salvador cabanas is an amazing buy, i paid 5 mil for him and he scored 43 goals in one season for leicester, also on a free diego tristan and sibierski old players but are great for lower division teams
tomC6611 | 28 February 2010

Bought Rene Adler. German keeper. is an absolute ninja in nets. conceded onle 9 goals in 19 games. 25 million straight bid. better than akinfeev
jamiedee | 04 March 2010

iker munian is a great young player.
shahir | 06 March 2010

buy sergio aguero, he scores 48 goals in 1 season and 68 in total, never fail to score for my team
m | 15 March 2010

jOAO Moutinho From sporting cp only about 5-7 million

Davide de santon would cost more than 25 million so alternative are buying opare, rafael, and Barcelona's ukraine defender who is also good at free kick

Joe mattock is recommended as lb.

Center defence- Leo, David Luiz, Vidic (if you have 30 million) and sakho.

Winger- jovetic, becks is a good buy.

Center mid- vieira, camacho, javi martinez. Vieria only cost 200k , camacho n martinez is about 15 mil each.

Attacker- van nistelrooy, macheda who will turn out to be good striker.

Van nistelrooy will give you about 20+ goals depends on injury and how many games you play him but he is my best goal 2 goal ratio

Goalkepper- sergio assenjo, or rui patricio.

assenjo would be cheaper alternatve than akinfeev n adler who would cost about 20 mill and 25 mill respectively
Ashley Thomas | 17 March 2010

gonzalo huguain is best striker i have come accross
Darren Rennie | 03 April 2010

rafinha is a good right back
joao moutinho
ryder matos young striker
acquafresca

all i can think of just now
Patrice | 05 April 2010

have been at spurs from the beginning, playing a 4-2-2-2 (with wingers) with defoe as a poacher, partnered with either pavlyuchenko, albin or marquinhos and his stats have read (in order):

35 goals 14 assists in 42 games
40 goals 16 assists in 51 games
46 goals 11 assists in 54 games
50 goals 10 assists in 41 games
RobbieG | 05 April 2010

hey. i keep buying wonderkids etc but just cant do the training so they never ger better? can someone tell me how?
Ellis Waugh | 08 April 2010

Premier League title 3 years in a row.
Champions league twice
World club champ twice.
Fa cup twice
league cup once
Community Shield all 3 times.
My team is man utd
GK: Akinfeev (after 2 seasons)
LB: Evra
RB: Santon (after 1 season)
CB: Vidic, Evans
LM: Jovetic (After 1 season)
RM: Valencia
CM: Rodwell, Ramsey (After 2 seasons and both exceptionally cheap, about 20mill for both)
FW: Rooney, Villa (First buy, straight away, 60mil, sell berbatov to valencia for 25 mil)

Ellis
joe de havilland | 20 April 2010

taking over manager queens park rangers anyone any comments on players to get promotion?
samrajya | 14 May 2010

brede hangelband is a great player. try it once. he is loyal too.
Darren | 18 May 2010

pjanic
dzeko
sakho
ontamendi
pique
hamsik
paloschi
lukaku
adler
bale
micah richards
modric
just signed pjanic and hes amazing
and also alex sanchez is startin to really shine bangin the goals in for me in 4th season now on network gets better and better every season never let me down yet
Fangta | 20 May 2010

I agree that Dzeko is an awesome player. My scouts recommended him and I had to pay 48 million (year 3), but in 4,5 games he's scored 7 goals in the league, and as a target man he really makes the team play better.
I have him in Atletico Madrid next to Aguero who scored 21 in 23 games. My midfield is not very productive, but I still manage to score more than Barca and Real.
The Old Lady | 09 June 2010

Otamendi can't be a good signing because in his coach reports he has poor intelligence and his lack of movement means that he is easily picked out by opposition players- his 'off the ball' attribute is 1! Zapata (age 22) is my go-to central defender purchase (marking 19, tackling 18, and he scores a lot of headers from corner kicks).
Dzeko is not useful if you play 4-3-1-2 fast counter-attacking football and need stikers that are pacey dribblers and good crossers. Loaning Iaquinta is one of my biggest steals when I manage teams other than Juventus.
The jury is still out on Veloso. If I can teach him to be good offensively by training him to use killer balls often, then he'll be an asset to my central midfield. The best central midfielder I have purchased is wonderkid Moussa Sissoko.
The only player I whole-heartedly agree with you is Diego Renan, whom my scouts recommended when I needed a DR. He gets forward regularly and gets the ball in the box with crosses.

Thank goodness!
jake ash | 27 June 2010

wendel a young brazillian player is a good buy, he is quite a dear purchase but as he proggresses to his mid twenties become one of the players with the highest callibre on the game, other good buys are pjanic gorcuff sanchez, gignac is a quality striker, first season played 35 scored 27, second season played 40 scored 33.
garry | 30 June 2010

robinho without a doubt best striker on game.... if ure man city play him as a poacher and buy dzeko as wa ever ya like cos hes good enough for any role .... also jermain jones very strong c.m costs around 20 mil in first season.
JUiCE | 01 July 2010

i found that lukaku in 2-3 will out shine dzeko who is the 1st choice target man for most.
some other good 1's
gourcuff
pjanic
saurez
ramsey
wilshere
macheda
pato
bale
adam johnson is phenonamel
just brought him into the england squad
Dan | 14 July 2010

The very best signing ive scouted the internet and my own experiance is very simply:

Sakho DC (Plays for paris st germain)
Marek Hamsik CM
Mario Balotelli ST
vincenzo Fiorillo GK

Brilliant signings and young.
callum marshall | 18 July 2010

best fm10 players

1.andrew driver (hearts)
2.breno-frebie brazilian centre back
3.chris gadi-marseille-ST
4.diego Renan-cruzerio-D/WB/M/LR
5.Ivan Rakatic-schalke 04- AMRC
6.James Rodriguez-AMLC-free
7.javier Arizmendi-Real Zaragoza-AMR/ST
8.Joao Moutinho-Sporting CP
9.Jonjo Shelvey-charlton-MC
10.lacina Traore-CFR CLUJ
11.lauri dalla valle-free ST
12.lee wallace-hearts
13.Marco verrati-AMC
14.marek hamsik-Napoli-AMC
15.mathias jorgensen-FC kobenhavn-DC
16.mehdi abeid-RC lens-AM/FC
17.neymar-santos-AMR/FC
18 nicky featherstone-free
19.nicolas otamendi-velez-DC
20.niklas barkroth-IFK goteborg-CM
21.Per Karlsson-AIK-CB
22.Rivaldo-budyonkor toshkent-AM/ST
23.romelu lukaku-free
24.sandro-Internacional-DM/MC
25.santi cazorla-AMR/MR/AML
26.serge aurier-RC len-RB
27.Sergey krivet-Bate-AMRLC
28.sortis ninis-Panathinaikos-AMC
29.Stevan Jovetic-fiorentina-AMLC-FC
30.luis suarez-Ajax-att-mid/ST
31.Tarmo Kink-Gyori ETO -ST
32.tinga-DM/MC
33.tomas necid-CSKA Moscow
34.toni kroos-AMF
35.Tore reginiussen-tromso-DRC/DM
36.vaclac kadlec-sparta prague
37.welliton-spartak moscow -ST
38.yoann Gourcuff-girondins bourdeux
39.zoran tosic-man utd-AML
40.Edin Dzeko-wolfzburg-ST
41.marco ballotelli-inter milan-ST
42.miguel veleso-DM-MC-sporting cp
43.David Beckham-La galaxy-ML
44.sergio aguero-athletico madrid-ST
45.vagner love-CSKA moscow-ST
46.Artem milevskiy-ST
47.mohammed sakho-PSG
48.simon kjaer-palmero-DRC
49.alexandre pato-ac milan-ST
50.javier saviola-r.madrid
51.salvador cabanas-america(mex)
52.davide de santon
53.joe mattock-leciester city
54.patrick veira-D/CM-INter
55.ryder matos
56.marquinhos-internationcal
57.jack rodwell-everton
58.arron ramsey-arsenal
59.berde hangelband
60.gareth bale-spurs
61.luka modric-spurs
62.robinho-manchester city
63.jack wilshere-arsenal
64.adam johnson-middlesborough
65.vincenzo fiorillo-GK
66.Ruud van Nistelrooy-R.madrid
67.florent sinnama pongolle-OM
68.David villa-valencia
69.David silva-valencia
70.David Suazo-Inter milan
Lukeey_boy@hotmail.co.uk | 02 August 2010

Hi guys, I`ve been playing the manager games since the early 90`s and so after years of experience i can confirm the best players (that people are able to obtain). This list is excluding the unrealistic targets e.g. torres, villa, rooney etc etc etc!

ALL realistic targets.

1. Edin Dzeko
2. Yoann Gourcuff
3. Stevan Jovetic
4. Mirco Vucinic
5. Naldo
6. Thiago Silva
7. Diego Renan
8. Angelo Palombo

Absolute silly good wonderkids:

1. Munain
2. Lukaku
3. Balotelli
ggagaa | 06 August 2010

BUY LAVEZZI
pav | 15 August 2010

EVERY1 SIGN CASSANO......HE IS BY FAR BEST PLAYER ON THE GAME AND VERSITILE
Alex Hall | 21 August 2010

lukaku is the best player on the game when i was the manager at man city i signed for around 4.5 mill then sold him to real madrid for 94 million plus ronaldo within my 4th season
also if you can get sakho i think thats how you spell it he is the best defender on the game !
Said | 30 August 2010

Neven Subotic in 2010 €9.5 million
Eden Hazard in 2010 11 million
Moussa Sissoko in 2010 12 million
Sofiane Feghouli in 2010 10 million
Eduardo Salvio around 3.5 million up to 5M
Nicolas Otamendi 2.5<>4.5 million
Diego Renan 2010 7 million

Sell 3 or 4 of your old top players and replace them by these guys, you will see
sam | 09 September 2010

Dnt knw why van der vaart isn't here.got him frm real for 8mil in first seson.scores freekicks lik anytn.also buy simunek,frm wolfsburg.quality CB
daniel | 14 September 2010

Arouna Kone is fantastic, signed him for Villa for about 2 million and he got 35 goals in all competitions in his first season. Helping me win the Europa league and the FA cup and finish 4th. BUY HIM UP.
TT | 16 October 2010

My team

Sunderland FC

Igor Akinfeev(GK)
Sergio Ramos (DR)
Dodo (DL)
Breno (DC)
Daniel Agger (DC)
Angel Di Maria (AML)
Nani (MR)
Pjanic (AMC)
Oezil (AMC)
Macheda (FC)
Sergio Ageuro (FC)
indy | 23 January 2011

Chiellini.

Mark this name down. The best central defender in FM10. Will cost you though, but its worth it.
Christoffer Hansson | 27 January 2011

I didn't have him in my game so i made him myself, but u are sopposed to be able to find him in malaga. Juanmi aka Juan Miguel Lopez(something like that) a forward who is tauted as the next torres or villa. Cheers ;)
curran | 09 February 2011

wher's buenotte he's the best player ever, cost about 4.5 million max. take's along time to settle in but he's so good he starts for me for man city and gets 7.5 minimum every match. must buy:)
Anonymous | 07 April 2011

rafael da silva is a genious he can play all over the park bought him with qpr for 9 mil first season top assists for six seasons in a row five of which in premier division finally sold him to arsenal for 70 mil
jimmy | 14 April 2011

top 3..tevez - man city
.richards - mancity
3 dzeko
Anonymous | 21 May 2011

georginio wijnaldum is a great buy for 9.5mil i played him centre mid with giggs and he got 41 assits, 8 goals great buy and only 19.

i would also reccomend lille's eden hazard who cost twice as much but just as good
Anonymous | 09 June 2011

van der vaart although he's cheap but really inconsistent. scored goal of the month in a game and only get 4.5 the next match.
Anonymous | 18 June 2011

GK: Ochoa, Neuer
Best Defenders: Dalton, Howedes, Dodo, Rafinha
Mids: Hazard, Di Maria, Krivets, Van Der Vaart
Fwds: Cavenaghi, Ronaldo (Brazilian), Adailtion, Milvesky

Best players I've used.
Anonymous | 23 June 2011

noticed all the names are big names - all of them no brainer signings.

Signed Daniel Huntington for 1K for my Worchester team and he has not scored less than 25 goals when I promoted from Blue Square South to the Championship in 5 years.

Heard of him? I guess not. Everyone is out for the big names.
Dalz | 26 July 2011

Preston North End - 4 years in

Gk - Areola
Rb - Stuart Cox
Cb - Situ
Cb - Huston
Lb - Dodo
Cm - Dzagoev
Cm - Verrati
Cm - Ozil
Acm - Hazard (Unbelievable)
Fc - Neymar
Fc - Aguero

Subs - Consigli, Marcano, Bale, Wijnaldum, Defour, Bojan, Maicon

Winning Everything - World Beaters.... haha!!
Sukeerth Reddy | 27 July 2011

There are lots of good players out there..but 4 players who amazingly stand out are:
Akinfeev(GK)-his value exceeded 30m pounds more than casillas in 2016
Hamsik(Center midfield)- 33m pounds in 2016
Edin Dzeko(ST)-37m pounds in 2016.
Dzeko's got me 217 goals in 242 matches for chelsea.He is a monster as a target man.
Even Torres is gud..I took him at Liverpool in 2012-12 season he scored 84 goals in 47 matches.but he is'nt very consistent.

Dzeko is the best of the lot..his heading,jumping,off the ball are simply superb...even if he does'nt score goals..he gets a rating of atleast 7.5 in every match.this is what seperates him and torres.
FM player | 25 August 2011

I had Dzagoev and Milevskiy in my team.
Dzagoev was very good, Milevskiy much better. He scored about 70-75 goals in 45-50 matches. I was Ajax Amsterdam. I won much prices with him as stiker. Champions Leaque, World Cup for Clubteams, Competition 4 years after each other. Only the first year I didn't won the CL en world Cup. My fifth year I was coach at Barcelona and bought Milevskiy again. He was very succesfull @ barca too.
tredge | 25 February 2012

toni kroos world player of the year, midfielder of the year and european player of the year 7 times in a row