Best players to buy
Robert Jarni, PSG, D/ML
A useful left-sided utility player who is good at set pieces and can play as a winger, wing-back or plain old left-back.

Da Silva Roberto Carlos, Real Madrid, DL
Expensive, but worth it for set pieces and corners.

Roy Karelse, PSV Eindhoven, SW/DMC
A very useful player who scores goals and can play well in defence or midfield.

Stefan Leitl, Bayern Munich, MC
A solid creative midfielder who you can pick up on the cheap if you're patient.

Patrick Viera, Arsenal, DMC
A fantastic ball winner and consistent high performer who'll give you ten years' excellent service if you can get him.

Cedric Bokoto, AS Monaco, DMC
A consistent ball winner who's not adverse to scoring.

Fernando Martinez, Defensor Sporting, DC
Solid as a rock at the back.

Nuno Gomes, SL Benfica, Striker
A supreme goal-scorer; you should be able to pick him up for a couple of million quid.

Ibrahima Bakayoko, Montpellier HSC, AM/FC
A pricey but valuable utility-attacking player. Not always consistent, but young with masses of potential.

Lionel Christine, Olympique de Marseille, GK
A good, solid keeper.

Ronaldo, Inter, Striker
If you can get him, he won't stop scoring. Pricey, but worth it Ð and you can sell him on after a few seasons.

Florian Maurice, PSG, FC
A goal-scoring genius (as are most of the French forwards).

Ariel Ortega, Valencia CF, FRC
A useful right-winger who can also play up front.

Richard Wright, Ipswich, GK
This chap will play for England soon.

Erik Nevland, FC Kobenhavn, Striker
A quality striker with masses of potential; he should be quite cheap.

Thierry Henry, AS Monaco, FLC
Another quality French import who just can't stop scoring.

Slyvian Legwinski, PSG, MRC
A very competent right-winger who can also play in the centre of the park.

Alan Shearer, Newcastle United, Striker
Expensive, but try and buy him before he goes to Man Utd.

Juan Veron, Sampdoria, AMLC
A more than competent left-sided player who scores his share of goals.

Robert Taylor, Brentford, Striker
An inexpensive target man who's quite capable of scoring 30-plus a season.

Bjorn Heidenstrom, Leyton Orient, D/MC
Another cheap defensive utility player.

Zhiyi Fan, Shanghai, SW/SC
A useful player up front and in defence.

Skills
When buying players always focus on passing and creativity. If every member of your squad can pass and be creative you have more chance of scoring. You'll need ball winners in midfield who can also pass, so look for players with a high tackling rating. Wingers need pace and stamina and the ability to put in crosses, strikers need good shooting and heading ability, while defenders need positioning, heading and tackling. Look for ratings of 15 or above in the required categories and bear in mind that non-EC players won't have their work permits renewed unless they play in 75 per cent of your team's matches.