In football, sometimes it's not about the big signings or the headline additions. Take Ferguson's United; at its spine are the same core players that have helped the club dominate domestic football for the best part of a decade, and no number of star signings elsewhere in Manchester look likely to change that. EA Sports' FIFA 11 is a similar proposition; there are no grandstand new features to dazzle and no major upheavals to the existing formula, but that doesn't stop it from being the best FIFA yet and by extension perhaps the best football game there's ever been.

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If FIFA 10 realised the potential that was apparent in the series since its reboot at this generation's dawn, then FIFA 11 is more about refinement. What's really impressive about this year's effort is how far and wide that enhancements have reached. If you had any gripes about the brand of football that previous FIFAs laid out then they're likely to be answered here.FIFA 11's most profound tweak is something you won't find being boasted about on the back of the box, but its bearing on the game is beyond measure. Crosses are now more effective, whether that's a punt to the far post or a double-tapped lofted ball to the near one, and they're more often met with spectacular results. It's a continuation of the tweaked crosses that this summer's World Cup game introduced, though here it's taken further; there's more variety in how they're answered, be that an acrobatic volley, an outstretched toe or with a hammer-strong header.It leads to greater variety in attacking options; flanks are now opened up, and scoring takes more than pinging the ball about until it finds someone with a clean line on goal. However, more options certainly don't mean more goals. Finding the back of the net's a more trying task than it's been before, thanks in no small part due to the Pro Passing that's at the heart of FIFA 11.In truth it's something that's been a part of the series before, but in FIFA 11 it's been pushed to the fore and has a significant effect on each game's flow and pace. More emphasis is placed on well-weighted passes, with it now easier than ever to under or overpower the ball, and player positioning is equally important. There's no point trying to lay off a first touch pass to a player you've got your back to, as it'll only ever end up with your arse on the grass.This new focus means players individual attributes are more important than ever, a fact that's highlighted by their newfound prominence in the team selection screens. EA has matched this with greater attention to detail to the star players, be that in the bespoke animations that convey the twinkle-toed runs of Ronaldo, the sturdy grace of Drogba or the flicks and shimmies that make Messi such a wonder to watch.With this in place, the key to success in FIFA 11 is knowing your team and playing to their strengths; if you've got a right back who's in a different league to the rest of the squad then you'd be well advised to use them at every opportunity, and if there's a star player on the other side, the sensible thing to do is mark them out of the game.In combination, all these new elements make for a much more thoughtful game of football where the best players will be thinking two to three moves in advance. It's slower but undoubtedly more authentic, and it's now more probable that some encounters could fizzle out into a midfield tussles. It might initially lack the unwavering action of other football games, but it makes a successful move all the more satisfying when it's pulled off; if you do manage to bag a late minute winner at the end of a closely fought encounter you'll probably scream louder and more ferociously than you ever have done in front of a console.