Every year when EA SPORTS™ FIFA 16 is released, one of the first things we do is check the ratings of the Irish players.
Then we complain about who we think is underrated, as is our nature, but with regular updates to the squads and in-form cards on Ultimate Team, they tend to balance out towards the end of the season.
There are, however, a few players every year that slip through the cracks and are criminally underused on FIFA. The following players will be available for a very reasonable amount of Ultimate Team coins, and won't cost you a bomb in career mode, and considering the St. Patrick's Cup is running on Ultimate Team until Monday, then these guys could really help you out.
You'll need 18 Irish players in your squad, so unless you've got loads of coins you're going to need to be frugal.
Goalkeeper - Stephen Henderson - Charlton
A criminally underrated goalkeeper in real life, Stephen Henderson must be wondering what he has to do in order to get an Ireland call-up having been consistently impressive in the Championship over the last two years.
On FIFA, he is a very solid goalkeeper and is a fantastic backup for one of the big teams in a career mode.
Left Back - Robbie Brady - Norwich
We have voiced our concerns with Robbie's overall rating on EA SPORTS FIFA 16, and the recent upgrade has made it a bit more acceptable, but it's still not high enough for someone in contention to be Norwich's player of the season.
Thankfully, his in-game stats are fantastic, so those who look past him due to his overall are missing out.
Centre Back - Marc Wilson - Stoke
Standing at 6'2", and with a seriously respectable amount of pace, Marc Wilson is the best Irish central defender on FIFA this year.
Many opt for O'Shea or Delaney because they are gold players, but the Antrim man out-performs both.
Centre Back - Paul McShane - Reading
Someone who you will no doubt be able to get on the cheap is big Paul, and he's a monster of FIFA. He's not the quickest, but his physical stats make up for it.
He's also a serious beast for the corners, nobody I've used from Ireland comes close to sniffing out chances in the opposition box from set-pieces.
Right Back - Cyrus Christie
Every Irish Ultimate Team should have Seamus Coleman in it, but if you want to be a bit different, and maybe run with an all silver side, then Cyrus Christie is an excellent alternative.
His well-rounded stats are ideal for a FIFA 16 full back.
Left Midfield - James McClean - West Brom
Clearly Derry's James McClean is an unsung hero, because even though he's a Premier League player, he doesn't have a photo-realistic face in the game. He does, however, play like he does in real life.
Good pace, good dribbling, but crucially a cracking 'physical' rating for a winger, James is essential if you're playing wide-men.
Centre Midfield - Eunan O'Kane - Bournemouth
Having signed Eunan O'Kane on career mode, and taking him from League One to the Premier League, I can highly recommend that every lower-league career mode manager snap him up.
A wonderfully well-rounded player in game, he's a great squad option for Ultimate Team too.
Centre Midfield - Harry Arter - Bournemouth
Often overlooked for gold players, Arter is a gem of a silver.
He's got solid all-round stats, but also a far better long shot than the figures suggest. Let them fly.
Right Midfield - Sean Scannell - Huddersfield
He's never been given a shot in the first team, but U21 international Scannell has always been a good shout on video games. His pace is his biggest asset, and he's a great dribbler. A must buy if you can't afford McGeady.
Striker - Connor Sammon - Sheffield United
Seriously.
'The Sammon of College' as he was known during his time at UCD, Connor wouldn't be... Well, anyone's first choice striker, but as an impact sub, he is just one of those players that work on FIFA. Chances fall to him, he gets his head on everything, and he can defend from the front.
Give him a shot.
Striker - David McGoldrick - Ipswich
A great career mode signing, but also useful in FUT as well, McGoldrick can operate as a standard striker or as a CAM thanks to his impressive stats across the board.
A reliable striker who won't break the bank, well worth a try.
So that rounds off our XI, if you've any suggestions for players we missed out on be sure to get in touch and let us know, and check out our other FIFA Ultimate Team St. Patrick's Cup content for a chance to win the best possible Irish squad, and match tickets for Ireland's upcoming friendlies.
