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David Bytheway is one of the best FIFA gamers in the world, having reached the FIFA Interactive World Cup (FIWC) Grand Final in 2014. He was signed by Bundesliga club Wolfsburg in February, and now represents the team at official tournaments and during online streams.Bytheway got an early look at FIFA 17, which is released in the UK on Thursday. He takes us through what to expect... David Bytheway reached the FIWC Grand Final in 2014 Watch the Ryder Cup on NOW TV Get a NOW TV Week Pass for ￡10.99. No contract. Whats new?FIFA 17 has a revamped engine called Frostbite and as youd expect, the graphics displayed are by far the best yet - but has the gameplay also improved? The simple answer is yes. EA have written a completely new set-piece system that adds another layer to the skill gap. It allows you to select the area in which you want the ball to swing into, providing a greater lever of control. You can also select a player and move them as you wish; really giving yourself an extra advantage at free-kicks and corners.After you select the delivery, you position your player wherever you want; either in the balls flight path or in an area to run into. You then press the cross button and in comes the ball. Its an interesting new wrinkle and it works well. Eden Hazard in action on the new game EA didnt have to do any of this, the old set-piece system was fine, so it was definitely a risk but in my opinion, but its one thats paid off!They have also added another tweak called the threaded through ball. Its easy enough to do, just use the RB/R1 button and you see the difference immediately. Its a great addition and one that makes counter-attacks absolutely lethal.As always, EA have added new skills too. In competitive play, fancy skills are usually useless as you just dont get the time on the ball to execute the move. But they are nice on the eye and if you manage to put together a combination you will have your opponent tearing their hair out. There is a new set-piece engine this year PassingThe passing on FIFA 16 was so unpredictable it was infuriating, but thankfully on 17 its much better.You can play some lovely one-touch passes and really move up the pitch quickly and through balls have also improved. Sometimes your player still plays the pass on the wrong side of the defender but its nowhere near as often as it was on last years game. Old Trafford is once again in the new game ShootingEach year this changes. The main issue is one type of shooting is always so much more effective than the others. For obvious reasons the developers then correct it on the following edition, but unwittingly theyll make another shooting method too effective. See lobs or curling shots in previous games.Scoring from distance and shooting across the goalkeeper is the technique to use this year but I really do credit the new shooting logic - it couldnt be more realistic.For me, the only thing missing in the past was the ability to drive low shots across the keeper. You see these goals a lot in real life but it was next to impossible to do. The developers noticed this and it is extremely effective now. Good news.Which is the best team to play with?This might be a surprise to some, but Manchester United are great and the reason is simple. Zlatan Ibrahimovic.Crossing is a genuine go-to method of scoring now, compared to FIFA 16, when it was about as useful as a chocolate teapot. So, as Ibrahimovic wins the vast majority of his aerial battles, he has proved the difference in quite a lot of my matches. Jose Mourinhos Man Utd make the most of Zlatan Ibrahimovic Real Madrid are always in the conversation because they have players like Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo, who demonstrate the perfect balance of speed, height, strength and shooting ability.Real Madrid can play any style you want and the players will complement whichever method you choose. They have the pace to counter, the technique to keep the ball, the height and strength to win headers and so much more.Which is the best formation to use?Most players switch throughout the year for various reasons, whether its a change of styles or simply a formation stops working. So far, the formations that stand out for team balance are:4-1-2-1-2, diamondWithout doubt the best formation last season. The two strikers and central attacking midfielder really allowed for fast attacking football and this year it is still an extremely effective set-up. Its well balanced and floods the centre, making it difficult for your opponent to find space. Which formation will you use? 4-2-3-1An old favourite and one you used to see in around 90 per cent of competitive matches. It was the perfect formation until the fast-paced nature of FIFA 16 made it an impractical choice. So far, it seems to have regained its balance and is once again that frustrating, hard-to-break-down set-up it once was.Who are the best players?People are always surprised when Lionel Messi gets overlooked. On rating, he is still one of the best on the game, second best in fact. But when it comes down to actually using him, he struggles to make the top five. Is Neymar more influential on FIFA 17 than Lionel Messi? Ronaldo will always be the perfect player because he is such a complete athlete. He has it all; five-star skills, aerial ability, speed, shooting, weaker foot. He is just about the complete package.If Messi had the five-star skill rating he would make the top five without a doubt, but hes missing that and is physically weak on the ball. Ultimately, Neymar is Barcelonas more logical choice as he gives you greater options when taking on defenders. Cristiano Ronaldo is just about the complete player to use on FIFA 17 Ibrahimovic, as mentioned previously, is a force to be reckoned with. He wasnt used a lot on FIFA 16 because crossing was difficult, but with that changing, he is a true asset.Of course, he doesnt have a lot of pace, but if you can hold the ball on the wings and wait for the delivery, Zlatan will more than make up for it.Is it the best yet?Its never smart to make predictions too early, but the signs are very good. The game has taken a big step in the right direction and you can really control matches now.FIFA 16 often made possession strategies difficult because the ball bounced around between players too much. For me, it was the biggest problem last year.But now that looks to be solved, it opens up the game to those fans who like to play the famous tiki-taka.Watch every minute of the Ryder Cup, plus Friday Night Football and the Malaysia Grand Prix, on NOW TV for £10.99. No contract. Also See: Premier League grades Premier League fixtures Ronaldos form to blame Football live on Sky Jonathan Lucroy Jersey .ca NHL Power Rankings, ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues and Anaheim Ducks. Moving up, from 10 to seven this week, the Pittsburgh Penguins have won seven straight despite a depleted lineup. Pat Valaika Jersey .C. United to a 4-1 victory over short-handed FC Dallas on Saturday night. http://www.rockiesgearproshop.com/Rockies-Todd-Helton-Kids-Jersey/ . Tokarski, a somewhat controversial choice -- with his 10 games of NHL experience and all -- to replace an injured Carey Price in Game Two had a night to remember, turning back a Rangers team that was dominating play from the get-go, outshooting the Canadiens 14-4 in the first period and 37-25 overall. Kyle Freeland Jersey . -- New York Yankees centre fielder Jacoby Ellsbury was sent for an MRI Thursday of his ailing right calf, which was negative. Tyler Anderson Jersey . -- The Oakland Raiders expect to have starting right tackle Tony Pashos back for Sundays game against the Houston Texans.PARIS -- Looking to bounce back from the humiliation of last years wooden spoon, France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has made the risky move of choosing an untried halves pairing for Saturdays opening Six Nations match against England. Announcing his team Thursday, Saint-Andre went for scrumhalf Jules Plisson alongside flyhalf Jean-Marc Doussain. Both are 22 years old, and Plisson makes his international debut while Doussain has played only five times for France. He also picked lock Alexandre Flanquart -- who has won only two international caps -- to play alongside Pascal Pape in the second row. "Jules has a lot of variety in his game, he had to start one day," Saint-Andre said. "Jules is fully focused. Everything will be easier for him if his teammates make an impact going forward, if the forwards win their battles. So its up to our pack to make things easier for our halves pairing, which is young and talented." Saint-Andre will give the kicking duties to Doussain, adding that Flanquarts selection is a strategic one because of his understanding with Pape, his Stade Francais teammate, and his ability to counter England in the lineouts. More surprisingly still, is that Saint-Andre has left out flyhalf Francois Trinh-Duc from his squad, even though Trinh-Duc was arguably Frances best player in the corresponding fixture last year. France looked good for a win at Twickenham last year, leading 10-9 at the interval before being overpowered and losing 23-13 with Trinh-Duc taken off early into the second half. Wesley Fofana and Mathieu Bastareaud give France a powerful midfield in what is expected to be a physical battle at Stade de France. But the deciding factor is once again likely to be who comes out on top in the forwards. "We know from experience that the English have a powerful scrum. We know what to expect. Every time Ive played against them the scrum has always been a big combat zone," said veteran prop Nicolas Mas, who is set to win his 66th cap. "Last year we took them on well in the forwards, and we even thought we could win at Twickenham because we unsettled them so much." Englands young squad is growing in self-belief and experience under Stuart Lancaster and will want to make amends for a 30-3 defeat to Wales last year that cost the title and a Grand Slam. "We had onne day in Cardiff when it didnt go as we would have wanted, but since then the focus has been on us improving," lock Joe Launchbury said.dddddddddddd "Hopefully we showed where we are in the autumn and well continue to do that." While France has injury problems -- inspirational captain Thierry Dusautoir and flyhalf Remi Tales are both out injured, while prolific winger Vincent Clerc is still lacking full fitness after a long-term knee injury -- England has selection problems. Lancaster pleaded with flyhalf Toby Flood to stay home for club and country, but had to axe him from his squad because Flood, with 60 caps has decided to leave English champion Leicester, which he captains, for Toulouse after the season. The uncapped George Ford replaces him in the squad, while Lancaster handed debuts to outside centre Luther Burrell and wing Jack Nowell for Saturdays game. Burrell has impressed throughout the season for Northampton, and starts ahead of Brad Barritt. Nowell has benefited from injuries to Marland Yarde and Christian Wade to seize the right wing spot from the axed Chris Ashton. France is favourite to win the battle of the forwards, however, with a front five that can mix it with the worlds best on their day, and England are braced to withstand an early onslaught in the scrum. "Id say weve removed any lingering doubt over our physicality, but the question will continue to be asked," Launchbury said. "We went to Argentina and played well there. We had three tough autumn matches and I dont think anyone could say we lacked bite in those matches." -- France: Brice Dulin, Yoann Huget, Mathieu Bastareaud, Wesley Fofana, Maxime Medard, Jules Plisson, Jean-Marc Doussain; Louis Picamoles, Bernard Le Roux, Yannick Nyanga, Pascal Pape, Alexandre Flanquart, Nicolas Mas, Benjamin Kayser, Thomas Domingo.Reserves: Dimitri Szarzewksi, Yannick Forestier, Rabah Slimani, Yoann Maestri, Antoine Burban, Damien Chouly, Maxime Machenaud, Gael Fickou. England: Mike Brown, Jack Nowell, Luther Burrell, Billy Twelvetrees, Jonny May, Owen Farrell, Danny Care; Joe Marler, Dylan Hartley, Dan Cole, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Tom Wood, Chris Robshaw (captain), Billy Vunipola.Reserves: Tom Youngs, Mako Vunipola, Henry Thomas, Dave Attwood, Ben Morgan, Lee Dickson, Brad Barritt, Alex Goode. ' ' '