One of my favourite players that i have without needing to buy is Steven Fletcher of Hibernian (who i'm managing at the moment) and so far he's bagged me 12-13 competative goals in about the same number of games although he may have had more if he wasn't injured during the first 3-4 matches of the spl season.
My fave player is Moussa Sissoko, class hardman defensive midfielder, no attitude problem, breaks into french team and becomes a talismanic viera like player by 2013
3rd season, i got kaka villa cr9 messi but my fav has to be palombo, maggio...is better than cr9 in the game. fazio is very good i like steve mandonda more than akinfeev cheaper and better. wilshere turns beasty at 19 i hve man c
I always Zucilini, you can normally pick him up in the first season for around £250k, a couple of seasons later, people are offering £10-£15m for him
Another is Davide Santon, first season I bought him for Wolves for £2m, two seasons in he's worth 4m, but I haven't had any offers as I keep telling managers to back off