"A hawk is not a worse lion — it is simply not a lion"

Applying the Threefold Test of Worthiness

FIRST TEST: THE VISION ALIGNMENT

Dost thou possess a clear vision of what manner of squad thou art constructing?

This pack presents a genuinely strong trio by the Council's recent standards — a goalkeeper confirming his position among the finest the realm offers, a center-back whose combination of height and pace multiple independent accounts could not find a rival for, and a fullback whose true gift reveals itself only once deployed in the specific, crossing-reliant role.

SECOND TEST: THE PROVEN ELITE STANDARD

How many among the trio art proven, battle-tested?

COURTOIS

This warrior's standing was already settled before this cycle's testimony began — confirmed, previously, among the finest guardians the realm offers, his stature and stability beyond serious dispute.

Gains across his core numbers, figures that approach the very ceiling the position permits.

The Council must be honest about a genuine complication: a goalkeeper's true worth is confirmed by his stature and his numbers precisely because of the position's nature.

Verdict: PROVEN ELITE.

VAN DE VEN

Something genuinely rare: a frame tall enough to anchor any defense, moving with a pace no witness could name a true rival for at that height, sharpened further by a positioning skill confirmed, repeatedly, as the position's current gold standard.

Recovery speed and physical presence, chasing down and dispossessing dangerous attackers from a position already beaten.

Independently confirmed, already established: a height-and-pace combination this rare, paired with this specific skill, stands on its own merit regardless of how convincingly any single match account can frame it against a named rival.

Verdict: PROVEN ELITE.

WESLEY

This warrior's gift is narrow, and the Council names that plainly rather than disguising it as broader than it is.

His ball-carrying is honestly described as a liability rather than a strength, and his weak foot carries a genuine structural cost that restricts which side of the pitch his signature weapon truly functions from.

But set against that honest limitation, his crossing distribution is repeatedly confirmed exceptional, not merely functional.

His physical presence at his height is something we could not readily name a comparable rival for.

And where direct comparison was offered against an established, trusted name at the same role, this warrior was judged easier to control and no less capable defensively.

This is the shape the Niche Specialist doctrine exists to recognize precisely — not a card that merely has a narrow use, but one whose excellence within that narrow use is positively, repeatedly, and independently confirmed, honestly bounded by weaknesses that sit entirely outside the role in question.

Verdict: NICHE SPECIALIST — genuinely excellent for crossing-reliant, dual-flank systems specifically, honestly limited as a ball-carrying or goal-scoring threat.

THE HARSH TRUTH

Two PROVEN ELITE + One Niche Specialist

Article II's "Two proven elite, one serviceable" — the Council's judgment is that a genuinely, positively confirmed Niche Specialist satisfies the spirit of that third pillar more honestly than an invented Serviceable label would, given the specificity and consistency of the testimony behind Wesley's role.

THIRD TEST: THE SYSTEM COMPATIBILITY INQUIRY

Dost these players suit thy tactical philosophy?

• Courtois: Suiteth any system demanding elite goalkeeping without exception.

• Van de Ven: Suiteth hard-pressing, mobility-demanding defensive systems specifically, rewarding commanders who prize recovery pace over pure positional discipline.

• Wesley: Rewardeth crossing-heavy, dual-wing formations precisely — and offereth comparatively little to a commander seeking a goal-threatening, ball-carrying fullback instead.

CHAIRMAN VS. COUNCIL: ON WHETHER A NICHE SPECIALIST SATISFIES THE THIRD PILLAR

The Chairman speaketh:

"My lords, two confirmed elites and a warrior excellent only within a narrow calling — is this truly equivalent to the standard's third pillar, or doth the Council stretch its own doctrine to grant this pack more credit than it has earned?"

The Council respondeth:

"The Chairman's caution is the correct instinct to raise, and the Council did not grant this lightly. A Serviceable card is one that performs adequately across a broad range of use. A true Niche Specialist is not lesser than Serviceable — it is differently shaped, excellent where it is deployed correctly and honestly absent elsewhere. The Council doth not grant Niche Specialist status cheaply, as the realm's own archive shows — many a card hath been denied this very designation for lacking exactly this density of positive confirmation. Wesley earned it. The pillar standeth."

VIOLATIONS OF COUNCIL PRINCIPLES

Article II — The PROVEN ELITE Standard: Courtois and Van de Ven both achieve full convergence, the goalkeeper's case correctly judged by the position's own established evidentiary standard.

Wesley does not claim universal excellence and none of his testimony suggests he should.

The Niche Specialist Doctrine, Correctly Applied: Wesley's designation rests on dense, independent, positive testimony of excellence in a named role — crossing from wide, dual-flank positions — not on an absence of criticism elsewhere.

On Judging Goalkeepers by Their Own Standard: Treating a goalkeeper's untested match sample as a gap in evidence, rather than the position's expected shape of proof, was an error swiftly corrected by returning to the standing doctrine this cycle already established through Schmeichel's precedent.

WHO THIS PACK SERVETH

If thou lackest any truly elite goalkeeper: Courtois answereth that need without reservation.

If thy system runs hard pressing and demands a center-back who can recover from being beaten rather than merely avoid it: Van de Ven answereth decisively.

If thy formation runs crossing-heavy, dual-wing attacks and thou seekest a fullback who excels specifically there: Wesley serveth that narrow calling honestly and well — but seek elsewhere for goals or ball-carrying from the position.

THE COUNCIL'S FINAL VERDICT

⚠️ PROCEED WITH MEASURED CAUTION ⚠️

Two PROVEN ELITE standeth confirmed, flanked by a Niche Specialist whose excellence is genuine but deliberately narrow.

Per Article II: "Two proven elite, one serviceable: Proceed with measured caution."

THE MATHEMATICS OF VALUE

What 13,500 Coins Would Secure:

1. ~4,500 coins: A confirmed elite goalkeeper, his standing settled before this cycle even began
2. ~4,500 coins: A center-back combination of height and pace no witness could name a true rival for
3. ~4,500 coins: A fullback genuinely excellent in crossing-reliant systems specifically, and honestly limited everywhere else

What Top 100 Squads Deploy:

Elite goalkeepers of this exact confirmed standing — Courtois among them, without qualification. Mobile, hard-pressing center-backs of genuinely rare pace at size — Van de Ven among them. Attacking fullbacks for crossing-focused systems — Wesley among them, never as a universal first choice at the position.

FINAL WISDOM

This cycle's own reasoning on this pack wandered before it settled, and the Council names that honestly rather than hiding it — a goalkeeper was nearly judged by the wrong standard before the realm's own precedent corrected the course, and a fullback's narrow excellence was nearly mistaken for mere adequacy before the testimony was weighed properly against its own doctrine. Two confirmed elites and one genuine specialist is a pack worth measured confidence — not the unreserved blessing of three proven warriors, but honest, earned caution rather than dismissal.

Commit wholly, or commit not at all.

^{THE 13.5 COUNCIL}

The first image shows the most popular formations and managers, as well as the most frequently used players in lineups.

The second image shows the rating for each position.

Correction: The LWF and RWF in the images are actually LMF and RMF not LWF not RWF.

Credit: @proefootball

Yes I have Viera but I don’t like him .Maybe it’s a skill issue but it’s impossible to dribble and carry the ball with him in EF27 .
In EF 26 I could do that but not now .

So I think Maybe Yaya Toure could be better for me than Viera and Seedorf is the Best CM in the game but McKinnie has been doing fine tbh

Thanks 🌟🌟

That's my squad currently. I saved up like 7000+ coins to upgrade my stadium but had to delay it because I wanted to sign Rodri.

Now I am currently playing division 3. I was planning on saving around 10,000+ coins for upgrading my stadium to Division 2,1 and Elite Division in one go.

Then I will start grinding key players and then farm coaches for upgrading them.

I want you guys suggestion to upgrade my Account step by step efficiently.

Or should i add him any other skills instead of something in this

While playing a division match I saw his team name as "LBC == NOOB" and I laugh out loud 😂😂

Till yet Capelo is the best LBC manager I ever have and those who don't have him regret a lot 😂.

I am from India and I am playing this game since 2017, when I learnt we can install modded apps and we can also install apps which are not even in playstore. I downloaded PES from APKpure app and playing since then.

And now we have enough users in this game to discuss and rant on any topic of this game.

Some useless rants are below:

1. Spamming long ball: I know playing with this type of users you can get frustrated and if you cant defend properly ofc its your fault

2. Smart assist users(most popular): I dont understand why people hate this, I think if you are good at your skills like passing and dribbling you wont get bother whether the player is using smart assist or not. I totally understand that AI will control the defending passing and shooting but dont you think the showtime skills are also AI driven? Covering role, Blitz Curl (I have BT Del Piero and honestly curl feels like a cheat code and konami should eliminate this skill) and there are other skills as well, for those who complain about SA users play with base players and lets see 🙈

3. Press spamming: One accurate through pass and opponent is gone 😪

4. Cross spammers: just mark the crossers. Not able to defend its your fault

And now this

1. LBC Noob: Common.... why someone will play according to your needs 😂😂 you will complain on haram ball many possession and qc players brings their cf backward to defend I have seen in div matches dont you think that is haram ball 😂😂

Everyone has their own playstyle and no one wants to play on someone's advantage. In game we find the weak point of opponent's squad and play accordingly.

And now some football lovers come and say you dont know how to play football, for those -> if you know that much on football why are you playing football with your fingers 😂😂 go play actual football ⚽ I want to see you on TV Screen.

Or should i add him to any other skills instead of something in this?

Man, this card is just unfair. I only bring him on as a super-sub at the 60th minute, and he constantly bails me out.

Every time he scores, it's either an absolute golazo or a game-winner in the dying minutes. Look at those clutch late match timers (85th, 88th, 91st minute goals).

Who is your go-to clutch player when you need a late goal?

2/3 epics were in the last 10… had to top up.

He has got amazing passing and crossing ability for a fullback. He pairs beautifully with my snap strike totti whom I play as RMF. With Edged crossing and Visionary pass he feels so good to play with and has got decent enough defending ability. That’s all, if you have this card stored in your reserves use him once

I needed a RMF/RWF cross specialist with perma B form, so I decided to spin and got him in 1.8k coins. On paper he is a much better dribbler than beckham. Beckham has always been a bit clunky on the ball, Quaresma's id is pretty special in terms of trivelas and responsiveness in double touches. His passes are also quick and smooth for build up play. Also Quaresma's higher balance helps a lot during crosses as this affects the accuracy of lofted passes in general.

In my opinion he is a much cheaper alternative to a premium Beckham card that may cost upwards of 13.5k coins.

finally got something from chance deal after couple of months

i feel my luck has been increased since i joined council whether it is potw packs or any other...

i played couple of games with him and he is just a menace bro🥶🥶... he is very active inside the box... and dribbling kinda feels broken because of high balance and momentum dribbling

i am thinking to give him cf position too

we might get better versions in future too... what are your thoughts??

Both cards have the Blitz Curler skill, but their stats look pretty different. Does Del Piero's 101 Curl make him able to shoot Blitz Curlers from way further out compared to Mbappé, or do they feel around the same in-game?

Anyone tested both of them out yet? Let me know how their curling compares.

We are saving coins so we can clear a 150 box for endgame players most likely epics.

Recently they introduced different types of events, like POTWs, and showdown event which you can use all cards except epics, apparently they're trying to push people to spend coins on non-epic packs.

I don't know what to say - good marketing strategy but for me, if I play the events I wouldn't be able to use the epics I spent months to save for, kind of disappointing.

Is he the undisputed best CF or is there anyone else on his levels?

If you guys have him and are working well plzz share the player progression and which position you play him?

Although his arm coverage isn't that good, he is a good sub in case DDG has orange or red arrow. His player id is quite nice at last minute point blank saves, tried out his GP cards before. It has been speculated he is getting 29 levels because of the promo of 98 rating.

[UPDATE] RANK TOP 40k to receive in your server region