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Articles > CM 2008: Top 100 Players in CM 2008 (100-81)

100-81 | 80-61 | 60-41 | 40-21 | 20-1

There are so many top players in Championship Manager 2008 and everyone has their opinion as to who are truly the best. It is impossible to do justice to all the players that are worthy of note via a top ten, or even top fifty list. So I have come up with my definitive list; featuring the best players from all the playable leagues in this years version of the game.

Although I am sure that a few people will disagree with some of the choices and positions, this is my definitive top 100 Players in Championship Manager 2008.

100. Mario Defendi - Atalanta - Italian Serie A [Screenshot]
Defendi always seems to be snapped up by Sunderland in my games. But this 22 year old forward is incredibly prolific in front of a goal and will be an excellent acquisition for mid table top division clubs in need of a cheaper alternative to the more expensive players in his position.

99. Thiago - Barcelona - Spanish La Liga [Screenshot]
Thiago begins the game as a sixteen year old Brazilian in the Barcelona youth team. On most occasions he will struggle to make it at the Catalonian club and can be snapped up for between 5-10 million after three or four seasons. He is an excellent creative attacking midfielder who will go on to be a mainstay in the Brazilian national team.

98. Sabri Sarioglu - Galatasaray - Turkish Super Lig [Screenshot]
Sarigolu can play as either a wing back or attacking midfielder. At the beginning of the game he is more adept at playing in midfield but with the right training regime, will also become an accomplished defender. At the age off 22 he is already capable of walking into most teams, but it will cost in excess of 7 million to tempt him away from Galatasaray.

97. Havard Nordtveit - Arsenal - English Premier League [Screenshot]
Nordtveit is a player who starts the game in Arsenal’s youth team, but rapidly flourishes into one of the best centre backs in Europe. I have lost count of the times that I have seen the Norwegian max out his stats in marking, tackling, pace and acceleration. If you can sign him early on it would be preferable, but even after three or four seasons, Arsenal will normally allow him out on loan and he can be an invaluable asset to any team.

96. Patrick van Aanholt - Chelsea - English Premier League [Screenshot]
Van Aanholt has always been one of my personal favourites. He starts the game in the Chelsea youth team, but after three or four seasons, he becomes an accomplished to flight player. In my experience, he struggles to break into the first team at Chelsea, but despite not having the best stats of all the left backs on the games, he is an extremely consistent performer.

95. Astrit Ajdarevic - Liverpool - English Premier League [Screenshot]
Ajdarevic is one of the stand out players in a star studded Liverpool youth team. The seventeen year old attacking midfielder can be signed on loan by teams of Championship standard at the start of the game and has the ability to be match winner, with his ability to both create and score goals. As time passes, his stats improve dramatically and he will become a viable alternative to the more expensive attacking midfielders on the game.

94. Momo Sissoko - Liverpool - English Premier League [Screenshot]
Malian international Sissoko is already a top quality player, but finds his role at Liverpool marginalised by the emergence of Javier Mascherano. Although he is regularly snapped up by one of Europe’s top clubs, at the age of just 22, he has a long and potentially glory-laden career ahead. If he is in your price range, he is a must buy; not only is he a consistent performer, but he also provides an excellent goal return.

93. Rafael Sobis - Real Betis - Spanish La Liga [Screenshot]
Whether it’s a compliment or an insult, the main comparison I make with Sobis is that he is the Brazilian equivalent of Robbie Keane. He is a forward with great pace, creativity and also a deadly finisher. He can be signed from Betis for between 6-10 million and if used correctly, has the potential to be a lethal goal-scorer for any team.

92. Gargano - Napoli - Italian Serie A [Screenshot]
Napoli’s Gargano is one of the most underrated and overlooked defensive midfielders in Championship Manager 2008. Whilst the Uruguayan international may not have the cult following of the likes of Javi Martinez or Marek Hamsik, he has the potential ability to become one of the top midfield enforces on the game.

91. Sammir - Dinamo Zagreb - Prva HNL [Screenshot]
In most games Sammir would be one of the main stars. Unfortunately in CM 2008 he is one of many attacking midfielders who can play left, right and centre. Nonetheless, the Brazilian is a quality player who possesses great pace and crossing ability. He can be picked up from Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb for just over 1 million and at the age of just 20, continues to improve and will develop into a top class player.

90. Luca Cigarini - Parma - Italian Serie A [Screenshot]
One of the bright young stars at fallen Italian giants Parma, Cigarini is a midfielder who has the potential to be world class. Despite his lack of pace, he will become a top player for the Italian national team and provides lots of assists for his team-mates.

89. Miroslav Stoch - Chelsea - English Premier League [Screenshot]
Stoch really is a slow burner. Whilst his stats may not match up to those of the more accomplished attacking midfielders at the start of the game, his development is rapid and he quickly becomes a seasoned international with Slovakia. He is an excellent playmaker, despite not possessing the ability to get past his man, his range of passing is phenomenal and could prove invaluable when it comes to breaking down a resolute defence.

88. Fran Merida - Arsenal - English Premier League [Screenshot]
Merida was one of the stars of CM 2007 and it is no different on CM 2008. He begins in the youth team at Arsenal, but the 17 year old Spaniard quickly becomes a linchpin in the Arsenal midfield. He is the heir-apparent to Cesc Fabregas and although he can be signed on loan for most Championship level clubs at the start of the game, he goes on to be a world class left sided midfielder.

87. Robert Acquafresca - Cagliari - Italian Serie A [Screenshot]
The Cagliari youngster begins the game as an up an coming Italian international and has the potential to become the next Christian Vieri. Despite his lack of pace, Acquafreca is a deadly finisher and at the age of 19 and costing 6 million, he will quickly outgrow the Serie A team and become a hot property at home and abroad.

86. Franklin Salas - Crvena Zvezda - Serbian Superliga [Screenshot]
Salas starts out at Serbian team Red Star Belgrade (Crvena Zvezda). He possesses remarkable pace and can play anywhere across the midfield. Although he is already a seasoned international with Ecuador, at the age of 25, he is at his peak and can play anywhere across the midfield and provide a great attacking threat.

85. Bobo Balde - Celtic - Scottish Premier League [Screenshot]
Guinean international Balde is an experienced central defender who is incredibly prolific at scoring from corners and other set piece routines. Despite being 32 years of age, he is an excellent choice to marshal the defensive unit and at a cost of under 1 million, he is an excellent signing.

84. Kevin-Prince Boateng - Tottenham - English Premier League [Screenshot]
Boateng is very much an underestimated force in CM 2008. He has all the necessary attributes to become a top class player but for one reason or another, fails to register with most CM fans. Again, he is someone who can easily be signed on loan during his first season, but his pace, passing and dribbling ability marks him out as a star of the future.

83. Jeffren Suarez - Barcelona - Spanish La Liga [Screenshot]
Suarez is a product of the Barcelona youth team and can be signed on loan for teams of Championship standard at the start of the game. He is an awesome winger who can play on either the left or right side of the midfield. After a few years he becomes a major player for the Catalonian club, but can still be signed for between 5-10 million for most top flight clubs and is guaranteed to provide plenty of assist, as well as chipping in with a decent goal return.

82. Chris Burke - Rangers - Scottish Premier League [Screenshot]
Under-appreciated by Walter Smith during his time at Rangers, Burke is an absolute bargain buy and an excellent right sided midfielder. He is already a seasoned Scotland international, who’s pace and crossing ability can cause major problems for opposition defences. At a small outlay of just 3-5 million, Burke is a much cheaper alternative to the likes of Modric, Aaron Lennon and Lavezzi, but has just as much potential to become a star player.

81. Parez Karim - Feyenoord - Dutch Eredivisie [Screenshot]
Even at just fourteen years old, you can see that Karim is destined for great things. He has impressive attributes and after a few years at Feyenoord, he becomes one of the hottest properties in Holland. He is the natural successor to van Nistelrooy in the national team and a born goal-scorer. If you can snap him up early, it is very much advised, because after a few season he will become a priceless member of the Feyenoord squad.

CM FOCUS

CM 2010 section

We will soon be starting work on our new CM 2010 section, which should be up within the next week.

I hope to build up some comprehensive lists of all the best players, tactics, set pieces routines and training schedules.

I am also hoping to start a new Lower League Section, with help and guides for those who chose to start their managerial careers further down the footballing ladder.

If anyone is interested in helping with the Lower League section or any other area of the site, then please send me an e-mail at jonathan@champ-man.com