I finding it very difficult to get into Player mode. In FIFA 12 I spent almost all the game time offline, in Player/Manager mode, which allowed me to have my Virtual Pro in the team, and me to make the managerial decisions around it. I like the control the entire team rather than just the Pro; with the removal of Player/Manager mode though, I'm stuck with the idiotic CPU manager, which is currently making a complete hash of everything off the field.
Line ups are inconsistent, players played out of position, players signed and then never put into the starting line up, formations not changed depending on game situation, substitutions always like for like. It's infuriating to play, as I have no control over any of these aspects.
I'm currently on loan at Yeovil from Huddersfield, and the CPU manager splashed out £200k on Neil Harris from Southend. Not something I would've done, but still, a good signing. But now into February, after Harris signed in the first transfer window, he's never played! He just sits at the bottom of the squad list, seemingly forgotten.
I still don't quite understand the removal of the player/manager mode. If it was a 'realism' decision, it' certainly backfired from where I'm sitting.