About referees:
'Better', of course, is relative. Maybe not in the case of the bastards in black (and lurid yellow) who police the action, because this time they actually give bookings: a step up from last year, when they treated cards with the bemusement and imposter's logic of a man in Clinton's on Valentine's Day. They still sometimes don't give reds for clear, Roy Keane-style fouls, but it's better.
Passing:
Passing itself is much the same, but now both crosses and clipped, Barca-style through balls are often much flatter, flying and arriving at the same height as the old near post double-tapped cross.
After reading Videogamer's preview, I'm considering this game. Defense and tactics sounds great!