Main problem with todays football games is that they are being developed arseways.
It used to be a complete product. Two teams - AI, algorithms, scenarios, animations.
Users were... drivers, jumping into a fully made, working machine.
Now they are building these machines starting from the drivers and work around them.
Animations are made purely for user input and whole gameplay is made with User Vs User in mind. AI is afterthought. The main thing that should drive the experience, create unexpected scenarios and differentiate matches based on what players you have on your team - is gone.
Football games used to be immersive coz you were just one cog of the "living" machine. Now you are a machine. Its you and 10 brainless clones. And every match looks the same.
Offline mode should not be an afterthought, a DLC that they MIGHT release in the future. Offline mode should be what foofball game is built on.
It should already be there, fully developed, fully functional.
Its online that should be something extra.
Until this changes - we will NEVER get an immersive football game again.
Ironically - online crowd does not seems to realise that their experience also depends on AI. Without good Offline there wont be a good Online.
Because football is not tennis. It takes 11 to change the lightbulb.