As fun a version of FIFA as I've played in the recent past, the new controls are great!
With the new controls introduced for FIFA 09 on the Wii the title has taken large steps ahead. First, using the advanced controls with pointing for passing is a must. It is very refreshing to be able to put the ball exactly where you want it to go. Depending on the camera angle, this can be a bit problematic if you wish to pass to a player on the bottom of your television screen as a smaller portion of the field is displayed there. At the same time, crossing is much easier and much more fun with this version of the game. Since the passing is more accurate and easier to control, the difficulty levels seem to be more about strategy and less about how fast you can mash the buttons.
I wish that EA would separate the control so that the shooting control isn't the same as the slide tackle. Both involve shaking the Wiimote and depending on what is going on, you can accidentally slide tackle when you are simply trying to shoot or volley the ball. This kind of problem is really silly and the two should be separated.
The skill moves are much better in this version than in the 08 Wii title and the addition of the Manager Mode fixes a large problem with to 08 title. I agree with persons who point out that there isn't a way to change which jersey is worn for a game and sometimes kit clashing is a problem. This feature seems pretty easy. Also, to change other options (game length, difficulty, etc.) you need to exit from Manager mode and change the main setting: this seems to be an obvious oversight.
The 8 v 8 mode is lots of fun and I enjoy playing this mode with my kids. Having less players on the field simplifies things for them and they get a kick out of seeing their Mii's on the screen. I'd like to see EA expand this feature for next year's edition. All in all, a nice addition to the FIFA series and a great purchase since the price has dropped.