I made the same observation time ago and the general and right consent was: it is cosmetic just like player height and weight. The main thing about this game is that if a player is good in taking free kicks or corners there is no reason to change him despite what the stats say. You can't tell a lot of things from the animation, which goal is a header and which is a volley for example. This game's strength and weakness at the same time is its simplicity.