Hi, thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. At times it can feel like I am the only one that notices this stuff and gets frustrated by it.
You're exactly right about this one detail throwing off the 'create your identity' vibe. For me, each year, I like to Create A Club, because I don't have one team that I follow. So it's important to me that I can create my own club in the game and spend the next 12 months building that Club from the ground up.
Not being able to have everything working as it should, and after so much time after release (eg GK Logo) makes a huge difference to the 'feel' of the game, and how i feel about playing the game. Issues like this take away the authenticity and the fun of the entire experience. I've tried to not focus on it, I can't help but see this glitch every time I see the Goalkeeper in the Team Menu or out on the Pitch.
That's interesting what you said about visual glitches tending to linger when they’re tied to older asset systems or awkward layering rules (like logos being mapped differently for GK kits vs outfield kits). That could be true in this case. I don't know much about how they create what they do unfortunately, so it's nice to hear that there might actually be some legitimate reasons why it's not working (as opposed to the EA Team just dismissing it as not important enough to fix). It would be nice for them to address it though. It was broken at the end of FC25, and has been broken since the launch of FC26. I just don't get why they wouldn't fix it for us.
Sorry to hear you've also had issues saving & resetting after matches. That must be so frustrating as it interrupts the flow and the realism of the entire experience. You're right, it does often feel like you are fighting the game. Unfortunately I'm finding more & more (since the introduction of Digital Content; MicroTransactions; and Online Gaming) that Sports Games like FC26 and others (NBA2K; Madden; Rugby; Rugby League etc) have all become more problematic and less enjoyable. It often feels like 'hard work' now rather than an easy to use, enjoyable, relaxing, and satisfying experience.
I hope EA start to get back to the good old days when their priority was authenticity, realism, and leaving no stone unturned. Until then, I fear that these small problems that never get fixed are a symptom of a greater problem affecting the DNA of this company (and many others making sports games today), greed, and lack of appreciation for sentiment, nostalgia, and being true to the Sport they represent.