Check out the most accurate Barclays Premier League Players Predictions for FIFA 17 Ultimate Team. We will start by a Leicester City’s full analysis.
FIFA 17 Ratings Predictions for Premier League Players
With the FIFA cycle almost coming to an end, and EA in the process of creating the next installment in their franchise, there is no bigger time for the FIFA team to analyse and study the ability of the players residing in their game. From the upcoming youth players at your average League 2 team to the superstars of Messi and Ronaldo, every player will be reviewed to get a measure of how accurate their ratings are, and whether they need updating.
The league that generates the most attention is the Premier League – after all, it is the most watched worldwide and draws the largest TV audience in many countries across the footballing world. EA have to make sure they hold a small margin of error with the players plying their trade here to avoid any unnecessary backlash. As a result, we are going to look at the players of each of the top clubs in the country, and give them a rating ourselves for FIFA 17. I will only be doing the players who have a chance at the first team, to avoid having to rate every young player in the team.
Today we will cover the champion Leicester City but you can also expect FIFA 17 ratings predictions for the six biggest clubs of Barclays Premier League.
FIFA 17 Ratings Predictions for Leicester City Players
One of the stand out stories of the 2015-16 season, the idea of Leicester City avoiding relegation, let alone winning the title, was a fantasy for many. The Premier League champions have stolen the hearts of many over the last year or so, and EA will almost certainly be delivering major upgrades to the squad.
GK – Ron Robert Zieler – 80
One of many talented German goalkeepers plying their trade in Europe, Zieler looks set to be a sturdy replacement for the outgoing Schmeichel. Consistency with Hannover for years should see him step up to being a rare card – but I would be surprised to see his rating change for next year.
GK – Kasper Schmeichel – 80
Schmeichel Jr. made huge strides towards emulating the legendary achievements his father made with a highly successful season in goal for Leicester – and though he may be heading out of the club EA will almost certainly boost his rating significantly this summer.
RB – Danny Simpson – 76
The former Man United academy man has perhaps fulfilled some of the talent he once held at Old Trafford, with strong performances across the second half of the season. A major boost from silver to gold should be expected for the full back.
RB – Richie De Laet – 73
A season of moderate success for De Laet, in which he largely played as back up to Simpson, should see his card receive a minor upgrade for FIFA 17, and like Simpson go closer to fulfilling the promise invested in him at Manchester United
LB – Christian Fuchs – 79
Despite a poor Euro 2016, Fuchs was widely regarded as the best left back in the country through his stellar performances last year, with offensive and defence contributions for his side. The Austrian full back will certainly step up to a gold card, and should see a major boost to land himself comfortable stats in the gold category.
CB – Wes Morgan – 81
The lynchpin of the defence, Wes Morgan was arguably one of the best players of the season for both Leicester and the nation as a whole. His composure and reliability at the back for Leicester were crucial in maintaining their winning run across the tougher months of the campaign, and without doubt Morgan’s role at the heart of the back make him a candidate for one of the largest upgrades we’ll see in FIFA 17. I fully expect him to be a strongly rated defender next year, with gold being virtually guaranteed and a rating that exceeds 80 not an impossibility.
CB – Robert Huth – 81
Huth was different to some of his lesser known teammates at the start of the season having had playing time at Stoke in the league before – yet his exploits for Leicester alongside Morgan still see him well in line for a strong upgrade going into FIFA 17. Another player who looks set to break the 80 barrier, I would imagine EA giving the pair equal ratings and thus I see the pair receiving 81 each.
RM – Riyad Mahrez – 83
The Premier League Player of the Year is in line for a rating to place him as one of the league’s strongest wingers. His sheer volume of special cards last year are a testament to his performances over the season – as his award as the best player of the league show. He should comfortably step over the 80+ barrier, and be given a rating that places him as one of the division’s strongest players.
LM – Marc Albrighton – 76
Yet another unsung hero of the Leicester team, Albrighton enjoyed a fantastic season at Leicester this year, earning himself talk of an England call up and playing in every game of the season. He should definitely be the recipient of an upgrade to gold, and whilst I’ve predicted 76 it could well exceed that number.
LM – Demarai Gray – 71
Whilst his appearances were mainly limited to the bench, it is clear that the former Birmingham man holds great potential for the future, and looked promising whenever given the spotlight by Ranieri. He should receive a boost within the silver ratings, to make him one of the strongest silver cards in the league.
LM/LB – Jeffrey Schlupp – 70
Another player that saw large stints on the bench, the Ghanaian was impressive when he featured, enough so to earn a minor upgrade within the silver ranks to break the 70+ barrier. His versatility as a full back or a more offensive winger leave his position dubious for next year, but he should receive a small upgrade.
CM – Danny Drinkwater – 79
Drinkwater enjoyed a phenomenal season in the middle of the pitch for Leicester, only missing out on more plaudits through the efforts of the teammates playing around him, and became the player many English fans were most annoyed at being left out of the England squad for Euro 2016. The popularity of the player makes him another likely target for a huge boost in rating, which should place him well into the gold ratings.
CM – N’Golo Kante – 83
Dubbed the new Makelele by many, Kante was considered by many to be Leicester’s most important player of the 2015-16 season, and his exemplar tackling and interceptions across the season leave him well placed for a considerably major upgrade going into FIFA 17. Certainly EA would face mass uproar from many if Kante isn’t one of the largest boosts for the next game.
CM – Andy King – 73
Andy King broke a Premier League record by being the first player to have won the three highest divisions in the PL era – and as Leicester’s longest serving player, the midfielder is well regarded with the fans of the club. Whilst he spent long parts of the season behind Drinkwater and Kante, he played well when given the opportunity, and should receive a moderate upgrade.
ST – Jamie Vardy – 82
Perhaps the most iconic player from the Leicester story, Vardy has become synonymous with the entire concept of ‘rags to riches’ in football, and has the adulation of half of the footballing world. With such praise and plaudits given to the guy it would be impossible for EA not to make his card amongst the greatest upgrades in the game, and I see him being placed straight into the 80+ region from the very start of the game.
ST – Shinji Okazaki – 78
His goal scoring statistics were poor over the course of the season, especially when compared to Vardy’s – however the goals he did score were often at crucial times for Leicester, and ensured their title challenge lost momentum in the crucial moments. I expect him to maintain his rating going into next season.
ST – Leonardo Ulloa – 73
Just as Okazaki had a meagre goal tally across the season, Ulloa also found himself shy of goals over the year too – though being behind the two strikers before him won’t have helped. Even so, the strong Leicester performance should mask his inadequacies and prevent him from getting a downgrade next year.
ST – Ahmed Musa – 77
As with what usually happens when a player moves to the Premier League, EA should lavish an upgrade on Musa for joining the league champions. It does help that Musa is one of the most talented young African players around, and definitely holds considerable talent as a striker for the team he plays with. A minor boost seems fitting.
The Author: Owen Macdonald
Owen Macdonald is a 25 year old from London, United Kingdom and supports Fulham FC. Whilst a relative newcomer to the Ultimate Team franchise, having created his first team in FUT 13, Owen’s passion and ever growing knowledge of the footballing world has led to a love for FUT.
His enthusiasm for the game is not matched by many, and if asked will gladly talk about FUT and football on the whole for hours. Away from football Owen is a keen writer and enjoys politics and cinema.