The FIFA 17 ratings for all Newcastle United players have finally been released to the public.
Now fans of the game can look at their favourite players statistics and be delighted or horrified at what EA and FIFA deem them to be.
For a team in the Championship, the Magpies have a lot of gold players within their squad – although some deserve to be much better.
As usual there are players that FIFA have got horribly wrong – and others who have improved far more than the virtual world tells us.
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For the purpose of this article, only first team squad members currently on Tyneside have been considered, which means Adam Armstrong and Sammie Ameobi etc aren’t in this list. All ratings have been found on Futhead.
So without further ado, click through the slides below to see all of United’s first team squad members’ ratings.
Matz Sels /// FIFA 16 OVR 75 /// FIFA 17 OVR 77
Former A.A Gent goalkeeper Matz Sels has been bumped up to 75 for the release of FIFA 1, largly in part due to winning Belgian goalkeeper of the year.
Sels has also got Champions League experience, which no doubt helped to contribute to the big man’s increase.
With solid ratings across the board, expect the stopper to deliver good but not spectacular performances for you in the virtual world.
EA have handed out 81 for diving, 71 handling, 72 kicking, 78 reflexes, 37 speed and a middling 75 for positioning.
Karl Darlow /// FIFA 16 OVR 68 /// FIFA 17 OVR 68
Despite Karl Darlow’s strong finish to the Premier League campaign, the brainboxes working on FIFA 17 decided not to increase his rating.
On one hand that seems harsh, 68 is not a rating worthy of a top flight goalkeeper – which Darlow proved he can be.
On the other hand, he didn’t have that much game time and so it would always going to be a big ask to prove he deserves a bump in stats.
Darlow grabs a 69 for diving, 68 for handling, 62 for kicking, 69 for reflexes, 59 for speed and 64 for positioning.
Rob Elliot /// FIFA 16 OVR 69 /// FIFA 17 OVR 69
Probably one of the biggest surprises in the Newcastle United FIFA 17 ratings is that Rob Elliot only came away with a 69.
The Republic of Ireland stopper has proven that he is a Premier League goalkeeper after stepping up following Tim Krul’s injury.
Elliot was in the form of his career when he was struck down by injury and it seems strange not to recognise that.
He gets a 69 for positioning, 47 for speed, 68 for reflexes, 68 for kicking, 67 for handling and 69 for diving.
Paul Dummett /// FIFA 16 OVR 69 /// FIFA 17 OVR 71
Newcastle United left-back Paul Dummett is the man Toon fans love to hate – and this year he gets a boost in ratings.
For FIFA 16 the Welsh international was a lowly 69, but this has been increased to reflect his importance to the side.
There are still those who question how effective he can be from left-back, and his key stats for pace and dribbling show his limitations.
Dummett will start FIFA 17 with a stuck-in-the-mud 68 for pace, 40 for shooting, 61 for passing, 67 for dribbling, 72 for defending and 71 for physicality.
Achraf Lazaar /// FIFA 16 OVR 71 /// FIFA 17 OVR 74
New Newcastle United signing Achraf Lazaar has seen his FIFA 17 ratings jump up by a whole three points.
The former Serie A man will be a handful going forward for any team, but doesn’t offer a great deal in defence.
A combination of Paul Dummett and Lazaar would be ideal – but with any player there are going to be trade offs.
The Moroccan is certainly fast – and gets an 81 for pace. While he only has a 57 for shooting, 66 for passing, 76 for dribbling, 69 for defence and 71 for physicality.
Massadio Haidara /// FIFA 16 OVR 72 /// FIFA 17 OVR 73
Incredibly, the wise men and women over at FIFA HQ have decided that perennial crock and game shirker Massadio Haidara has actually got better!
Whether or not they have seen him play is now up for debate, but at the end of it all he’s got better by one point.
Haidara is yet to feature for Newcastle United this season, but it seems silly that they’ve decided to reward a long history of injury.
Anyway, he grabs a 76 for pace, 50 for shooting, 62 for passing, 71 for dribbling, 72 for defence and 74 for physicality – making him the squad’s best all round option at left-back!
Chancel Mbemba /// FIFA 16 OVR 77 /// FIFA 17 OVR 77
If Chancel Mbemba had any hair, he’d be standing in his kitchen holding clumps of it in his hand and sobbing at the cruel ways of the FIFA Gods.
How, he will howl, could Massadio Haidara actually get better while Mbemba has merely stayed the same?
The former Anderlecht man was one of the best performers for Newcastle United last campaign – but hasn’t been given an increased rating.
With 78 for pace, 56 for shooting, 52 for passing, 69 for dribbling, 77 for defence and 79 for physicality he’s a solid bet for any team.
Ciaran Clark /// FIFA 16 OVR 77 /// FIFA 17 OVR 76
Former Aston Villa man Ciaran Clark has paid the price for his role in their relegation with a drop in rating.
This time last year the Republic of Ireland international had a princely 77 overall rating, but now it’s down to just 76.
Clark has started this season fairly well and so that rating seems to be justified, but he’s definitely worse than just one below Chancel Mbemba.
The versatile man gathers 65 for pace, 53 for shooting, 55 for passing, 57 for dribbling, 76 for defence and 76 for physicality.
Grant Hanley /// FIFA 16 OVR 69 /// FIFA 17 OVR 73
Big Scottish defender Grant Hanley has seen his rating skyrocket towards the mid 70s after an impressing season.
Newcastle United signed Hanley from Blackburn Rovers in the summer, and although he hasn’t started as he would have hoped, he is a proven Championship defender.
The unit has seen his overall rating improve by four, which is a very impressive feat, to make him the third best central defender in the squad.
Hanley comes away from it with 70 for pace, 33 for shooting, 53 for passing, 53 for dribbling, 73 for defence and 77 for physicality.
Jamaal Lascelles /// FIFA 16 OVR 68 /// FIFA 17 OVR 71
The fact that Newcastle United captain Jamaal Lascelles is only rated at 71 is a shocking bit of work from EA and FIFA 17.
Lascelles may not have started the campaign for the Magpies but he certainly ended it as a first choice player.
That said, his new rating is an improvement on the old one – but an increase of three is small beer and it should have been more.
Lascelles gets 66 for pace, 27 for shooting, 46 for passing, 53 for dribbling, 72 for defence and 74 for physicality.
Jesus Gamez /// FIFA 16 OVR 79 /// FIFA 17 OVR 78
Former Atletico Madrid defender Jesus Gamez has paid the price for his lack of game time and dropped down the ratings to 78.
In FIFA 16 he was standing proudly at 79, but now he’s been bumped down to a 78 – although that still makes him the best defender at the club.
Rafa Benitez clearly doesn’t see things that way, which is why he’s struggled to make an impact since that move.
Gamez collects 71 for pace, 51 for shooting, 64 for passing, 66 for dribbling, a massive 80 for defence and an impressive 83 for physicality.
DeAndre Yedlin /// FIFA 16 OVR 70 /// FIFA 17 OVR 72
To roughly quote Adam Sandler’s The Longest Yard, DeAndre Yedlin is so fast he makes fast guys look not fast.
In fact, he is the quickest member of the Newcastle United squad – even beating Chelsea loanee Christian Atsu.
Yedlin has achieved a two point jump in his ratings because of his semi-successful loan spell with Sunderland last campaign.
The United States of America international has a blistering 93 for pace, 51 for shooting, 62 for passing, 73 for dribbling, 65 for defence and 74 for physicality.
Yoan Gouffran /// FIFA 16 OVR 75 /// FIFA 17 OVR 74
Despite his excellent start to the 2016/2017 Championship campaign, Frenchman Yoan Gouffran has been dropped down the ratings.
He’s suffered because of his poor last couple of years, but Rafa Benitez has revived him in ways nobody could expect.
The former squad exile has now scored twice this season and both of them were excellent volleys from inside the box.
Gouffran now has a 75 for pace, 74 for shooting, 70 for passing, 76 for dribbling, 50 for defence and 70 for physicality.
Rolando Aarons /// FIFA 16 OVR 71 /// FIFA 17 OVR 72
Quiet how Rolando Aarons has been deemed to have got better over the past year is beyond me.
He’s been severely limited in the amount of first team action because of recurring injuries, and when he has played he’s been average.
There is so much potential in the player though, and perhaps FIFA 17 has rewarded that – but we need to see more games from the lad.
With 86 pace and 77 dribbling Aarons could become tricky to play against for sure, but 62 shooting, 65 passing, 32 defence and 48 physicality let him down.
Vurnon Anita /// FIFA 16 OVR 74 /// FIFA 17 OVR 74
Mr. Versatile Vurnon Anita has become one of Rafa Benitez’s key players this season, but he remains the same.
FIFA 16 had the Dutchman at a middling 74 and it is on that rating that he stays – although Anita would have hoped for an improvement.
It’ll be interesting to see how the team line up now that he’s suspended for a straight red card during the Wolves games.
Astonishingly, FIFA 17 have said his best feature is his dribbling, which gets a 77. Close behind is pace, with 76, while Anita is handed 54 for shooting, 67 for passing, 69 for defense and 72 for physicality. Do they even watch the games?
Isaac Hayden /// FIFA 16 OVR 55 /// FIFA 17 OVR 66
Former Arsenal and Hull City loanee Isaac Hayden has received the biggest lift in ratings out of any Newcastle United player.
On FIFA 16 he was considered to be a terrible 55, but now the wizards at FIFA 16 have given him an 11 point improvement.
Certainly Hayden has started the season well for the Magpies when nobody really expected him to go straight into the first team.
The youngster collects 66 for pace, 46 for shooting, 56 for passing, 63 for dribbling, 62 for defence and 64 for physicality.
Jonjo Shelvey /// FIFA 16 OVR 77 /// FIFA 17 OVR 77
Jonjo Shelvey is the type of irritating player who can offer so much more than a 77 overall rating on his day, but when he’s off form is can be really bad.
It’s for that reason, you’d suspect, that his rating hasn’t changed at all from last year’s game and the reason why it’ll probably be the same next year.
Shelvey has had excellent games this season, but he’s also had some very poor ones – just like last Saturday against Wolves.
He will start this game with 66 for pace, 73 for shooting, 79 for passing, 73 for dribbling, 60 for defence and 77 physicality.
Mohamed Diame /// FIFA 16 OVR 74 /// FIFA 17 OVR 75
Former Hull City midfielder Mohamed Diame has been rewarded for his excellent promotion chasing season with the Tigers.
Despite choosing to remain in the Championship, Diame’s overall has been improved by one point.
The Senegalese international is a strong ball carrier who can provide strength and impetuous from midfield.
And as such he collects an 81 for dribbling, 78 for pace, 77 for physicality, 70 for shooting but only 69 for passing.
Jack Colback /// FIFA 16 OVR 75 /// FIFA 17 OVR 76
Its moments like this when you actually start to question whether or not the people making FIFA 17 have watched the games.
How can Vurnon Anita be languishing in the realms of silver while Jack Colback is sitting on his perch enjoying the loftly highs of a gold 76 rating?
The worst thing about this is he’s actually got better from last season – when anyone watching the games will tell you otherwise.
Anyway, EA have given him 66 for pace, 59 for shooting, 69 for passing, 72 for dribbling, 72 for defence and 74 for physicality.
Cheick Tiote /// FIFA 16 OVR 79 /// FIFA 17 OVR 78
If there was a rating for going radge and snapping anyone on the pitch, Cheick Tiote might be a 78 – but that’s the only way he should be rated this high on the game.
Tiote has been cruising by on the reputation of his first two years with Newcastle United – even though he’s been largely poor since then.
The Ivory Coast international certainly doesn’t deserve to be the highest rated Magpies midfielder when he can’t even get into the side.
He has 68 for pace, 57 for shooting, 66 for passing, 71 for dribbling, 77 for defence and 88 for physicality.
Matt Ritchie /// FIFA 16 OVR 74 /// FIFA 17 OVR 76
Former Bournemouth winger Matt Ritchie has enjoyed a good couple of season with the Cherries and has seen his rating rise as a result.
The wideman can cross well and is good cutting in from the right hand flank to score goals, just check his effort against Wolves in the EFL Cup.
He’s also a proven Championship performer, and caused havoc the last time he played in the league.
With 77 for pace, 74 for shooting, 72 for passing, 76 for dribbling, 52 for defence and 67 for physicality he is a solid, not spectacular, player.
Christian Atsu /// FIFA 16 OVR 76 /// FIFA 17 OVR 76
You get the feeling with Christian Atsu that he always might be better on FIFA than in real life, and that’s sad.
The player has got bags of talent, but a number of failed loan spells seems to point out a number of flaws in his game.
In the virtual world he’s an excellent squad member because of his pace and high stats for dribbling.
That remains the same in this game as Atsu is handed a 91 for pace, 80 for dribbling, 70 for passing, 67 for shooting, 50 for physicality and 36 for defence.
Ayoze Perez /// FIFA 16 OVR 73 /// FIFA 17 OVR 74
Just how Newcastle United attacker Ayoze Perez is only rated at a 74 is a question worth putting to EA.
The Spaniard has been one of the better players the Magpies have had over the past two years and deserved an increase in rating.
He’s scored all sorts of goals and is a good, if not amazing, finisher – that should have been reflected in this update.
Instead Perez languishes with a 71 for shooting, only 62 for passing, 23 for defence, 63 for physicality, 78 for pace and 80 for dribbling.
Aleksandar Mitrovic /// FIFA 16 OVR 76 /// FIFA 17 OVR 76
Mean machine Aleksandar Mitrovic had a good first season in the Premier League, although he didn’t pull up any trees.
As a result his overall rating has stayed the same, which is fair enough. The 22-year-old hit the back of the net nine times in 22 starts and will want to do more this campaign.
In the game he probably wouldn’t be your first choice striker as a lack of pace and dribbling can be his undoing.
With 81 physicality and 76 shooting, Mitrovic is an excellent target man – but 63 pace, 67 dribbling, 53 passing and 24 defence let him down in other areas.
Dwight Gayle /// FIFA 16 OVR 71 /// FIFA 17 OVR 73
In an alternative universe Alan Pardew is sitting back with a grin, content in the knowledge that Dwight Gayle has reached his full potential.
In this one, Gayle has been praised to the hilt by his former manager before being repeatedly left out the team and then sold.
As a result of this, someone with a huge amount of potential comes away with a very, very average overall rating of 73.
Gayle is quick and gets an 84 for pace, but only 73 for shooting, 54 for passing, 71 for dribbling, 25 for defence and 61 physicality.
Daryl Murphy /// FIFA 16 OVR 73 /// FIFA 17 OVR 73
Ah Old Man River, nice of you to join us. Eyebrows were certainly raised when Rafa Benitez signed Ipswich Town striker Daryl Murphy – mainly because he’s old and not that good.
This transfer is mainly about backup to the squad, although he did start the cup game against Wolves.
And in the virtual world it’s unlikely that Murphy will get too much game time, unless there are a raft of injuries.
With 66 for pace, 73 shooting, 59 passing, 66 dribbling, 32 defence and 79 physicality, Murphy fits squarely in the ‘reserve’ bracket.
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