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Episode 279: Rating our squad...
51 Plays6 hours ago
Southampton – It's that time of year, so we talk about the ratings our players have in EA DC and if we agree with them or not.
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Transcript
Introduction and Championship Talk
00:00:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome back to the Daily Southampton, part of the Global Sports Podcast Network. My name is Greg Elliott and as always today joined by my good friend and wonderful co-host, Zach Ingo Finch.
00:00:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
How doing mate, you alright?
00:00:27
Zak
Yeah, I'm too bad mate, I'm too bad. Can't complain.
00:00:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Good, good. Look, we are in... Look, the fixtures in the championship come thick and fast, but we've got a whole day before we have to start preparing for our trip to Hull.
FIFA 26 Ratings Excitement and Realism Debate
00:00:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, look, we're going to talk about that wonderful time of year where the leaves start coming off the trees, the weather starts to get worse, the duvets come out, and the FIFA 26 ratings get revealed.
00:00:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's not called FIFA anymore.
00:00:56
Zak
Ha, ha, ha.
00:00:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's called EAFC. but But I thought, wait, I take it as an opportunity two kind of a assess where we think we're at as a squad.
00:01:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because... you know There's a lot of talk and a lot of chatter after the transfer window that we've got such a good squad for the championship. So I just thought we'd sort of go through player by player and give our estimate of how good we think that player is and where we think they rank.
00:01:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then we'll just see if EA agrees. And I'm sure that off the back of that, there'll be nothing controversial.
00:01:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, nobody upset. I'm sure it's all just going like really smoothly and similarly. What do you think, mate? Is that how you see it playing out?
00:01:50
Zak
Sure, sure. Like, again, context is that I play Football Manager. There hasn't been one for what feels like a million years. If you start a new game of Southampton on Football Manager at the moment, mate, you're in the first season in the Championship.
00:02:03
Zak
that's how long since they've brought out a new one. And I don't play FIFA, so... This will be fun, I'm sure. Sorry, FC25.
00:02:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
mean I mean, yeah, that's that is what makes it exciting, though, right? Because it is so vastly different, right? Because Football Manager is a almost a... They pride themselves on how realistic they are.
00:02:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Whereas with've with the EA games, boy, it sure sometimes feels like that isn't the case. Yeah.
00:02:36
Zak
The last one I played, I think it must have been on Game Pass or something back when, or the EA thing that they have. I managed to get both Messi and Ronaldo into a Southampton squad, and that is all I needed to know but it was not a simulation game.
00:02:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, indeed.
00:02:53
Zak
But there we are.
00:02:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
That is it. Right, mate. I think a logical way to start this ah is to go top to bottom. I'm going to... Sorry, bottom to top.
00:03:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I'm going to start at the lowest rated player in our team. uh, and work
Youth Players and Ratings Analysis
00:03:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
our way up. I will skip any, uh, like youth that slipped in, but I've got to say it's, it's pretty reasonable.
00:03:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, uh, if what range would you think if I told you that our lowest rated player was our fourth choice goalkeeper, uh, from the youth team, what range are you putting him in?
00:03:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, Yeah, pretty accurate, yeah. So Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh coming in at 57.
00:03:41
Zak
Oh, okay.
00:03:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
So what do you think who do you think the next lowest-rated player is on the team?
00:03:48
Zak
Our third choice school keeper.
00:03:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:03:52
Zak
and Oh, interesting.
00:03:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Well, if I was to tell you that the next lowest-rated player on our team is Jay Robinson.
00:04:01
Zak
Again, it's just like we don't know anything about this because we've only researched the people in the first team. So, yeah. yeah I feel like, isn't it like the regens that are more wonder kids in FIFA as opposed to in Football Manager where it's like they actually target real people, which, you know, sometimes is hilarious because there are definitely some people that have gone on to to become wonder kids and become amazing footballers and others that are like, oh yeah, do that guy in Football Manager?
00:04:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah, he is...
00:04:28
Zak
He was amazing. But yeah, I think that's a bit a bit disappointing. Is it just because he's come out from the youth team and then they don't know anything about him?
00:04:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Almost definitely. he's So he's 59 rated, although he does have four-star weak foot, which is... I don't know. Baffling. Next on the list is out of the youth team because at 61 rated, so two whole points above someone who is pegged to be a regular in our first team this season, is Nico Lawrence.
00:04:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, yeah All right.
00:05:01
Zak
Interesting. I know he's been on load a few times. I don't think he's ever featured for the first team. Okay.
00:05:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
right We move up into the next bracket of cards. So we're starting at the silver level, which I think from memory starts at 65 rating.
00:05:21
Zak
right
00:05:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
So so we we're out of youth players now and into into the squad.
00:05:27
Zak
okay
00:05:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
So who do you think our lowest rated silver card is?
00:05:37
Zak
It's going be someone that we brought in, I reckon, recently because they have no idea who is.
00:05:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
but
00:05:42
Zak
So maybe Leo Sienza or Casper Yander?
00:05:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
We signed in this transfer window.
00:05:47
Zak
Because like, oh, actually, Damien Downs. There you go. One of those three. That's all the players.
00:05:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
butre back on goalkeepers. It's George Long.
00:05:55
Zak
Oh, okay. Yeah, no, sorry. I kind of forget he exists. Right.
00:05:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, the next on the list is going to upset you. So, 67 rated attacking midfielder brought in this window.
00:06:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not bought in this window. Returned from loan this window.
00:06:12
Zak
Oh, you're going to say Matsuki, and I'm not really surprised.
00:06:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
but
00:06:17
Zak
Again, like, goes to a second-rate Turkish. I'm trying to think about how people at EAFC would do these ratings rather than myself, because, again, like, Jay Robinson being as low as he is a criminal.
00:06:29
Zak
So, and I'm sure he'll have, like, one good season, and they'll be like, here's his new card, it's 97 or whatever. I saw one floating around for Yoshida in 98. Yeah.
00:06:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
absolutely That's insane.
00:06:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
What would you think... sort of These numbers, as made up as they are, they come broken down into like subsets, right? So you've got six different subsets of stat where it's like pace, shooting, passing, dribbling, defending, or physicality.
00:07:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
What would you say is Matsuki's key strength out of those?
00:07:05
Zak
It's got to be... He's had coordinates for all of those things. But bear in mind that he's the only one willing to take shots off from a distance. Maybe shooting?
00:07:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's what I would have said. is Top stat is pace. so so
00:07:20
Zak
Right. Okay.
00:07:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
just
00:07:23
Zak
Again, shows you shows you how much of research they do into anything outside like the top leagues, right?
00:07:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's It is interesting. in Next up on the list, Nathan Wood. Where are you what do you think his rating sits?
00:07:40
Zak
Like 68, 69. sixty eight sixty nine
00:07:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, 68. I mean, are are we
00:07:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Overall, are we disappointed with how low these are? Or are these like a reasonable reflection
Impact of Premier League History on Ratings
00:07:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
of, wow, this club was the second worst team in Premier League history?
00:07:52
Zak
We... Yeah, we have the second worst team in Premier League history, mate. Like...
00:07:58
Zak
What you expect? You know? Like, have the second worst team in Premier League history. And that is reflected in the scores, right?
00:08:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:06
Zak
And like, you know, you would you would you put any of these players in the 80s?
00:08:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
in the eighty s but but i mean Not in the in the 60s.
00:08:11
Zak
Probably...
00:08:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think Nathan Wood's been...
00:08:16
Zak
Has Nathan Wood done enough in the last... year but you're You're looking at him about over the last couple of games. If you think about when they did these ratings, probably over the last season, you're thinking, if you're looking the Premier League seasons for Nathan Wood, are you telling me that it's like 70s worthy?
00:08:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:34
Zak
Okay.
00:08:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
mean I think so.
00:08:36
Zak
I think you're just upset that there's that that they don't think we're very good.
00:08:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
but think I think it's kind of a bit harsh.
00:08:40
Zak
Yeah.
00:08:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're right, you're right. Okay, wait but let's pause it there, have a break, and have a quick word from our sponsors at Bionique.
00:09:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, mate, we are back. Next on the list, another new sign in this summer. Who are you thinking comes in one point above Nathan Wood?
00:09:41
Zak
the Out of all of them, the most relatively unknown, it's either going to be Leo Siense because of where his background is, or Kasper Yander. That's one of the two are I think it's going to be.
00:09:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it is Joshua k Quasi who...
00:09:55
Zak
Oh, interesting. Yeah, though again, like anyone who I'm thinking Bundesliga 2, right? Because that's that's basically what they're to look at.
00:10:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:10:03
Zak
They're to like, well, it's not Bundesliga, so it's not going to be 70 to 80 to shove him in the sixty s
00:10:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Uh-huh. Quasi comes in with some slightly interesting substats. Obviously, we knew he was pacey and physical, so he gets an 81 in pace and a 76 in physicality.
00:10:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
But 48 passing, is that reflective of what we've seen so far? i think, gosh, that's probably fair. Yeah.
00:10:30
Zak
That's actually quite... Definitely part of the game that needs to work on, isn't it?
00:10:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:10:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Next up, mate, he's been in the game 472 years and only managed to get the end of 70.
00:10:41
Zak
Oh, Alex McCarthy.
00:10:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah,
00:10:43
Zak
Well, I mean, it's still it's still better than the other two goalkeepers we have, which is, I guess, a positive. And it shows you how little they pay attention to it, that you've got...
00:10:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah and...
00:10:53
Zak
you've got You've not got Dylan Moody at all. But you have the other guy, who I've already forgotten his name because I feel awful, Witten Marsh or whatever.
00:11:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Whitmarsh, O'Brien, yeah.
00:11:02
Zak
Yeah, and he, don't think he's played even in the squad for a long time. So, yeah. i'm I'm surprised that McCarthy being 70, to be honest.
00:11:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:11:15
Zak
But hey-ho, what do I know?
00:11:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
right getting towards like the top end ratings of the squad uh some of these are are are interesting, right? So coming in also at 70 rated, someone who, I mean, based off of last season's performance, 70 rated is probably generous, but based off of this season's performance, feels slightly hard done by. So maybe it's about right.
00:11:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wee-Man, Ryan Fraser.
00:11:44
Zak
Oh, okay.
00:11:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
So he gets a whopping 46 on physicality though, which which is probably reasonable.
00:11:47
Zak
Yeah.
00:11:52
Zak
Look, considering he went down, he got taken out, went down in the the South Coast derby and somehow miraculously got back up and continued running. Nah, having it.
00:12:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:12:03
Zak
Physicality is higher than that. Plus, even one ahead of that last game.
00:12:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Also 70 rated, Ronnie Edwards. Obviously, young player of the year for QPR last season, right?
00:12:14
Zak
That checks out.
00:12:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
So...
00:12:16
Zak
Yeah, but also solid championship player, right? And I feel like they can't be willing to put anyone... as like a good player if they're in the championship, apart from, I guess, really specific cases.
00:12:29
Zak
So it doesn't surprise me that a young player in the championship will obviously be 70 to 80, can't be 80 to 90. Again, like it's probably a lot more thought that goes into it than that, but that it's reflected in the scores.
00:12:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah.
00:12:44
Zak
That's my problem.
00:12:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
And our last player also at 70 rated, Damien Downs.
00:12:52
Zak
Interesting. As I said, I thought I'd expected him to be lower only because of him coming from Bundesliga. Like two, right? And that's that's always going to be...
00:12:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:13:02
Zak
I just have a feeling that... yeah I just had a feeling that they would do them harsher. So that's that's good.
00:13:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Same pace and same shooting as Ryan Fraser, interestingly, stat-wise. But, okay, we're going to say less shooting than McCarthy, but I actually think goalkeeper stats work slightly differently.
00:13:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
So let's not think about that too much.
00:13:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
don't know. It's almost like a game about footballers on cards could be considered a bit dumb. I don't know. but that I don't know, mate. yeah I'm still going to sit there and try and build a whole squad of Saints players, so who am I kidding?
00:13:43
Zak
Shocker.
00:13:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Next up, we're moving into the 70 plus territory. So these are like rare silvers, I think.
00:13:53
Zak
Right.
00:13:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think is how they do it.
Evolution of FIFA Ratings and Arcade-like Nature
00:13:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
So... Ross Stewart with a rating of 71. Yeah. Do
00:14:00
Zak
um'm I'm surprised he got higher rating than Damien Downs because Damien Downs scored goals last season.
00:14:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah you think that's like because it was a...
00:14:06
Zak
That's where I'm at. I mean, he was in a Premier League squad.
00:14:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, do you think it's because he's like a known quantity before and it sort of carries over?
00:14:12
Zak
Yeah, I think it was because he was in the Premier League squad that was in the Premier League last year for Southampton.
00:14:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that makes sense.
00:14:21
Zak
He had that 30-minute spell in the Liverpool game where he played well until he got injured.
00:14:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so it's it's fascinating to me that we're at this point and we've got lots of players left. noise We've got 17 players, so basically our entire first team squad and matchday subs and some left.
00:14:44
Zak
Right.
00:14:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they are all in this range of 72 to 74. Because
00:14:51
Zak
Wow.
00:14:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
74 is the ah ah top tip, the highest you can be as a silver before you go into gold, and none of our players are gold. So...
00:15:00
Zak
I can't believe that gold... Is that like a platinum? Is that... Because I don't understand how gold this is or what bronze is.
00:15:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
a Gold goes from 75 to, I don't know whatever the highest rated gold card is this year.
00:15:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's normally Mbappe or Haaland. think it's Haaland at 90, something like that.
00:15:23
Zak
i
00:15:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then they hit on top of that, they do special cards that slowly go up in numbers as the year goes on.
00:15:33
Zak
Right.
00:15:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, because...
00:15:35
Zak
Is that how your Sheeter ended up at 98?
00:15:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, you get, as the year goes on, you get, like, different promo cards for different things, and they'll do one, like, shapeshifters, where they bring, like, goalkeepers out as strikers and give them wacky stats, and then by the time you get to, like, the end of the game cycle and they do, like, footies and, like, everyone's a 99, basically.
00:15:38
Zak
okay
00:15:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Everyone who gets a special card gets, like, a 98 or a 99, and then all of a sudden you've got, like, 99-rated team of the season Cameron Archer. You're like, alright, well, okay, but
00:16:07
Zak
so So what you're saying is that none of this actually matters at all anymore. Because I always remember there used to be some level of realism. I'm guessing if this is for like ultimate team, is this not just arcadey, I guess.
00:16:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:16:20
Zak
So it's based in realism, sort of, and then it just becomes an arcade game by the end.
00:16:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
uh this is this yeah so their base cards which is obviously what it's all revealed is sort of based entirely on their like their actual stats it's how they'll play in the game that's not for that's their sort of base uh and then as time goes on yeah the the cards get ridiculous as the special cards come out uh
00:16:46
Zak
wow
00:16:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
the top rated gold card, by the way, for reference, I have managed to bring it up. There are 491 rated gold players, uh, and they are Mo Salah, Kylian Mbappe, uh, and then from the, uh, women's Spanish league, uh, Conca and Segura.
00:17:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, yeah.
00:17:07
Zak
sure
00:17:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Uh, lofty heights, right? But, uh, but yeah, 17 of our players in that like top tier of silver range probably makes it inclined to agree that we've got a very good championship squad, right? Like the top two ratings you're likely to get in the championships.
00:17:27
Zak
I guess so, according to the... Yeah, but again, like, this is, this is our oh, they're a Premier League team. They're going to go down and come back up. here's the Here's the players that played in the Premier League.
00:17:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:17:38
Zak
All the players that played outside the Premier League, probably not so much. I'm surprised that Yanda and Siense and everybody, they've they've actually looked at and gone, yeah, they're all right, and put them in that 72-74 bracket.
00:17:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
well
00:17:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, well, look, we will fly through them and make some observations, I'm sure, on some of these substats as well. But first, a break and a message from our partners at Zencastr.
00:18:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform, and Zencaster came out the clear winner. With 4K video recording from your phone, and AOA editing that automatically removes all those ums and ahs, it's super easy to start podcast. It sounds great and is delivered efficiently.
00:18:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description and learn more about Zencaster. All right, mate. look, let's let's group some of these together.
Grouping and Analyzing Player Ratings
00:18:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
In the 72 range, Shea Charles, Wellington, Cameron Archer, and Tom I mean...
00:18:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
that's really interesting, like width and breadth, right? Like Wellington came to us from Brazil, which presumably is a reasonably unknown quantity.
00:18:45
Zak
Yeah.
00:18:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Archer really didn't, you know, hit the ground running all that well last season.
00:18:56
Zak
They scored some goals, though.
00:18:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Didn't really get the chance. Yeah.
00:18:58
Zak
Like, two.
00:18:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Shea Charles made a name for himself in the championship with Sheffield Wednesday and Fellows, you know, it was consistent in the championship for West Brom. So it's interesting. They're all still sort of grouped in similar ways.
00:19:12
Zak
Yeah. But again, like... I'm a bit baffled by a lot of the things that you've said anyway. So I'm not really surprised.
00:19:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:19:23
Zak
But that I know. I don't know what to say. Because a lot of these just kind of feel kind of feel made up based off of nothing.
00:19:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh,
00:19:32
Zak
Like, Wellington's a surprise. But I guess, again, he played the Premier League. He made a debut. He debuted in a win, right? Like, so... It depends.
00:19:43
Zak
Do they have individual researchers for each of the leagues? Like, i would be I would be fascinated to figure out how they do these ratings more than anything else in the world.
00:19:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
I wish I knew.
00:19:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
and At this point, they probably just like plug Opta into ChatGPT and say spit out the EA ratings.
00:19:56
Zak
Oh, no.
00:19:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
her
00:20:00
Zak
I bet you if Sheffield United squad have, like, the top players, that's probably true.
00:20:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah And Wellington with a passing stat of 66, which is the lowest of the bunch, which is but maybe also reflective, right?
00:20:11
Zak
Interesting.
00:20:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Also in that 72 range, Sammy Adozi and Jack Stephens are the last two. So, i mean...
00:20:24
Zak
Well, Dozie played championsship Champions League football last year, Vanderlect.
00:20:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's rated as high as our captain who spent half of the season suspended.
00:20:36
Zak
quantity, known Premier League quantity, not at his best.
00:20:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Hmm.
00:20:39
Zak
It have been interesting to see where he sat throughout the last couple of seasons because I imagine it's not much higher.
00:20:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Now, one of these substats that draws my attention, and I think Jack's defense has been done dire misjustice here, he's got 42 pace.
00:20:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
but
00:20:57
Zak
It's like one the only ones that ever makes it into the box for some reason out of nowhere to like try and score goals.
00:21:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:21:02
Zak
So I don't really agree with that.
00:21:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah I think he's been hard done by.
00:21:04
Zak
sort so He's also got back a couple of times this campaign already so make vital saves that you wouldn't have been able to do if since you couldn't run.
00:21:17
Zak
but there we are.
00:21:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:20
Zak
It's not a think mate. A of this is just arbitrary made up.
00:21:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
What? That's crazy, mate. These are the pinnacle of research statistics. Anyway, coming in next, a batch of four at 73.
00:21:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, interestingly, all real similar ratings, similar stats. Joe Aribo, Gavin Pizzunu, Ryan Manning, and our new signing, ah Elias Schiller.
00:21:49
Zak
Interesting.
00:21:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Jalot with a low passing stat 68 is a theme I'm seeing with our new signings yeah
00:21:56
Zak
That's a bit of a worry, isn't it? All of these statistic building. but again, like... don't know how accurate it is, right?
00:22:07
Zak
They still probably be put Ronaldo at like 90 every year.
00:22:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
but but also it equals Sammy Adozi on his pace stat so rapid is what seeing
00:22:16
Zak
Well... We'll have to see whether gets a debut, right?
00:22:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, interesting.
Season Predictions and New Signings Analysis
00:22:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
interesting And yeah, like Manning and Aribo, just fascinating for me, like the trajectory of how this season is likely to play out for them, right? Like Aribo is going to potentially struggle to get back in, has like work to do to prove he's good enough to get into Will Steele's picture, I guess.
00:22:39
Zak
Not only that, it's it's like... where I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up going in January it doesn't really feature until that point if he's not really interested.
00:22:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:22:47
Zak
and he and they know that he's got like less than a year on his contract, so...
00:22:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah And then Manning, of course, so the player that's exceeding expectations. Just like solid all-round stat 73 obviously reflects in the card. So ah guess that's fair enough. but enough last four 73s,
00:23:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
uh, Caspianda, Adam Armstrong, Mads Rorschlev, and, uh, Leo Sienza. So like you say, whether they're just, they've signed these players, so they must be better than the players they've got. Give them a card above it or, or coming in as sort of known quantities.
00:23:26
Zak
or Or they think the Bundesliga is better than the championship. That's the other thing you could think of.
00:23:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Hmm. Yeah.
00:23:31
Zak
Because, like again, I'm really surprised that, you know, I'm surprised at how high they are considering I expected them to be lower off the basis of, oh, Bundesliga 2. So maybe I'll run. Maybe they do do a lot of research.
00:23:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
but
00:23:42
Zak
There's probably some guy who works for EA raging right now.
00:23:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah ah but Look, I mean, these stats, I think these substats sort of reflect from the profiles you've done my understanding of their game, which is interesting in itself, right?
00:23:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because Caspy and I has very high passing and very high dribbling and quite a high physicality, but not great shooting.
00:23:56
Zak
That's true.
00:24:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Mads Rorschleff has not great passing, but good physicality, good defensive. And Sienza, again, like really good dribbling stats, like high dribbling, but not great physicality.
00:24:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
So...
00:24:23
Zak
We saw that with him being taken it out like six times on the weekend.
00:24:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:24:26
Zak
but That might also have been the occasion.
00:24:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:24:27
Zak
Okay.
00:24:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
all Alright, mate. And then the interesting interesting part, the the top three in the squad are three best players, which, according to EA, which I don't know ah ah don't know if I agree with, is where at.
00:24:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm sure you've worked out by power of deduction, but Flynn Downs, Taylor Harbour-Bellis, and Finna Zaz.
00:24:49
Zak
Where's Arbor? Just out interest.
00:24:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Armour is 73. He was in that last group, so yeah, he...
00:24:52
Zak
Right. Okay. Taylor Harbour-Bennis, England cap.
00:24:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:24:59
Zak
Finnazzar's known championship quantity that scored a lot of goals.
00:25:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:03
Zak
And who was the last one?
00:25:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Flynn Downs.
00:25:06
Zak
Interesting. Very, very interesting. Because he was really good. I think he's he's a very, very known championship quantity as well though, right?
00:25:15
Zak
Like it's not just us he played for, been on loan a few times, been good, solid player.
00:25:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:22
Zak
But I do find it very interesting that like in a championship squad, I know Arma had a rough season last season, but you've got like Arma, goal scorer, scored like the most goals in the championship for the for ah for us ever.
00:25:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:35
Zak
ah but a rung below a midfielder. But I guess that's the other thing. It's like they probably see him as like the key piece of the puzzle and the orchestrator of the entirety of our midfield. It isn't really not true. Like we've always tended to struggle without him because we haven't had a...
00:25:52
Zak
good enough replacement but then also at the moment we're struggling with him alongside charles but i think that that surprises me lot i guess but at the same time what is the difference between two points anyway like it's 72 73 74 i'm surprised none of them actually am surprised none of them are higher now i'm starting get annoyed about it i don't even even know why
00:26:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right, mate. Well, look, that is just about all we've got time for. You're right. Look, based on those numbers, it's promising. Do those numbers mean anything? Probably not, but it is interesting to look at.
00:26:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you very much, Zach, for joining me and waffling about a game that I know i love and you, it's not your top footballing game. doesn't even make the top two. Thank you everyone for listening. We will be back tomorrow to preview our trip to Hull.
Audience Interaction and EA Ratings Discussion
00:26:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Until then, let us know what you think of the EA ratings on all of the socials. We're on all of them. We're on YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Blue Sky. All of them.
00:26:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let us know. Drop us a hit in the comments. Thank you very much for listening. We'll be back tomorrow. Until then, have a wonderful day.
00:27:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.