The 2019/20 Football League season is in full swing, and October’s international break is fast approaching.
It would be an understatement to say that the season so far has flown by, and we’ve now reached the point of the year where FIFA 20 has been released – much to the delight of gamers and football fans around the globe.
Whilst people often turn to the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool and Manchester City etc, we know that the loyal EFL fans love to see who is rated highest for their beloved team.
So, here at FLW, we have opted to list the top 20 rated EFL players from the new game, which is, of course, dominated by teams from the Championship (sorry League One and Two lovers).
From 20, here’s who features…
- Joe Lolley – 75
The Nottingham Forest winger just sneaks into this list, along with a number of others who are rated 75.
Lolley scored 11 goals and registered 11 assists last season, despite Forest’s disappointing finish in the Championship.
He’s part of a much better side this term, with Sabri Lamouchi hoping to get similar numbers out of the 27-year-old.
Another year like he had – and even a promotion – could propel the winger towards the 80s in 2021.
- Ahmed Hegazi – 75
Another player on 75 is Ahmed Hegazi – the West Bromwich Albion centre-back.
Hegazi was superb for the Baggies last season, helping them to the play-off semi-finals.
Slaven Bilic has retained the service of the Egyptian this season, and despite him missing the start of the campaign, expect him to have a big impact as the season progresses.
A quality operator in real life, and on the game.
- Charlie Austin – 75
Hegazi’s new West Brom teammate, Charlie Austin is up next.
It’s been a tough couple of years for the striker, and he’s not exactly hit the ground running at the Hawthorns.
However, we know he can score goals at this level and he’s also done it in the Premier League.
One to watch as the Baggies push for promotion and someone you could have success with on FIFA.
- Terrance Kongolo – 75
The defender has taken the step down into the Championship with Huddersfield Town, and given his previous appearances in the Premier League, it is little surprise he’s in the top 20 rated players of FIFA 20.
Capable at left-back or centre-back, he’s a good option for your FIFA side, as well as new Town boss Danny Cowley.
However, given Huddersfield’s current struggles, this rating might not be as pretty 12 months down the line.
- Ivan Cavaleiro – 75
The winger is currently on loan with Fulham from Wolverhampton Wanderers and will be looking for a second promotion in three seasons from the Championship.
Cavaleiro helped Wolves to the title in 2018, and will be hoping to do the same under Scott Parker at Craven Cottage.
Pace of 86 and a shot of over 70 make him a decent option on FIFA, with Cavaleiro already showcasing his talents in the opening months of the Championship season.
- Giannelli Imbula – 75
The defensive midfielder is spending the season out on loan with Lecce, but the Stoke City man would be the 15th highest rated player were he still strutting his stuff in the EFL.
That was always unlikely, though, as he hasn’t been a part of things at Stoke for a couple of years now, with Nathan Jones not really taking a shine to him in the summer.
However, it’s nice to know what Stoke could’ve had…
- Kiko Casilla – 75
The Leeds United goalkeeper has a rating of 75, despite the odd howler in the Championship during his time at Elland Road.
Casilla has won three Champions League trophies with Real Madrid, and his spell with Los Blancos is probably why his rating is as high as it is.
Nevertheless, Casilla is still a good goalkeeper at Championship level, posting numbers from the mid-70s right across the board on FIFA.
Who knows, if Leeds get over the line in the race for promotion, he might even get better on the game…
- Filip Krovinović – 75
Krovinović is the final player rated 75 in this list, with the 24-year-old another playing under Slaven Bilic at West Brom.
The playmaker has real craft about his game and he’s showing that in the Championship this season.
In terms of FIFA, he isn’t the quickest, but his passing and dribbling is excellent on the game.
One to watch in 2019/20.
- Matheus Pereira – 76
ANOTHER Baggie.
Pereira is at West Brom this year and has played a part in Bilic’s fast start to life in the Championship.
Like Krovinović, Pereira has good dribbling on the game, whilst his pace could be a useful weapon for anyone playing with West Brom.
It’s proving to be useful for Bilic too, with the Baggies already well in the hunt for promotion back to the Premier League.
- Fabricio – 76
The 31-year-old is currently away from Fulham on loan, but in a similar case to Imbula earlier on, we’ve got him in here as a ‘what if’.
In terms of FIFA 20, there is only one goalkeeper rated higher than Fabri, but he’s an England international.
However, the game doesn’t really reflect real life, and Parker has faith in Marcus Bettinelli so far this season (rated 72 on the new FIFA).
- Badou Ndiaye – 76
Another Stoke City player enters the list here in the form of Ndiaye, despite the midfielder sitting some way down the pecking order at the bet365 Stadium during the start of the season.
He’s making his way slowly back into the fold after a loan spell in Turkey, and his FIFA card makes impressive reading.
85 pace and 80+ physicality is not to be sniffed at, whilst high 70s are achieved when it comes to dribbling.
Maybe he could be one of Stoke’s saviours? Or maybe just a good option on FIFA…
- Andre Ayew – 76
We weren’t quite sure if we’d see Ayew kicking around in the Championship this season, but after a summer of speculation, he’s still a Swansea City player and battling for promotion at the Liberty Stadium.
There’s no denying Ayew’s class; he’s done it at levels above the Championship and with a year in the division, he could fire Swansea out of the division.
Decent numbers across the board on FIFA underline his ability, which he needs to show in the Championship for Steve Cooper.
- Sol Bamba – 76
This certainly raised eyebrows across the FLW team, but when you consider that Bamba helped Cardiff to promotion and then played in the Premier League, it’s a little bit easier to understand.
The experienced Ivorian is a solid enough defender at this level, and Neil Warnock has got the best out of him during his spell with the Bluebirds.
In terms of FIFA, his 51 pace might be a concern, but he’s got good defensive numbers and is extremely physical – you just might not want him up against the game’s rapid forwards.
- Anthony Knockaert – 76
The Fulham loanee was someone that we thought might be higher, especially with him cutting it in the Premier League with Brighton and Hove Albion for a couple of years.
Nevertheless, he’s got good numbers on his 2020 FIFA card, which is great news for Fulham.
He’s a keen dribbler, and cutting in from the right, can put his shooting ability to good use.
He’ll be a favourite amongst the Craven Cottage faithful.
- Pontus Jansson – 76
Despite leaving Leeds United for Brentford in the summer, Jansson retains his place as one of the Championship’s best defenders on FIFA.
The Swedish international has a rating of 76, which, in truth, could be higher given his performances over the last three seasons.
He’s physical and has great defensive numbers, but perhaps his pace lets him down.
But, he’s captaining Brentford now, and his leadership skills are certainly helping the side in real life.
- Pablo Hernandez – 76
Jansson’s ex-Leeds teammate, Pablo Hernandez, is just ahead of him.
One of Jansson’s favourite players from his Leeds days, Hernandez shows no signs of slowing down despite reaching his mid-30s.
The former Spanish international’s pace might be decreasing, but he’s got excellent dribbling stats, with classy passing and a wicked shot to match.
Leeds love him, as do their supporters.
- Christopher Schindler – 76
The Huddersfield Town skipper comes in at number four after a good few years in the Premier League with the Terriers.
Schindler’s defensive stats are good, whilst he’s physically very strong on his FIFA card.
In terms of the reality of the Championship, Town could do with more, though.
They’ve had a tough start under Cowley and are facing another relegation.
Schindler needs to drag them back to safety.
- Jack Butland – 78
This will surprise a few given his early season form, but at the end of the day, Butland has been to World Cups with England and played in the Premier League for large spells of his career.
However, like Schindler and Huddersfield, Butland needs to get back to his best to pull Stoke away from relegation trouble.
If he can’t do that and his performances don’t improve, his FIFA card might begin to slide.
- Tom Cairney – 78
Cairney was the man to fire Fulham to promotion during the 2017/18 season, with the midfielder’s goal at Wembley securing a play-off final win.
Despite Fulham’s struggles in the Premier League, he still came out of last season with his reputation high, which is reflected in this FIFA card.
Whilst his stats are good, you feel his shooting (72), could be a lot higher given some of the worldies he has scored.
Nevertheless, he’s a good passer, whilst his dribbling stats are also good.
- Aleksandar Mitrovic – 78
He might be tied with Cairney and Butland on a 78 rating, but Mitrovic is the EFL’s best rated player on FIFA.
The Serbian forward has a lot of attributes that make him a threat on the game and in real life.
His 80+ physicality stands out, along with his 77 shooting.
Pace, passing and dribbling aren’t his strong points (according to FIFA), but you can’t really begrudge him this particular title.
He scores goals.