It’s been just one month since the release of FIFA 20, but with almost a third of the Premier League season behind us, we’re already looking forward to the annual FIFA Ultimate Team Winter Refresh.
In addition to new versions of ICONS and new Ones to Watch players, FIFA 19’s Winter Refresh saw upgraded ratings for over 130 players, so we can expect the same, if not more, for this year’s edition. The update, which took place last February, saw in-form players receive a permanent ratings boost for their performance over the first half of the season.
After 10 weeks of Premier League football, there are a number of players who have staked their claim for an upgrade. We’ve selected four of our favourites for the refresh, and to spice things up a bit, we’ve picked out a wild card too. Let’s run through our selections.
Caglar Soyuncu (74)
What a difference a year has made for Leicester’s Caglar Soyuncu. After spending last season behind Harry Maguire, Jonny Evans and Wes Morgan in the pecking order, he has been thrust into centre stage following Maguire’s big money move to Manchester United in June. Foxes manager Brendan Rodgers refused to panic buy a replacement for the England international, instead keeping the faith with Soyuncu.
So far, the 23-year-old has risen to the occasion. Soyuncu has been an ever-present this season, playing all 810 minutes of Leicester’s Premier League campaign. The Turkish international ranks among the top ten for tackles made amongst defenders (22) and has made the sixth most clearances (49) in the league. He has all the attributes required of a defender in modern football, including pace and ability on the ball. His FIFA 20 card currently rates his pace and dribbling as 63 and 59 respectively. We expect Soyuncu to receive a gold card in the Winter Refresh, at the very least.
James Maddison (79)
Based on last season alone, we expected James Maddison to come into the 2019/20 Premier League campaign with a rating of at least 80. The Leicester midfielder scored seven goals and registered seven assists in 36 appearances and created 13 ‘big chances’ last season – third amongst midfielders in the league. His excellent form was good enough for FIFA to upgrade his card from 75 to 79 this year, but we think Maddison deserves yet another ratings boost. The 22-year-old has picked up right where he left off, with three goals and two assists in just nine appearances.
When compared with the likes of Dele Alli (84) and Jesse Lingard (82), it only becomes more apparent that Maddison is criminally underrated. If his 82-rated Team of The Week card is any indication of what to expect, it’s almost certain that Maddison will receive a Winter Refresh upgrade and clear the 80 mark.
Tammy Abraham (76)
Chelsea never really replaced Diego Costa once he fell out of favour with former Blues manager Antonio Conte. Alvaro Morata was a big money flop, while Pedro, Eden Hazard, Michy Batshuayi and Olivier Giroud have all been deployed in the role with relatively little success. Turns out the solution to their number nine conundrum was under their nose the whole time, albeit out on loan at Aston Villa.
Tammy Abraham has returned to Stamford Bridge and made the centre forward role his own this season, bagging eight goals in just 10 appearances this season. He leads the Premier League in shots on target, with 17, and boasts an impressive 55% shooting accuracy. With this in mind, it’s safe to say his rating of 74 for shooting will receive a boost.
His sublime form has led to a return to the England fold, after failing to impress during his 2017 call up, and we’re sure he’ll make the shortlist for the FUT Winter Refresh. While his updated card probably won’t reach the heights of the 81-rated Team of the Week card he was awarded earlier this season, we expect a 78 rated card to become available after February’s update.
Mason Mount (75)
Much like the aforementioned Tammy Abraham, Mount returned to Chelsea following a successful loan spell in the Championship and has made an immediate impact under the mentorship of Frank Lampard. While Abraham has lead the line, Mount has chipped in with four goals and one assist in 10 appearances and has immediately looked at home in the top flight.
As Mason Mount continues to display his goal scoring prowess at the highest level, it becomes more apparent that his 68-rated shooting attribute requires a significant upgrade. In fact, when it comes to overall ratings, we find it hard to believe that the likes of Ravel Morrison (76) and Ashley Westwood (77) have higher figures than the former Derby loanee, and on current form, he’s primed for a big boost in February.
Richarlison (79)
Our pick for wild card may come as somewhat of a surprise given Everton’s struggles in the league this season, but nonetheless, Richarlison has lead the Toffees in goal involvement, with three goals and two assists so far. With frontmen Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Cenk Tosun and Moise Kean registering only three goals between them, Richarlison’s productivity has been crucial in keeping Everton above the drop zone. This season aside, we feel his initial rating of 79 isn’t reflective of his impressive performance last season – he notched an impressive 13 Premier League goals in the 2018/19 campaign as Everton finished eighth.
With none of Everton’s strikers making a firm push to make that role their own, Silva may be forced to deploy Richarlison in the number nine role, which would only boost his goal scoring numbers. However, Ex-Everton striker Louis Saha refused to place the blame on their misfiring forwards, instead telling Comparebet that it was “a combination of things that have gone wrong”.
All statistics sourced from The Premier League, correct as of October 30.
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