theScore’s Gianluca Nesci takes a deep dive into the ratings from the newly released FIFA 18 video game.
F | MF | D | GK | FUT Icons
Goalkeeper
Club
Rating
Manuel Neuer
Bayern Munich
92
David De Gea
Manchester United
90
Gianluigi Buffon
Juventus
89
Thibaut Courtois
Chelsea
89
Hugo Lloris
Tottenham
88
Jan Oblak
Atletico Madrid
88
Samir Handanovic
Inter Milan
87
Petr Cech
Arsenal
86
Stephane Ruffier
Saint-Etienne
85
Marc-Andre ter Stegen
Barcelona
85
With his combination of size, shot-stopping ability, and celebrated technique with his feet, Manuel Neuer rightly retains his position as the top-rated goalkeeper after yet another stellar year between the sticks at Bayern Munich.
His main competitor for the title of world’s best custodian is, once again, David De Gea. The pliable Spaniard is arguably a better pure shot-stopper than Neuer, and is in prime position to overtake the German should he encounter any struggles this season.
Gianluigi Buffon continues to defy conventional wisdom, in both real life and video game form; now 39 years old, the iconic Italian is actually rated higher than he was in last year’s edition of the video game franchise – he stood at 88 overall in FIFA 17 – and continues to showcase that age really is just a number.
Elsewhere, Stephane Ruffier, one of the world’s most underrated goalkeepers, makes a deserved appearance in the top 10, while Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who, like his compatriot Neuer, excels with the ball at his feet, gets a deserved boost from last year’s edition to crack the list.
A familiar face could soon be roaming the touchline at the Allianz Arena after Jupp Heynckes confirmed talks to rejoin Bayern Munich on a temporary basis.
After Bayern opted to part ways with Carlo Ancelotti following the club’s 3-0 loss in the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain, Heynckes emerged as a favourite to succeed the Italian manager and take charge of the defending Bundesliga champion for the fourth time.
Heynckes confirmed talks with Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, president Uli Hoeness, and sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic are ongoing, but said he’s eager to assess the situation at the club before committing himself.
“Nothing is cut and dried yet,” Heynckes told German outlet Rheinische Post, as translated by Stefan Buczko of ESPN FC. “I first have to analyse the whole situation. After all, four-and-a-half years have passed since I left Bayern and football has continued to change.”
It’s believed that Bayern officials have asked to assume the role until the summer as the club presumably searches for a replacement without being forced into rushing its decision considering the limited options available at this time of year.
The 72-year-old last managed the Bavarian outfit in 2013 when he helped Bayern win the treble before retiring.
Heynckes previously managed Bayern from 1987-91 during a spell that saw him hoist the Bundesliga title twice. He returned on an interim basis in 2009 after Jurgen Klinsmann was fired, and was hired once again two years later to replace Louis van Gaal.
His last stint was Heynckes’ most successful as the former Borussia Monchengladbach forward helped Bayern win the league title, the DFB-Pokal, and the Champions League.
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff has done a nice job of spreading the ball around through the season’s first quarter. Sometimes it’s Sammy Watkins and Robert Woods who take over. Or Cooper Kupp. Or one tight end (Tyler Higbee), or the other (Gerald Everett). But there has been one constant: Todd Gurley.
“I try to remind myself every week to continue to look for him,” Goff said after Sunday’s 35-30 win over the Dallas Cowboys, “and to continue to try to get him the ball in any situation possible.”
Todd Gurley has powered the Rams’ offense, which is averaging an NFL-best 35.5 points per game. Matthew Emmons/USA TODAY Sports
Is this type of workload sustainable over the course of a 16-game season.
“That’s a good question,” said Rams coach Sean McVay, who has pondered that himself. “I think a lot of it is going to be how Todd’s feeling. But you also want to make sure you have a long-term, big-picture perspective in mind with Todd because of how important he is to us. … You want him to be able to be fresh as the season progresses, as well. So whether we tailor that back or not is going to be predicated on how he feels. But right now he’s done a great job.”
Gurley has gained more than 100 yards on the ground in back-to-back weeks, after failing to reach triple-digit rushing yards in 20 straight games. He has hauled in 20 of his 22 targets, according to ESPN’s internal statistics. And he has scored seven touchdowns, one more than he scored in four times the amount of games last season.
2016
2017
Offensive snaps per game
44.4 (4th among RBs)
49.5 (4th among RBs)
Percentage of team’s snaps
74.1 (3rd among RBs)
82.2 (3rd among RBs)
Touches per game
20.1 (5th)
26.5 (1st)
Percentage of team’s touches
46.7 (2nd)
53.5 (1st)
Gurley is averaging 26.5 touches per game this season, after averaging 20.1 touches per game in 2016. Last year, he played in 74.1 percent of the Rams’ offensive snaps, more than eight percentage points lower than where it is this season. But the Rams’ internal data has shown that Gurley’s body holds up well with rigorous workloads, as does this: Gurley is averaging 2.4 yards per carry after first contact in the fourth quarter, compared to an average of 1.7 yards in the first three quarters.
“There’s a lot of different playmakers that we feel comfortable with,” McVay said, “and I think the best thing that Jared has done a good job of through the first quarter of the season is, ‘Hey, let the ball go where my progression based on the play dictates.’ That’s why I think you’re seeing guys get involved.”
Gareth Bale’s a major doubt for Real Madrid’s pair of Champions League clashes against former club Tottenham, according to the Guardian’s Stuart James.
The Welshman’s fresh calf injury, which will reportedly require up to a month of rehabilitation, is yet another setback for a player who’s struggled to stay healthy since his move to the Spanish capital in 2013. Various other muscle injuries to his hamstring and ankle have cost him dozens of matches in the royal white kit.
Bale looked like his old self in last week’s 3-1 win over Borussia Dortmund, launching a vicious volley past goalkeeper Roman Burki to kick-start the scoring.
The calf issue forced him off in the 85th minute, and he was ruled out of Wales’ final two World Cup qualifiers after missing Madrid’s weekend victory over Espanyol.
Related: Who’s whistling now? Bale silences detractors with masterful display
Madrid will host Spurs on Oct. 17 before travelling to Wembley on Nov. 1. If Bale needs more than four weeks to recover from the injury, he’ll likely be sidelined for both contests.
Bale’s yet to face the north London side in a competitive fixture since his big-money switch to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Isco stands to fill in as Bale’s replacement in Zinedine Zidane’s lineup, slotting behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema as a free-roaming No. 10. The same combination worked well as Madrid claimed its second consecutive Champions League title last season.
