Anyone playing or even minutely following EA Sports FIFA 17 is well aware of the fact that pace is one of the strong facets of the game. While many would argue that speed of a player doesn’t hold much of an importance, if you have played the game, you know that it does make load of difference.
While talking about speed specifically, it seldom happens that our minds wander towards the goalkeepers. The common notion is that the shot-stoppers are not generally faster than the outfield players, perhaps because we don’t see them sprinting down the field.
However, the makers of the game have forced us to think that there are actually a few custodians who are faster than some of the biggest outfield players out there. At least, the ratings make us believe so.
Therefore, for comparison’s sake, we have compiled a list of five goalkeepers and have put them on the same pedestal as few of the outfield players. Here are five such comparisons where the goalkeepers are faster than the outfield players.
#5 Joe Hart and Steven Gerrard
The Manchester City goalkeeper, currently playing for Torino on loan has been given a higher pace rating than the Liverpool legend in the game. While Hart has been given a speed rating of 59, Gerrard has been rated at a meagre 54.
The English midfielder was playing for the LA Galaxy when the game was released and was given an overall rating of 81. Hart, on the other hand, has been rated at 84 and is one of the best goalkeepers in the game.
With more pace, a goalkeeper can perfectly play the role of a sweeper keeper, something which a certain Pep Guardiola needs to take note of.
#4 Manuel Neuer and Michael Carrick
The best goalkeeper in the sport, Manuel Neuer’s pace in the game is rated at 60, which is fair enough given his ability to roam around the box and dictate terms from the back. On the other hand, Carrick, one of the most underrated midfielders the sport has ever seen has a pace rating of 52.
The Englishman, even at the age of 35 years has helped his side click this term and United have only lost one match when the midfielder has started. A strong argument can be made of the fact that Carrick does not need pace on his side, given his exemplary vision and near-perfect ability to read the game.
Neuer, as we all know has conceded just 13 goals this term in the Bundesliga as his side sit atop the German top tier’s table.
#3 Keylor Navas and Darren Fletcher
Quite naturally, as this list has just been compiled for comparison’s sake, most of the outfield players are defensive midfielders because they don’t need speed on their side.
The Real Madrid custodian has his pace rated at 61 which makes him the third fastest goalkeeper in the game. The former Manchester United player, on the other hand, has his pace rated at 54.
The Costa Rican has received a fair amount of criticism this season for his below-par outings for Los Blancos and rumours have emerged that Florentino Perez wants to replace him with either David de Gea or Thibaut Courtois.
Fletcher, who plays for West Bromwich Albion, has appeared in 27 matches for them and has two goals and provided two assists this season.
Also Read: How to get Ronaldinho in FIFA 17
#2 Hugo Lloris and Peter Crouch
The second fastest shot-stopper in the game is Tottenham Hotspur’s skipper, with a pace rating of 64. There are a host of outfield players in the game who must be slower than the Frenchman, but we compare him with former Spurs star, the ‘Robot man’ Peter Crouch.
The now Stoke City striker has a pace rating of 53, which is somewhat justified given his age and the amount of time he has spent at the top level.
Lloris has had a stellar season so far with the Spurs, as the North London side rests on the second spot in the Premier League table. Crouch’s Stoke, on the other hand, are currently placed at ninth on the table, and the towering striker has helped them with four goals and two assists.
#1 Guillermo Ochoa and Antoine Griezmann
Well, this one is a shocker and a big one! Mexico’s Ochoa has been given a massive 87 rating for speed and his fellow La Liga star Antoine Griezmann is one rating point behind with 86.
The Frenchman has an overall rating of 88 in the game and is one of the biggest stars in the sport. Ochoa, who rose to prominence after his swashbuckling performance against Brazil in the World Cup, has an overall rating of 80.
Who’s the faster of two, you decide!
Also Read: EA Sports FIFA 17: Fastest XI
