FIFA 14; A Look at the Philadelphia Union Roster

Goalkeepers

Zac MacMath - 63 overall
Oka Nikolov - 70 overall
Chris Konopka - 58 overall

Despite Konopka's trade to Toronot he starts off with the Union, at least until the first roster update is applied. It is interesting to see our first talking point of the roster right away in the keepers section. Nikolov is listed at a 70 overall, while young MacMath is only given a 63. When you take over John Hackworth's seat, will you be as faithful to MacMath, or will you opt for the experienced, higher rated, Nikolov?

In terms of other MLS players, Michael Gspurning of the Seattle Sounders is the highest ranked goalkeeper with a 74 overall ranking. Jimmy Nielsen (72) and Nick Rimando (71) are the only other keepers to rank above Nikolov and Dan Kennedy (70) rounds out the top 5.

Defenders

Amobi Okugo - 67 overall
Jeff Parke - 67 overall
Sheanon Williams - 66 overall
Ray Gaddis - 62 overall
Chris Albright - 60 overall
Fabinho - 58 overall
Don Anding - 51 overall

It's pretty fair to say that Okugo and Parke currently stand on level footing with Williams just behind them. Gaddis is also fairly rated just below the three more experience players along the back line. Fabinho's bad reputation from the A League seems to have followed him to FIFA 14. A rating that was a bit surprising to me was that of Chris Albright. A guy who can't find the field is rated above Fabinho and just behind Ray Gaddis. Surely the veteran must have some friends in EA Sports.

The top center back in FIFA 14 is Alessandro Nesta (76) of Montreal with 5 players behind him tied at 72 overall. Those next 5 centerbacks are Victor Bernardez (San Jose), Mikael Silvestre (Portland), Matteo Ferrari (Montreal), Omar Gonzalez (LA), and Matt Besler (Kansas City). The top right back is Vancouver's Lee Young Pyo (69) and the top left back is Heath Pearce (New York) with a 67.

Midfielders

Kleberson - 74 overall
Sebastien Le Toux - 69 overall
Gilberto Souza - 66 overall
Brian Carroll - 64 overall
Michael Farfan - 64 overall
Danny Cruz - 63 overall
Keon Daniel - 63 overall
Michael Lahoud - 62 overall
Roger Torres - 61 overall
Matt Kassel - 61 overall
Leo Fernandes - 57 overall

No surprise here as Kleberson is by far the best ranked player in the Union midfield with Le Toux in second. There is a bunch of average midfielders between 61 and 64. That seems to be a pretty good representation of the Union's midfield this year. The one surprise that we do have in the midfield rankings is that Gilberto, who has yet to see the pitch since moving to the Union is ranked third behind Kleberson and Le Toux. What could the programmers be seeing that Hackworth isn't seeing? Oh yeah, and there is some guy named Roger Torres on the roster. No idea who that is.

FIFA 14 ranks Clint Dempsey (Seattle) as the top ranked midfielder at an 81. Breaking down the other midfield roles, Seattle also has the best central defensive midfielder in Osvaldo Alonso (76) and right midfielder in Mauro Rosales (73). The left footed Beckham, Brad Davis (Houston), is the top ranked left midfielder with a 71 overall. Kleberson is actually ranked as the 8th best midfielder in MLS, just behind Tim Cahill (New York, 75) and even with Vicente Sanchez (Colorado, 74).

Forwards

Jack McInereny - 69 overall
Conor Casey - 66 overall
Antoine Hoppenot - 61 overall
Aaron Wheeler - 57 overall

Jack and Casey are the obvious two front runners in this roster category. It is interesting to note that Hoppenot was nearly ranked a 60, which would be fitting as it is the minute where he is almost routinely subbed into the game. Another point to add is that Aaron Wheeler is only listed as a forward and not as a center back as well.

Marco Di Vaio (Montreal) and Robbie Keane (LA) are the joint top of the rankings for forwards at a 79 overall. Landon Donovan (LA) and Thierry Henry (New York) are not far behind, each with a 78 overall ranking. Seattle's Obademi Martins is also in the high 70s with a 77 overall.