With the early release of FIFA 17 on EA Access for Xbox One, we have been granted access to the database and all of the juicy player rating that "don't mean anything" but at the same time mean how EA Sports rates Irish players.
We've already had a look around the Irish players playing abroad, so now let's focus on the league at home.
Last year Richie Towell was the best rated League of Ireland player at 67, he rating stayed the same as he moved to Brighton & Hove Albion (and is still the same in FIFA 17), but who is the best player in the league, and what is his rating?
Daryl Horgan, and 66 overall is the answer to that question.
Yes, just about in the "silver" category in Ultimate Team cards, there aren't too many decent looking players to use in the game if you want to build a League of Ireland side, but here is the best XI according to in-game stats.
GK - MICHEÁL SCHLINGERMANN - SLIGO ROVERS
Next best: Barry Murphy - Shamrock Rovers - 62, Brendan Clarke - St. Pat's - 62
RB - SIMON MADDEN - SHAMROCK ROVERS
Next best: John Dunleavy - Cork City - 62, Ger O'Brien - St. Pat's - 62
CB - MAXIMILIAN KARNER - DERRY CITY
Next best: Roberto Lopes - Bohs - 63, Kenny Browne - Cork City - 62
CB - ANDY BOYLE - DUNDALK
Next best: Gavin Peers - Sligo - 62, Conor Kenna - Bray - 62
LB - DANE MASSEY - DUNDALK
Next best: Luke Byrne - Shamrock Rovers - 61, Lorcan Fitzgerald - Bohs - 61
CDM - CHRIS SHIELDS - DUNDALK
Next best: Killian Brennan - Shamrock Rovers - 63, Greg Bolger - Cork City - 62
CDM - PATRICK CREGG - SHAMROCK ROVERS
Next best: Stephen O'Donnell - Dundalk - 62, Stephen McPhail - Shamrock Rovers - 62
RM - DARYL HORGAN - DUNDALK
Next best: Daniel Kearns - 64 - Sligo, Darren Meenen - Dundalk - 62
CAM - RONAN FINN - DUNDALK
Next best: Brandon Miele - Shamrock Rovers - 62, Patrick McEleney - Dundalk - 62
LM - KEITH TREACY - ST. PATRICK'S ATHLETIC
Next best: Jake Kelly - Bohs - 62, Gary McCabe - Shamrock Rovers - 62
ST - CHRISTY FAGAN - ST. PATRICK'S ATHLETIC
Next best: Mark O'Sullivan - Cork City - 64, Rory Patterson - Derry City - 63, Sean Maguire - Cork City - 62
So there you have it, be sure to let us know who you think is over/underrated this year, and if you will be building a League of Ireland team on FIFA 17.
