You may like or not the inclusion of AFC Richmond into FIFA 23 or not, it’s another sign of how transcendent the show has become.
Admittedly, the hand-wringing over the Greyhounds’ video game debut feels a bit rich. How dare they include a fictional team into a videogame that allows you to completely invent managers and players? Regardless of how you view the Jason Sudeikis-led comedy, the team’s FIFA ratings also help us dissect the show a little bit deeper. How good is the AFC Richmond team, which (spoiler alert!) has been relegated?
To better draw some real-world comparisons, we’ve used FIFA ratings database site SoFIFAWe searched for the nearest Premier League players to each Richmond character. We looked beyond a player’s overall rating to try to compare physical and technical abilities, as well as player-specific traits. Then, we took stock of our lineup of doppelgängers to estimate how Richmond would fare in a real Premier League season. It’s not the most scientific process, but like the show and the game, it’s all just a bit of entertainment.
Ratings as per SoFIFA database October 7, 2022
Goalkeeper: Thierry Zoreaux — 76 overall, 77 potential
Thierry Zoreaux is An ex-MLS goalkeeperAFC Richmond is looking for a player who can make a big impact. The Canadian has been a reliable shot-stopper for Greyhounds, having played eight games with the Montreal Impact. He was born in Canada and raised there. Matt Turner(77 overall) also made a switch from MLS into the Premier League to act as a backup. Like Zoreaux, one would assume Turner would be ready to step in if Arsenal starter Aaron Ramsdale “tore his butt,” and it’s certain that Turner’s last name would be easier for Lasso to pronounce than Zoreaux (not Zorro).
Turner has also added already spent time with most of the show’s cast!
Center backs: Isaac McAdoo and Jan Maas — 80 and 77 overall, 83 and 77 potential
Captain. Leader. Barber. It’s tough to find a true equivalent for all that McAdoo provides to AFC Richmond, but going purely by the ratings, West Ham’s Kurt ZoumaThis is the closest comparison (80 overall). McAdoo is better at shooting than Zouma and Zouma are better at passing. At the other center back spot, Brighton’s Adam WebsterJan Maas (76 total) is a close second. They are almost identical in height and look very similar.
Fullbacks: George Goodman and Ash Dixon — 79 and 78 overall, 79 and 81 potential
We are able to hear your questions: seenGeorge and Ash in the show You haven’t, but AFC Richmond’s in-show squad features Arlo Dixon at right back and Jeff Goodman (named after comedian Ed Goodman, Evidently(left) We can’t imagine the identity crisis these fictional characters are experiencing as they fire up FIFA 23.Arlo/Ash excels at working the overlap, trying an occasional shot and George/Jeff prefers dribble-and-cross. Dixon is basically a slightly older player. Séamus Coleman (76 overall) With slightly less strength (just 53 ratings for the Richmond man). On the left, Goodman’s selfless, all-around approach is a virtual dead ringer for Liverpool defender Konstantinos Tsimikas (77 overall). They will surely get along perfectly.
Right midfielder: Sam Obisanya — 81 overall, 88 potential
He wasn’t one of the early stars in season one, but Obisanya blossomed into a very dependable option on the right flank. He’s an expert at tracking back on defense. It is not common for wide-bodied men to be as proficient at playing in all aspects of the game, which is why so many teams prefer wingers over wide midfielders. And deep down, it’s hard not to root for Obisanya given his affable nature and ability to stand up for what he believes in. Bukayo Saka (82 overall) represents the game’s closest comparison, coming near to replicating Obisanya’s defensive awareness without sacrificing any pace, finishing chops or general pleasantness.
Defensive midfielder: Roy Kent — 83 overall, 83 potential
The obvious comparison for Kent would be Roy Keane, but the Irishman’s FUT Icons ratings are out of reach for the near-retirement version of Kent that’s in the game. As it stands, Tottenham’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (83 overall) and Liverpool’s Jordan HendersonThe ratings are more comparable for 83 dogs. Are these guys the same people? It’s hard to say. Kent and Henderson, however, are equally valid. Sunderland was where they started., and it seems within the realm of possibility that the latter would also secretly know all the words to “Let It Go.”
Central midfielder: Moe Bumbercatch — 79 overall, 82 potential
It’s tough to find an exact match for the man with a name inspired by Benedict Cumberbatch, but the closest we found is Wolverhampton’s Matheus Nunes (79 overall). Bumbercatch is shorter, more physical, and the Portuguese has a better shot. However, both midfielders are balanced.
Left midfielder: Colin Hughes — 78 overall, 78 potential
Hughes, formerly of Cardiff City is now a team player. Jamie Tartt left AFC Richmond initially. While he’s fleet-footed and has some impressive tricks in his bag, he’s far less comfortable on the open road. Hughes, despite owning a Lamborghini, is unable drive it and ends up setting fire to his keys in an attempt to end a team curse. His on-field doppelganger has similar taste in cars, as Everton’s Anthony GordonPictured filling His Lambo over the summer — with a vanity plate reading “AG10 BOY.” While ChelseaBoth FIFA (84 potential) and Gordon think that Gordon is better than Hughes. His 75 overall rating, similar dribbling speed ratings and similar pace ratings make him an attractive candidate for our team.
Striker: Jamie Tartt — 84 overall, 91 potential
As we’ve previously noted, the character of Jamie Tartt seems heavily inspired by Manchester City’s Jack Grealish, but the version of Jamie Tartt in FIFA 23 is a bit more similar to Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus (83 overall). Tartt was also a Manchester City player before being discarded by Pep guardiola. Tartt is both a striker as well as a No.1 in the game. 10 with a variety of specialties, but Gabriel Jesus has the better overall workrate, which means Mikel Arteta has likely never had to give him the famous “Practice” speech.
Striker: Dani Rojas — 82 overall, 83 potential
Fútbol is Life! Rojas was a rising star after Richmond signed Rojas in early relegation season. He scored the goal that almost saved them in their final match of 2011. The Greyhound was unable to score goals due to a knee injury. While it’s common knowledge that Rojas was largely based on Javier “Chicharito” Hernández, his lovable personality, penchant for goals and unfortunate injury track record runs parallel to Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford (81 overal) among current Premier League players. Rashford and Rojas have similar skill moves and ratings, making Rashford a great addition to this exercise.
Backup midfielder: Richard Montlaur — 77 overall, 77 potential
While he’s a rotational figure for AFC Richmond, Montlaur is a FIFA Career Mode player’s dream. He’s like a poor man’s version of Arturo Vidal in his prime, capable of filling any role on the field in a pinch, but most capable in central midfield. Of course, much of the Frenchman’s character comes from his romantic side, as he had to part with sand from a moonlit tryst with a supermodel in the curse episode. Luckily for us, not only is Liverpool’s Alex Oxlade Chamberlain (77 overall) a multi-faceted squad option, he’s also engaged to Perrie Edwards of Little Mix fame. Although the Liverpool man is currently in a different stage of his career due to his injuries, his ratings still give him enough energy to play across the park. We just aren’t sure if Ox has the same tenacity or pardonable French, but from a pure footballing perspective, it’s a great pick.
Overall Richmond team rating: 78% (81 attack, 79% midfield, 77% defense).
With the rest of the squad composed of faceless counterparts akin to Dixon and Goodman, Ted Lasso’s men come in at a respectable 78 overall rating. For comparison’s sake, that’s tied for the 10th best club in the Premier League, alongside Newcastle and Wolverhampton while rating just above Everton, Crystal Palace and Leeds. Our squad has a similar rating of 79, which is comparable to Aston Villa or Leicester City. Bournemouth holds the Premier League ranking at a 74 while Burnley and Watford top the Championship rankings with a combined 73.
Ted Lasso is a terrible manager for allowing his team to be sacked with such high quality.
Jeff: The show’s realistic approach deserves my praise. Fictional soccer content is often trying to prove that belief is key to success, no matter who the coach or players are.
The man did it. He placed a sign with the name of the key component up for all to see. They failed again.
Brooks: At first glance, looking at Richmond’s team rating and all of these real-world player equivalents, I wondered how a team with this much quality could get relegated — even if they had no manager at all. But then I looked at the current Premier League table in real life and Leicester City (79) and Wolves (78) are both around/in the relegation zone with FIFA 23 team ratings on par with Richmond’s. Aston Villa also rank in the same area (79). Brendan Rodgers, Steven Gerrard, and Ted Lasso are basically the same as Ted Lasso, who went to Richmond without any knowledge of the sport.
Jeff: Before the season kicked off, we were trying to find Ted’s real life equivalent. Jesse Marsch was A popular choiceGiven his nationality, none of us expected it to be Stevie G.
After making our squad in real life, I was able to play a game with Richmond. Once it was clear how much talent they had, I was surprised Lasso’s likeness wasn’t shown facing the wrong direction away from the field, or just staring into the sky with his mouth agape like a domesticated turkey.
Brooks: Well, there are still issues with this Richmond squad that can’t be overlooked. Obviously there is zero depth here, so if any of the starters get hurt you’re in trouble. The backline is weaker, despite how impressive the strikers may be. This Richmond team is shipping many goals which always makes relegation possible.
Jeff:I was able to feel the talent gap between the back six and front five against Crystal Palace. Kent is a liability in midfield, and it hurts to admit this. If he commits at all to a challenge and misses, it’s too easy for an opponent to blow past him. The back line is vulnerable to being overwhelmed, and even for a solid side like Palace it was easy to make three passes of Zoreaux.
The most striking thing about the ratings was the large gap between Richmond and the Championship. A gap of five overall points is sizable — a half-star rating apart. They’re capable of contending for Europe, but they’re also drawing nearly every game to start the year? Lasso has a job.
Brooks: Yeah, again, that’s my unexpected landing point in all of this. It’s not so much about judging Ted Lasso as much as it is about judging Gerrard Rodgers, Marsch, and others. I didn’t think this exercise would prove to be an indictment of real-world Premier League managers more than the fictional one, but here we are.
Jeff: A little American show called “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?” was produced in the U.S. The title was the idea, and it made grown adults feel bad about forgetting fifth grade science’s cloud unit. Rodgers and Gerrard should be in a competition to show their management approaches. I’m sure Sudeikis can do a convincing Jeff Foxworthy impression — it’s not like he needs to change his facial hair for it.
Brooks: Jeff, you can’t just give away billion-dollar content ideas like this.
Jeff: It’s not like Apple made Another significant investmentSoccer content, or anything!
Scott Parker could win in Stoke on a rainy Tuesday. Could he do better than Ted Lasso on a rainy Tuesday in Stoke? This Cherries fan doesn’t think so.
(Photo by Frazer Harrison/FilmMagic
