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EPL: Predicting the top 15 Prem players in FIFA 17

By Tom Bogert

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 20: David De Gea of Manchester United and Sergio Aguero of Manchester City in discussion during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on March 20, 2016 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 20: David De Gea of Manchester United and Sergio Aguero of Manchester City in discussion during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on March 20, 2016 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 03: Eden Hazard of Chelsea (10) celebrates wtih Nemanja Matic (L) as he scores their first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on May 3, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 03: Eden Hazard of Chelsea (10) celebrates wtih Nemanja Matic (L) as he scores their first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on May 3, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) /

5. Eden Hazard /// Chelsea /// Predicted FIFA 17 rating: 87 /// FIFA 16 rating: 88

After winning the PFA Player of the Year as Chelsea essentially went bell to bell for the title, Hazard seemed to reach his peak. Unfortunately for the Belgian, he regressed last season. Well– he had a down year.

Towards the end of the season he began to regain his form and played like the 2014/15 version of Hazard in the Euros, so his rating shouldn’t take a big hit next season but no one should be able to sustain a year he endure without repercussion.

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Two years ago, Hazard scored 14 goals in the league with 9 assists. He followed that up this season with just 4 goals and 3 assists in 7 fewer appearances. Next season he’ll look to get back on form for the season under the new manager Conte.

Hazard, when on his game, is so silk. His dribbling ability isn’t as eccentric and pyrotechnic like Coutinho’s but he just glides past players like a lite version of Lionel Messi. Both with their low center of gravity and brilliant eye of sensing when a defender is even an iota off-balance and breezing past them. His quick combination around the box is brilliant as well.

The Belgian’s fatal flaw is his finishing. He just doesn’t shoot all that much, naturally limiting his chances to score. Cristiano Ronaldo took the next step in his evolution into one of the best players of all time by becoming a winger that shoots more than he crosses, so he doesn’t have to rely on anyone else.

Hazard will never be a goal-per-game winger, but he can regularly score 14 goals a season if he ups his shot totals.

Next: 4. David de Gea

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