FIFA Squads: Hammers Through The Ages
With the world now turning to football in digital form especially with real-life players currently facing off on FIFA 20 for personal bragging rights, we’re going to take a look at how West Ham have evolved within the most popular football simulator ever to exist
FIFA 96
Though 95 broke new ground in being the first FIFA game from Electronic Arts to feature licensed clubs, 96 was the first to include real players, while also being the first to cross over to the inaugural generation of 3D consoles.
Although the players within the Hammers team of 1996 have long since retired, it seems as though little changes, with West Ham having distinctly average stats – especially next to then-champions Blackburn!
Best player of FIFA 96 (Rating)
Ludek Miklosko (83) – It is reassuring to see that West Ham were just as reliant on a tough defence over a stylish attack nearly 25 years ago. Nothing changes.
FIFA 2004
The spectre of West Ham’s shock relegation in 2003, which showed how easily the club can fall into an inescapable rut, is reflected in their uncomfortably short Premier League betting price for relegation as of May 2020. In fact, the only ‘positive’ thing about West Ham’s shock relegation in 2003 was that it came just before FIFA introduced lower-league English teams for the first time in the series.
As such, FIFA 2004 would see West Ham feature as the strongest team in the second tier – despite being given just 2.5 stars out of 5 as the team rating.
Even some of the lesser Premier League sides were roughly equal to West Ham in this edition, with future Tottenham defectors Michael Carrick and Jermain Defoe still down as West Ham players by the time of its release.
Don Hutchison (below) was also a lone survivor from the West Ham squad of FIFA 96.
Best player of FIFA 2004
Jermain Defoe (82) – Alongside excellent pace, Defoe’s dead eye for goal is well honoured. He is a priceless asset for any retro nerds hoping to gain immediate promotion with West uncertainty in FIFA 2004’s ‘career mode’.
FIFA 09
Chronologically, FIFA 09 covers 2008/09, which was West Ham’s fourth season in the top flight after negotiating a promotion playoff final with Preston in 2005. While Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano had departed by 09, West Ham still had a solid squad with Carlton Cole and Dean Ashton leading the line in the default XI:
Best player of FIFA 09
Dean Ashton (81) – Still a very underrated talent, even though his career came to an early end. Scott Parker and goalkeeper Robert Green (both rated 80) and 78-rated Craig Bellamy come close.
FIFA 17
As the first FIFA game to feature the Frostbite engine, 17 was an eagerly awaited addition. So too was the presence of a West Ham squad that had been a real surprise package in the previous campaign, with Michail Antonio amongst its breakout stars.
Best player of FIFA 17
Jose Fonte (80) – A surprise West Ham MVP in this edition of FIFA. Antonio, despite being utterly unplayable in the real-life 2015/16 season, was rated only 78 for this version. His ‘in-form’ card in Ultimate Team was rated 82, with his Pace attribute set at 89/100.
How will West Ham fare in FIFA 2021?
It goes without saying that football is in a state of huge uncertainty right now.
Yet, with David Moyes at the helm as of May 2020, the theme of a strong defence and defensive midfield – as seen way back in the mid-1990s FIFA titles – is likely to continue prevailing.
In any case, a lot will certainly depend on the future of Andriy Yarmolenko and Felipe Anderson.