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FM25 is just around the corner, meaning FM24 has been out for a year already—and a year is forever in the world of football. Which players’ real-life performances have underperformed compared to their Football Manager counterparts and demand a downgrade? Here’s a look at some players who we think deserve a reduction in Football Manager 25.
🇩🇪 Leroy Sané
FC Bayern | M RL, AM RLC | Inverted Winger
Sané’s recent performances have not consistently met expectations, with his impact on games being less influential. A slight downgrade in CA would better reflect his current form for Bayern.
CA: 169 → Suggested: 160-165
🇳🇬 Victor Osimhen
Galatasaray | ST | Advanced Forward
Osimhen’s goal-scoring form and his overall play hasn’t reached the levels of 22/23. A CA decrease would align with his recent transfer to Galatasaray.
CA: 169 → Suggested: 160-165
🇪🇸 Héctor Bellerín
Real Betis | D/WB R | Wing-Back
Bellerín’s defensive frailties and lack of consistency in attack have made him less impactful. His CA should be adjusted to reflect his struggles at Real Betis.
CA: 141 → Suggested: 130-135
🇵🇹 Renato Sanches
Benfica | DM, M/AM C | Mezzala
Sanches has failed to rediscover his best form since leaving Benfica, with injuries and inconsistency hampering his performances. A CA downgrade would reflect this decline.
CA: 140 → Suggested: 130-135
🇨🇮 Nicolas Pépé
Villarreal | AM RL | Inverted Winger
Pépé’s performances have not lived up to the standards expected of him, and he’s struggled for regular game time. A lower CA would better match his recent form at Villarreal.
CA: 135 → Suggested: 125-130
🇧🇪 Divock Origi
AC Milan | ST | Deep-Lying Forward
Origi has found it difficult to make a significant impact at Milan, with limited playing time and inconsistency. A reduction in CA would reflect his current status at the club.
CA: 137 → Suggested: 125-130
🇪🇸 Raúl De Tomás
Vallecano | ST | Trequartista
De Tomás has struggled to maintain the level of performance expected of a top striker. His recent form warrants a decrease in his CA.
CA: 136 → Suggested: 125-130
🇵🇹 Domingos Duarte
Getafe | D C | Central Defender
Duarte’s defensive performances have been shaky, and he has not met the standards from his Granada time. A significant CA downgrade would better reflect his recent displays.
CA: 138 → Suggested: 120-125
🇬🇳 Naby Keïta
SV Werder | DM, M/AM C | Advanced Playmaker
Keïta’s time at Werder has been marred by injuries and off-field issues, including a suspension for bad behavior. His inconsistency and disciplinary problems justify a significant decrease in CA to reflect his declining influence and professionalism.
CA: 136 → Suggested: 120-125
🇵🇹 Rochinha
Famalicão | AM RLC | Inverted Winger
Rochinha’s performances have been underwhelming, and his impact in games has diminished, failing to recreate his Vitória’s performances. A drop in CA would better represent his current role at Famalicão.
CA: 131 → Suggested: 115-120
Comments
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Latrell yard man
All very harsh.
Footygamer
@Latrell yard man who do you think will get a downgrade? Someone has to given all the players that will get upgrades!
Latrell yard man
Very hard i would hate the task of deciding this i have a lot of empathy for people even the word downgrade does not sit right with me, i always think form is temporary and most players have age on there side where they can still reach that level given the right circumstances and environment.
Footygamer
That raises the more interesting question of if their potential should stay the same. Like should Kevin Phillips PA always be at least his highest ever CA because he could reach that ability again?
CplCurmudgeon
I think potential should be fixed as a concept. After all, Kalvin Phillips potential isn't the issue, the lack of realising it is the issue. Wasting away at City, greed over ambition, the inevitable mental health damage of all the criticism and sense of failure will all have stalled his progress.
FM doesn't handle PA well at all. It's binary, not dynamic, not enough factors play into a player reaching a peak and to many players do reach the PA too easily.
For every overrated player on FM there are several who have a much lower estimated potential. SI needs an overhaul here if anything, the PA system is awful in my view.
Footygamer
The fact everyone reaches their PA is definitely absurd, they also don't drop off often enough.
People complain about there not being enough Jamie Vardy's and Ian Wrights and they claimed to fix this. But we don't get enough Robbie Fowlers and Michael Owen's either