FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Everything you need to know about football player form tracking with FormBaller
FormBaller is a football player form tracking application that helps fantasy football managers, sports bettors, and analysts identify which players are performing at their peak right now using recency-weighted momentum analysis. Below are answers to common questions about our platform.
Why FormBaller for Fantasy Football:
- • Gradient recency weighting (most recent match = 2.5x the 10th match back)
- • Consistency bonuses for scoring streaks and dry spell penalties for droughts
- • Smart midfielder evaluation - doesn't unfairly punish creative midfielders who rarely score
- • Spots breakout players 2-3 weeks before they become FPL essentials
- • Tracks 1000+ players across Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1
- • Form scores (20-100) show who's hot/cold right now - not season averages
- • Free player comparison tool for transfer decisions
Traditional stats sites show season averages. FormBaller shows current momentum - who's performing at their peak this week.
How it works:
- We track 1000+ players across Europe's top 5 leagues + UEFA competitions
- Analyze last 10 matches with gradient weighting (1.5x for most recent → 0.6x for 10th match)
- Apply momentum modifiers (hot streak bonuses, dry spell penalties)
- Generate form scores (20-100) that predict immediate future performance
Result: You see which players are in peak form for fantasy football transfers, captain picks, and sports betting decisions.
- No subscription required: Access all player form scores, rankings, and comparisons
- No credit card needed: Browse and analyze without payment
- Optional account: Create free account to save favorite players and get personalized alerts
- Ad-supported: We keep FormBaller free through optional non-intrusive advertising
Our mission is to make high-quality form tracking accessible to every fantasy football manager and sports bettor.
Domestic Leagues:
- Premier League (England) - 20 teams
- La Liga (Spain) - 20 teams
- Serie A (Italy) - 20 teams
- Bundesliga (Germany) - 18 teams
- Ligue 1 (France) - 18 teams
UEFA Competitions:
- 🏆 UEFA Champions League
- 🥈 UEFA Europa League
- 🥉 UEFA Conference League
We do NOT currently track domestic cups (FA Cup, Copa del Rey, etc.) as they often feature heavy rotation and don't reflect true player form.
- Go to "Rankings" page - automatically sorted by form score (highest first)
- Filter by position: Looking for a midfielder? Click "Midfielders" tab
- Filter by league: Only want Premier League? Use league filter
- Look for 80+ scores: These players are in excellent/elite form right now
- Cross-reference fixtures: Check if high-form players have favorable upcoming matches
Pro Tip for FPL:
Filter for players with 75-85 form scores who are under 10% owned in FPL. These are your season-winning differentials - players entering peak form before the masses notice.
- Click "Compare" in the main navigation
- Search and select up to 4 players
- View side-by-side comparison of:
- Current form scores
- Recent match ratings
- Goals/assists in last 10 matches
- Form trajectory (improving or declining)
Perfect for: FPL transfer decisions ("Should I bring in Player A or Player B?"), sports betting value comparisons, or analyzing tactical matchups.
Remember: Form is about current trajectory, not overall season quality. A world-class player can have a 45 form score if they're in a slump.
- Match data sync: Within 2-4 hours after final whistle
- Form recalculation: Happens automatically once new match data arrives
- Multiple leagues: Updates stagger based on fixture schedules (Premier League Saturday → La Liga Sunday, etc.)
- Real-time priority: High-profile matches and popular players update first
Pro tip: Check FormBaller on Monday mornings (Europe time) after weekend fixtures for the most comprehensive form picture across all leagues.
Captain Selection Strategy:
- Filter for 85+ form scores - only elite/excellent form players
- Check upcoming fixtures - prioritize home games vs weak defenses
- Look for hot streaks - 3+ consecutive games with goals/assists = momentum
- Avoid rotation risk - check if player has Champions League midweek
- Consider ownership - high form + low ownership = differential captain
Example: Haaland (95 form) vs Burnley (H) = obvious captain. But if Palmer (88 form) vs West Ham (H) at 15% ownership, that's a potential season-winning differential.
Form scores predict immediate future performance - perfect for weekly captain decisions.
Transfer Target Strategy:
- ✓ Rising stars: Look for 75-85 form scores trending upward for 3+ weeks
- ✓ Fixture swings: High form player entering stretch of favorable fixtures
- ✓ Early movers: Transfer in players at 80+ form before price rises
- ✓ Sell signals: Your players dropping below 55 form = time to move on
- ✓ Value picks: Mid-priced (£6-8m) with 80+ form = budget enablers
The FormBaller edge: Traditional stats sites show season averages. By the time everyone notices a player is hot, their price already rose. Form scores spot momentum 2-3 weeks early.
Validation Results:
- 📊 Traditional season average: 58.2% accuracy predicting next-match performance
- 📈 FormBaller recency-weighted: 76.4% accuracy (+31% improvement)
- 📉 Tested on 10,000+ player-matches across top 5 leagues (2022-2024)
For sports betting: Use form scores as ONE factor alongside:
- Opposition defensive quality
- Home/away splits
- Historical head-to-head
- Team tactics and playing style
Remember: Football is inherently unpredictable. Form scores indicate probability, not certainty. Always bet responsibly.
Form scores excel at removing recency bias and emotional attachment. Your "gut" often overvalues recent personal experiences or player reputation.
Balanced Approach:
- ✓ Let data guide shortlist: Use form scores to identify top candidates
- ✓ Apply your knowledge: Consider fixtures, team news, rotation risk
- ✓ Watch the matches: Eye test + data = complete picture
- ✓ Challenge assumptions: If form contradicts your gut, investigate why
Example: Your gut says "Salah always performs" but his form score is 62 (declining). Data suggests caution - maybe investigate fixture difficulty, minutes, or tactical changes before captaining.
The best FPL managers combine statistical rigor (FormBaller) with football intelligence (your knowledge).
Calculation Process:
- Track last 10 matches (minimum 5, only 15+ minutes played)
- Apply gradient weighting: 1.5x (most recent) → 0.6x (10th match) = 2.5x recency difference
- Calculate impact scores: Base rating + goal/assist bonuses + minutes + position adjustments
- Add momentum modifiers: Consistency bonuses (hot streaks) + dry spell penalties (cold spells)
- Non-linear scaling: Convert to 20-100 score (elite performers amplified, poor form penalized)
- Inactivity decay: Reduce score for players who haven't played in 7+ days
Key principle: Recent performances matter 2.5x more than older ones, capturing hot streaks and cold spells as they develop.
Example - Two Midfielders with Same 7.5 Season Average:
Player A - Hot Streak
Last 5: 8.9, 8.7, 8.4, 8.6, 8.8
FormBaller: 95 🔥
Player B - Cold Spell
Last 5: 6.2, 6.5, 6.3, 6.1, 6.4
FormBaller: 58 ❄️
Why it matters: Football is momentum-driven. Players "in form" demonstrate confidence, sharpness, and team trust. Recent trajectory predicts immediate future better than historical averages.
For FPL/betting: You need to know who's hot right now, not who was good 3 months ago.
Consistency Bonuses (Hot Streaks):
- • Forwards/Attackers: 3 consecutive G/A = +0.25, up to +0.80 for 8+ games
- • Midfielders: 3 consecutive G/A = +0.20, up to +0.70 for 8+ games
- • Defenders: 3 consecutive clean sheets = +0.25, up to +1.05 for 8+ clean sheets
Why? Momentum compounds - players on scoring streaks receive more service, have higher confidence.
Dry Spell Penalties (Cold Streaks):
- • Forwards: 3 games without G/A = -0.30, progressive up to -2.20 for 10+ dry games
- • Midfielders (Smart Penalty): Same as forwards, BUT 70% reduction if performing well in core role (2+ key passes/game OR 85%+ passing with 70+ touches)
- • Defenders: 3 games conceding = -0.25, down to -1.05 for 8+ conceding streak
Why? Goal droughts signal declining form. Exception: creative midfielders like Rodri aren't punished for not scoring if they're dominating possession/creating chances.
These modifiers separate players on genuine hot streaks from those having fluky good weeks.
Outfield player calculations don't work for goalkeepers (goals/assists irrelevant, different success metrics). We use a goalkeeper-specific system:
Goalkeeper Form Weighting:
- • Clean Sheets vs Saves (45% weight): Clean sheet = +40pts; 10+ saves (conceded) = +42pts (heroic effort)
- • Match Rating (28% weight): 9.0+ = +42pts down to 6.0 = +17pts
- • Passing/Distribution (15% weight): 90%+ accuracy = +15pts (modern playmaking GKs)
- • Penalties (12% weight): Saved = +12pts; Conceded = -6pts
Why this matters: A goalkeeper can have excellent form despite conceding (made 10 saves vs dominant team) OR keep clean sheets with 0 saves (team dominates). The formula captures both scenarios.
Same recency weighting (1.5x → 0.6x) and inactivity decay apply.
- Insufficient matches: Fewer than 5 qualifying matches (15+ minutes) played
- Long-term injury: No matches in 30+ days causes score to decay to floor or expire
- Rotation players: Constantly subbed in for 10-14 minutes don't accumulate qualifying matches
- Recent transfers: New signings need time to build match history in our database
- Youth players: Reserve team matches don't count - only senior league appearances
Why 15 Minutes Minimum?
A player subbed on in the 89th minute hasn't had enough time to demonstrate true performance. We filter out token appearances to ensure form scores reflect meaningful match involvement.
Players will appear once they accumulate 5 qualifying matches. Check back after a few gameweeks.
Not all midfielders are goal-scorers. Defensive/deep-lying playmakers (Rodri, Jorginho, Busquets) can have excellent form without scoring.
Midfielder Intelligence:
- Standard dry spell penalty: 5 games without G/A = -0.52 form score adjustment
- BUT, if performing core role well: Penalty reduced by 70% → only -0.16 adjustment
- "Performing well" = 2+ key passes per game OR 85%+ passing accuracy with 70+ touches
Example: Rodri goes 5 games without scoring/assisting but dominates possession with 90% passing accuracy and 95 touches/game. He gets only -0.16 penalty instead of -0.52, recognizing his elite playmaking contribution.
This prevents unfairly punishing midfielders who contribute in non-attacking ways, while still penalizing attacking midfielders (like Mount, Havertz) who should be producing goals/assists.
Without Account (Free):
- ✓ View all player form scores
- ✓ Browse rankings and comparisons
- ✓ Filter by league/position
- ✓ Read methodology and analysis
With Free Account:
- ✓ Everything from free tier
- ✓ Save favorite players (watchlist)
- ✓ Personalized alerts for form changes
- ✓ Track your FPL squad form
- ✓ Custom player notes
Account creation takes 30 seconds - only requires email. No payment info needed.
- Create a free account
- Go to "My Squad" section
- Add your 15 FPL players
- View aggregate form dashboard:
- Average squad form score
- Players in excellent form (85+)
- Players declining (below 60)
- Suggested transfers based on form
Perfect for weekly FPL decisions: Instantly see which of your players are in-form (start them) and which are cold (bench or transfer out).
You can create multiple squads (e.g., FPL main team, UCL Fantasy, Draft league).
- Current: FormBaller works on mobile browsers (responsive design)
- Future: Native iOS/Android apps under consideration based on user demand
- Interim solution: Add formballer.com to your phone's home screen for app-like experience
We're prioritizing core web platform features first, but native apps are on the roadmap if users request them.
- Match ratings: 0-10 scale from Sportmonks (similar to SofaScore/WhoScored methodology)
- Player stats: Goals, assists, minutes, clean sheets, saves, passing, touches, etc.
- Match results: Real-time scores and fixture data
- Coverage: Top 5 European leagues + UEFA competitions
Data quality: Sportmonks is a professional-grade API used by sports analytics companies and betting platforms globally.
We sync data within 2-4 hours of match completion, then run our proprietary form calculation algorithms.
- FormBaller: Uses Sportmonks ratings (0-10 scale)
- SofaScore: Proprietary algorithm with different weighting
- WhoScored: Opta-powered ratings with unique calculation method
- FotMob: Blend of multiple data sources
Small rating differences (0.2-0.5) between platforms are completely normal and don't significantly impact form scores due to our averaging and weighting system.
What matters: Trends and momentum direction, not whether a specific match was rated 7.8 vs 8.0 by different providers.
- Currently tracked: Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League
- Not tracked: FA Cup, Copa del Rey, Coppa Italia, DFB-Pokal, Coupe de France, League Cups
Why? League form is most predictive for fantasy football and sports betting. Domestic cup matches often feature heavy rotation, lower intensity, and don't reflect true player form.
Domestic cups may be added in future phases based on user demand and technical feasibility.
- With account: Email address only (for login and optional notifications)
- Without account: Anonymous usage analytics (page views, clicks) via privacy-friendly tools
- We NEVER: Sell your data, share with third parties (except as required by law), or track you across other websites
Full details in our Privacy Policy. GDPR compliant.
Your data is yours. We're here to provide football insights, not harvest personal information.
Cookie Categories:
- Essential Cookies (Always Active): Required for authentication and basic website functionality. These cannot be disabled.
- Analytics Cookies (Optional): Google Analytics tracks usage patterns to help us improve FormBaller. You can opt out anytime.
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Managing Your Cookie Preferences:
- • Click "Cookie Settings" in the footer to customize preferences
- • Choose to accept analytics only, advertising only, or reject all non-essential cookies
- • Your choices are saved and respected across all visits
- • You can withdraw consent at any time - cookies are automatically deleted
We never sell your data. Analytics and advertising cookies help us keep FormBaller free while improving the service.
- Request deletion: Contact us via email or account settings
- Timeline: Account and all personal data removed within 7 days
- What's deleted: Email, password, saved preferences, watchlists
- What remains: Anonymized usage analytics (cannot be linked back to you)
GDPR compliant. No questions asked. Your right to be forgotten is respected.
- Not affiliated with: Premier League, La Liga, FIFA, UEFA, or any football clubs
- Not endorsed by: Any players, teams, leagues, or football organizations
- Independent analysis: We provide unbiased form tracking using publicly available data
- Not affiliated with: SofaScore, FotMob, FlashScore, WhoScored, or any stats platforms
All league and team logos are trademarks of their respective owners, used for identification purposes only under fair use.
