THE MATCHDAY ANSWER
Data Hub
Start with a question, not a dashboard. Compare relevant matches, inspect the incidents and change one thing you can actually observe.
What is confirmed, and what is advice?
FM27 restores heat maps and expands analysis. Metric definitions below follow official guidance; suggested review windows and tactical responses are our recommendations, not engine thresholds.
Reviewed 2 November 2026. Examples are fictional unless stated otherwise. Suggested routines are coaching recommendations, not guaranteed engine rules.
Start with these three decisions
- Choose one recurring problem.
- Compare the same competition, minutes and match context.
- Watch the evidence before changing your tactic.
Read the numbers without fooling yourself
Expected goals (xG) describes the quality and volume of chances; xG per shot helps separate lots of weak attempts from better opportunities. Non-penalty xG removes penalties. Expected assists (xA) describes the chance quality associated with creative passes. None guarantees the next result.
Use per-90 figures when comparing different playing time, but inspect minutes first. A substitute with a tiny sample can lead a rate table. Pass completion also needs context: a safe centre-back and an adventurous playmaker are attempting different jobs.
Source notes: SEGA Support: FM Data Hub Glossary
Your ten-minute weekly analysis routine
Ask a narrow question
Replace “Why are we bad?” with “Why does our left winger receive so far from goal?” Write down the suspected cause before looking for supporting numbers.
Choose a fair sample
Separate red-card matches, extreme score states and unusually strong opponents. Use comparable fixtures; do not delete awkward evidence merely because it contradicts your theory.
Pair a number with a picture
Inspect the shot map, passing pattern or heat map available in your report. Replay a handful of relevant attacks and defensive sequences. A heat map shows where actions occurred, not why.
Test one adjustment
Choose a role, instruction or personnel change that addresses the observed cause. Note what improvement would look like, then review comparable passages of play.
Source notes: SI: FM27 — A Deeper Football World · Official Dugout tutorial: FM26 Run-In Management
Five patterns worth investigating
| Pattern | Investigate | Possible response |
|---|---|---|
| Many shots, little xG | Distance, pressure and blocked attempts | Improve support and access to better shooting areas |
| Possession without penetration | Passing lanes and movement beyond the ball | Add a suitable receiving or running option |
| Good chances, poor results | Sample size and actual finishing incidents | Avoid rebuilding everything after one unlucky match |
| Aggressive press being bypassed | Distances between the first press and cover | Restore coordination before demanding more running |
| Territory but dangerous counters conceded | Players left behind the ball after turnovers | Rebalance support and defensive cover |
Twenty shots can be the worse attack
Fictional example: Team A takes 20 shots worth 1.0 xG, an average of 0.05 per shot. Team B takes 10 shots worth 1.5 xG, averaging 0.15. Shot count alone favours A; chance quality tells another story. These numbers are arithmetic examples, not targets for your league.
Now watch the chances. Were B’s attempts created by a repeatable pattern or one exceptional break? Were A’s shots desperate efforts while chasing the game? Keep score state and opponent strength beside the totals.
Pressure and territory are not the score
PPDA relates opponent passes to defensive actions in the measured area; lower values can indicate more intense pressure. Field tilt describes relative final-third passing territory. Neither proves that pressing was effective or that possession produced good chances. Check the report’s definition and match footage.
Source notes: SI: Gameplay Upgrades — original FM23 data features
Review on three timescales
After each match, record one observation rather than rewriting the system. Weekly, spend ten focused minutes on the main question. For longer trends, six to ten comparable fixtures can be a useful starting sample, but availability and context matter more than a magic number. These are editorial routines, not FM27 unlock requirements.
Before the next opponent, identify one threat, one possible opening and one preparation priority. If the plan changes during the match, use the touchline guide to distinguish an emotional message from a tactical adjustment.
EVIDENCE BEHIND THE ADVICE
Sources & edition notes
Official FM27 announcements establish current changes. Earlier manuals are labelled by edition and provide background, rather than proof that old menus or formulas still apply.
- FM27SI: FM27 — A Deeper Football World
Confirms the return of heat maps and more analytical information.
- 2026SEGA Support: FM Data Hub Glossary
Metric definitions; glossary updated 28 October 2026. Use your report’s competition, dates and units.
- FM23SI: Gameplay Upgrades — original FM23 data features
Earlier-edition definitions of PPDA and field tilt, not evidence that every old screen is unchanged in FM27.
- FM26Official Dugout tutorial: FM26 Run-In Management
Earlier-edition examples of analysing attacking patterns and reviewing form.