Understanding the Stats

SCOUTSWING uses advanced football metrics alongside traditional statistics. This guide explains what each metric measures and why it matters.

The Basics

Per 90: Statistics divided by minutes played, then multiplied by 90. This normalizes for playing time, so a player with 5 goals in 1,800 minutes (0.25 per 90) can be fairly compared to one with 8 goals in 3,200 minutes (0.23 per 90).
Percentile ranking: Where a player ranks among peers at the same position in the same league. A percentile of 85 means the player is better than 85% of players at that position. Percentiles compare like with like — centre-backs against centre-backs, wingers against wingers.

xG (Expected Goals): The probability that a shot will result in a goal, based on the shot's location, angle, body part, and assist type. An xG of 0.35 means the average player scores from that position 35% of the time. A player whose goals exceed their xG is finishing above expectation.
xA (Expected Assists): The xG value of the shots a player's passes create. Measures the quality of chances created for teammates, regardless of whether the shot goes in.
npxG (Non-Penalty Expected Goals): Expected goals with penalties removed. Penalties have an xG of ~0.76 and inflate the numbers of designated penalty takers. npxG gives a cleaner picture of a player's shooting from open play and set pieces.
npG (Non-Penalty Goals): Goals scored excluding penalties.
Key Passes: Passes that directly lead to a shot attempt. The creative currency of football — not all key passes are assists, but every assist is a key pass.
xG Chain: The total xG of possessions a player was involved in. Captures a player's contribution to attack even when they don't provide the final pass or shot.
xG Buildup: Same as xG Chain but excluding the shot and the pass before the shot. Measures contribution to the buildup phase of attacks.

Shots/90: Shot attempts per 90 minutes. Volume of shooting.
xG/Shot: Average expected goals value per shot. Measures shot quality — higher means the player gets into better positions before shooting.

Passes/90: Total passes attempted per 90 minutes.
Pass Accuracy %: Percentage of passes that reach a teammate. Context matters: a centre-back with 92% accuracy and a winger with 72% accuracy may both be performing well for their role.

Tackles/90: Tackles attempted per 90 minutes.
Interceptions/90: Passes read and intercepted per 90 minutes.
Blocks/90: Shots or passes blocked per 90 minutes.
Duel Win %: Percentage of individual duels (aerial and ground) won.
Fouls/90: Fouls committed per 90 minutes. Lower is generally better, but context matters — aggressive defenders in pressing systems foul more.

xGF (Expected Goals For): Total expected goals created by the team. Measures attacking output quality.
xGA (Expected Goals Against): Total expected goals conceded by the team. Measures defensive quality.
By Formation: xGF and xGA broken down by tactical formation used. Shows which formations produce the best attacking and defensive output.
By Game State: Performance split by the scoreline at the time (leading, drawing, trailing). Reveals how teams behave under pressure.
By Half: Performance split by time period. Shows whether teams start strong or finish strong, and when they're most vulnerable.