The post-match newspaper report is the richest feedback tool in goalunited, yet most managers glance at the score and move on. Used properly, it reveals why you won or lost and what to change. This guide walks through all three pages with an analytical lens.
After any match, double-click (or click the magnifying glass icon) on the fixture in your match overview. The newspaper report opens with three pages accessible via tabs on the right side.
The first page shows the formation at kick-off and a chronological event log: goals (with scorers and minutes), yellow/red cards, injuries, substitutions, and half-time direction cards played.
Key questions to ask here:
When did goals go in? Early goals often indicate a formation mismatch in the first 15 minutes. Late goals frequently signal endurance problems — players fading in the second half.
Were there cards and at what effort level? Consistent card problems with 'normal' effort usually mean aggressive player personalities — check individual personalities.
Did injuries happen before or after the 60-minute mark? Early-match injuries at normal effort suggest low energy in those players at kick-off.
Was there a half-time direction played? Compare first-half performance (45-min filter) with the full match to see if it had the intended effect.
Page 2 shows a comparison of the stats for each team, such as goals, yellow/red cards, possession, shots on goal, passes, and successful passes.
Statistic | What It Tells You |
Goals | total goals scored by each team (45-minute or total) |
Yellow /red cards | Warnings received by each team: yellow and red cards |
Shots on goal | The shots on goal attempted by each team |
Team Ball possession | Ball possession for each team |
Passes and successful passes | total passes per team and the successful pass rate |
Duels won | Duel won by each team |
Penalties, corners and Free kicks | separate stats indicating the penalties, corners and free kicks that each team had in the match |
Fouls | Number of fouls committed by each team |
Distance run | Distance run by each team |
Page 3 provides the team-level context: what bonuses and modifiers were active for both sides in this match.
Statistic | What It Tells You |
Offensive Value | How many chances your formation shape generated. Low value = too few attackers or overly defensive formation. |
Home Advantage | Stadium size × actual attendance. If this is low, your stadium capacity or ticket pricing may be limiting income AND match advantage. |
Team Experience | Average XP across your squad. Consistent gap vs. opponents here = squad needs experienced players or more playing time for younger ones. |
Team Spirit | Where your spirit sat going into this match. Spirit below 50 is a meaningful disadvantage. Check it regularly. |
Bonuses | Active decoration/upgrade bonuses for both clubs. If the opponent has bonuses you do not, that gap compounds over a season. |
Each of the 9 sectors is coloured green (your advantage), orange/red (opponent's advantage), or neutral. The percentage shows the relative split — 60%/40% in your favour means you had a clear edge there.
What You See | What It Often Means |
Consistently red sector 4 or 6 (wing midfield) | Your wide midfielders are weak, mispositioned, or outclassed at that level |
Red sector 2 (central defence) | Your central defender is being dominated — check opponent's striker strength |
Red sector 8 (central attack) | Your strikers are consistently losing their duels — formation or strength problem |
Green everywhere but still lost | The failure aspect, you created more but converted less. |
First-half filter shows green; full-match shows red | Players are fading, with endurance or energy problem in the second half |
Individual ratings (shown as numbers next to each player) represent absolute performance, how much of their potential they delivered in this match. Higher is better. The circular colour indicates player type (yellow = standard, star shape = Star Player, purple = Ultimate Player).
What patterns to look for across multiple matches:
A player consistently rating below their squadmates in the same sector may need replacement or repositioning.
A player rating well in the 45-minute filter but dropping significantly in the full match - endurance /energy going down.
Ratings that are good but the team still loses, the failure aspect is affecting conversion, not player quality.
The most efficient managers follow a consistent post-match review cycle:
After every loss or draw that surprised you, read all three pages of the match report within 24 hours.
Identify the primary cause: Was it a formation mismatch (page 2 sectors), a physical problem (page 2 rating fade, page 3 spirit/endurance), a tactical problem (page 2 specific sectors), or pure variance (green heatmap, low offensive value converted)?
If formation/tactical: adjust the specific sector with a different player placement or tactic change for the next similar opponent.
If physical: check the players who faded. Is their endurance below 80? Was energy low before the match? Adjust training focus for the following week.
If variance: accept it, do not make panicked changes. Check the same match pattern across 3–4 games before drawing conclusions. Based on that, consider changing the approach: try different tactic/ formation, adjust effort based on match importance/ opponent level, use halftime changes to adjust your tactics and formation for the second half when needed.
Match Report Pattern | Likely Cause | Fix |
Win sectors 1–7, lose 8 and 9 | Strikers outclassed | Better strikers or repositioning to sub-positions that dilute defender advantage |
All sectors green, still lost | Bad luck/failure aspect | Accept variance; no formation change needed unless pattern repeats 4+ times |
Ratings are good in the first half, drop sharply by 80 min | Low endurance across squad | Add endurance training, use Endurance trading cards, rest players more |
Concede late goals consistently | Second-half fatigue in defence | Lower effort, increase endurance training, substitute fresher defenders at half-time |
Strong sector control but few goals | Low form or morale on strikers | Workshop training, morale cards, Win Series will help over time |
Lose sectors 1–3 consistently | Defensive formation is too thin or defender strength gap | Add a third defensive-leaning midfielder or upgrade defensive players |
