December 2009 The leading striker at your club – or for your country – has just banged in a hat-trick. He must be in "form", mustn't he? And thus more likely than average to score in his next game as well? No, actually. According to a book published last year, the concept of "form" in football is a myth. Analysis suggests that the goalscoring runs of even the supposed "hottest" strikers are no more attributable to a "form streak" than they are to chance.
Fact or fiction? "Form" in football
Fact or fiction? "Form" in football
Fact or fiction? "Form" in football
December 2009 The leading striker at your club – or for your country – has just banged in a hat-trick. He must be in "form", mustn't he? And thus more likely than average to score in his next game as well? No, actually. According to a book published last year, the concept of "form" in football is a myth. Analysis suggests that the goalscoring runs of even the supposed "hottest" strikers are no more attributable to a "form streak" than they are to chance.