The Athletic will be using Fanalysis data alongside the advanced analytics our readers have come to expect and enjoy.
But what is Fanalysis? And why is one of the UK’s most recognisable television presenters behind the idea? Allow us to explain…
What is Fanalysis?
Fanalysis is a free app on which fans of Premier League clubs can rate their team’s individual performances (out of 100) after every match, which gives every player an average overall score. Fans have 24 hours after the full-time whistle to add their ratings for a game.
Users can only rate players of the club they state they support when signing up. They also build up their own profiles by voting regularly or posting opinions.
How the manager did in the fixture concerned is also rated, as well as the actions of every referee.
In basic terms, Fanalysis is intended to be a Tripadvisor for football.
How are players rated?
Players are rated only by fans of that club. Each member of the squad has their own homepage on which it states their overall Fanalysis rating, plus ratings from their past five matches in all competitions to show their recent form, and their best-rated and lowest-rated performances from the season so far. The most-liked ‘reviews’ of a player from any match they have played that season are also shown.
For example, on Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah’s page, the most popular review of his performance in their 3-2 away defeat against Bournemouth reads: “Non-existent.” You can also click on the analysis section for Salah’s play in that match, which shows a string of reviews, comments and ratings. Salah’s current overall rating is 58.
To use an example of someone who had a better weekend, Aston Villa midfielder Amadou Onana had his performance in their 2-0 win at Newcastle United on Sunday rated by Villa fans at 88 out of 100 (his overall rating is 74), with the most-liked review reading: “World class. The man may be made of Weetabix (a reference to his perceived frailty due to frequent injury absences), but he is honestly playing at such a high level when fit.”
Where did the idea come from?
The app is the brainchild of British comedian and television presenter Michael McIntyre, who has launched it with the help of co-founder Gary Neville, the former Manchester United and England defender turned leading football pundit.
McIntyre, who is a lifelong Tottenham Hotspur fan, came up with the concept after finding his son was contacting fans of other clubs on social media to decipher whether prospective signings Spurs were being linked with were any good.
Via the information that supporters have given in the early stages of the app, Fanalysis has started to build a database of ratings and opinions. The notion that fans’ opinions on players at the club they watch all the time matter more than those of others who see that team less frequently underpins the concept.
In terms of engagement, McIntyre sees it as a toxic-free alternative to social media. There are several block words in place on the app to prevent abusive language — with a zero-tolerance approach — while users have to register their mobile phone number when signing up, rather than being able to use multiple email addresses to log in under different accounts.
“We’re not here to criticise players, we’re here to elevate feedback and the conversation,” McIntyre tells The Athletic. “A key phrase I’ve used over and over again is that fan engagement is a buzzword, but Fanalysis is fan empowerment. We want these opinions and ratings to matter and to count.
“In a world where everything is already rated — you have a plumber come around and give them a review, you get an Uber and give the driver stars out of five, you go for dinner and can review the restaurant — there’s nothing to rate football players. Plenty of apps and websites rate players, but those are algorithmic ratings. And the ones where fans vote, supporters of other teams can hijack them.
“So why don’t we curate knowledgeable, passionate fans and ask them what they think? And then what if those ratings are used in broadcasts? We come out of the cinema and rate a film. We are the audience.”
Michael McIntyre watches the team he supports, Tottenham Hotspur, play at Nottingham Forest in 2022 (Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)
Who are the highest-rated players on the app?
At the time of writing, Sunderland’s Granit Xhaka is top of the pile with an overall rating of 79. In fact, there are six other players from that club in the top 10, including Dan Ballard and Nordi Mukiele. The highest non-Sunderland player is Boubacar Kamara of Villa in fifth, while others in the top 20 listed include James Justin (Leeds United), Lewis Hall (Newcastle United), Mateus Mane (Wolverhampton Wanderers), and Declan Rice (Arsenal).
On each team’s homepage, you can see the ‘Fanalysis best XI’, which shows their highest-rated players, depicted in formation. In Arsenal’s best XI, for example, Noni Madueke (with a rating of 74) is on the left wing, while striker Viktor Gyokeres makes the side, albeit as its lowest-rated member (66).
Of the 20 Premier League managers, Manchester United’s interim head coach, Michael Carrick, is the highest rated with 93, while West Ham United’s Nuno Espirito Santo is the lowest ranked with a rating of 51, just behind his beleaguered Tottenham counterpart Thomas Frank on 53.
What else can you do on the app?
Predictions can be made for upcoming games, while fans are also invited to judge footballers’ transfer value, with each player then given an overall average figure.
There are plans to expand the concept into other leagues and sports.
“The data that comes through from these ratings is fascinating in terms of how you can slice and dice it,” McIntyre adds. “We’re looking at player impact scores in terms of how well the team do when they play, substitute ratings, ratings for the different positions they play. Like (Manchester United’s) Patrick Dorgu, for example — his ratings at left-back compared to (when he gets used) higher up the field are chalk and cheese.
“And with predictions, Wolves fans are very negative in their predictions, whereas Manchester United fans are top of the league in terms of positive predictions. They think they’re going to win every game — it’s extraordinary.”
McIntyre has met club officials, players and owners to discuss how the data will be presented and has taken feedback on how footballers currently peruse (or avoid) opinions on how they have performed.
“What I’m talking to clubs about is that if the notion of fan opinion is in the gutter, let’s endorse something in the middle,” he adds. “Fans want to be heard. If it’s constructive and numerical, as well as sanitised and intelligent reporting of analytics, they (clubs) should accept that number, because it’s what people think.”