In game form. any advice

i am wondering what the form numbers mean while in game. they flash up every minute so i presume they should be important in some way but i have not worked out how to use them to make any real difference to the team performance, it seems if you are going to lose there is nothing much can be done. for example, the game begins and my whole team usually flash up green, usually midfield around 6.8 and others 6.6 . after that you get 1 or two players go higher in green, maybe someone turns red. i'm tempted to sub the red one but they often go green again later on without changing any tactic so i usually leave them. then there are the times the whole defence turns red, sometimes whole midfield, i even had a game recently where after the whole team started off green, after a few minutes the whole team turned red.

Is there any advice on this forum explaining what in game form is indicating by constantly changing numbers in red or green, and how you are supposed to change tactics based upon what you see? if my defence turns red i have tried giving a defence bonus in game but it doesnt seem to do any good, so what use are these numbers to me in game. i dont see the point of constantly having these figures flash up after each attack if there is no game tips on how to read the numbers and act on them.
could some of the devs or experts make a post explaining what these fluctuations in form mean and is there anything we can do with them other than panic when parts of your team start going red ?

thanks topeleven you've been a great help, i dont even think you know about it yourselves. like everything else, no logic to anything that happens in this game, things just happen and no explanations why. troll results, stupid match reports with comments and stats that dont match up. why produce a game but dont give tutorials explaning what is going on and why?

To all those who really want tutorials for this game:

Search youtube you will get many.
There are dedicated fan-sites for tutorials

In my opinion, it's just a game not a programming-language for which tutorials may seem necessary.

P.S. Do search forums for your TE doubts before jumping to any conclusions.

P.S.2 No troll result for me till now!(Playing 11th. season)

well @jwoods if you expect a dev to come here and give you advice how to handle the rates of your players during a game, you 'll wait for a looong time.
Actually it's a forum for users, to share their experiences.
So, let me give you some tips.

I use most of the times 4-5-1 V so it's about these positions I can help.
GK - doesn't matter the rates.
GK just reflects the flow/ calculations/ RNG of the game so nothing you can do about it.
If your GK has bad rates for 4-5 games in continuance, then something is wrong and better replace/ sub him.

Defenders - Also doesn't matter the rates.
Just if you see that oppo has too many shots, switch to man to man, hard tackling, high pressing
If you see that some defender has a yellow card in first 30' and has a bad rate, sub him ( second yellow is waiting for him :p).
Don't sub a defender after (about) 55-60' , no matter his bad rate. you 'll concede a goal.

DMC is a key player. If he has under 6,5 sub him

MC aren't key players. Doesn't matter the rate. not bellow from 6-6,5 is ok.
Those are ok players to made a sub.
You must do one sub in every game. Better round 65'.
You get an extra green and a possible goal.

AMR-AML are key players. Must have 7,5 and above. If lower, then make a sub.
(the same with a AMC player).

ST isn't a key player. Doesn't matter the rate.
Unless you use him as a F-K or penalty kicker.

If your kicker/specialist, has a low rate, he has a "bad" day and you must remove him manually (during the game) from your first choice.

Well its clearly what to do when 1 player are in bad form. But what to do when whole defense or whole midfield turns in red?

if it happens for once, then wait
if it continues, make a sub, switch orders, use hard modes (attack, defense, tackling ...) and pray
the games favors your oppo :p