5 teams whose midfielders score more goals than forwards

A game of football is ultimately decided on goals. And who knows more about scoring goals than the people who are put on the pitch to score them, the forwards? Right? Well not always. Generally, the defenders defend; the midfielders create, defend and score at times too; the forwards score.However, plenty of teams have assembled a glittering talent line of midfielders who get more than their share of goals and simultaneously don’t shy away from their responsibilities. Frank Lampard is one such example, a midfielder who had a goal-scoring rate of what a striker next to Drogba would have despite playing in central midfield.However, not every team possesses such gifted midfielders. These teams usually operate with forwards who contribute more towards holding the shape of the team and setting up their prolific midfield partners. These forwards do get goals every now and then, but their scoring charts pale in comparison to their team-mates.We look at 5 such teams in this article:

#1 Manchester United

As he approaches the midst of his second season at Manchester United, Louis van Gaal still has to achieve a balance that allows his team to defend and attack both with aplomb. Initially, his team was buoyed by new arrivals such as Angel di Maria, Radamel Falcao and Ander Herrera and attack with vigor, getting goals and goals.

However, their defence had to be constantly bailed out by David de Gea. While Falcao and occasionally van Persie misfired, Wayne Rooney did start to get goals for the team as he took on more responsibility with the armband.

On the other hand, the midfielders pretty much equaled the output of the forwards. Juan Mata and Ander Herrera reveled under Van Gaal, their brilliant movement inside the box led to both of them getting goals in big games.

Later on, Van Gaal decided to stick Marouane Fellaini in a support-striker role with crosses peppered in. This catalysed a late season fightback as the Belgian headed in loads of crucial goals that eventually saw Manchester United reclaim a place in the UEFA Champions League.

This season, Van Gaal invested in some solid midfielders with the aim of giving his defence more protection while controlling possession. The reward has been obvious to see, Chris Smalling has blossomed into a fine defender and Manchester United have the best defensive record in the Premier League.

Now, fixing the defence has manifested into a different error altogether. United’s strike-force, traditionally fearsome, has now failed to get goals at all. Wayne Rooney’s struggles have been well-documented, while Anthony Martial has failed to find the net since his brace at Southampton despite encouraging performances.

In light of these struggles, Juan Mata has been the brightest spark in an attacking sense for Van Gaal with 4 goals already, while Ander Herrera has also had 3 goals. Recently, young Jesse Lingard has impressed alot in his run at the first team and already scored a goal. This all comes despite the fact that Memphis Depay, hasn’t adapted well to life in Manchester and only notched a solitary strike this term in league football.

#2 Celta Vigo

The surprise package of 2015/16 in La Liga. Following their 4-1 demolition of Barcelona in front of their fans, the world has paid more attentions towards Celta Vigo. The Galacia-based club have won hearts this season with their entertaining, slightly gung-ho direct style to the game. Eduardo Berizzo’s men currently deservedly occupy 4th position in the league table and can pose a challenge to any team that faces them.

The most fearsome of their players is undoubtedly top-scorer Nolito, the Spanish left-winger who already has 7 goals in this league campaign. The former Barcelona midfielder has attracted interest from the very best teams in the game and Celta have a really stern task in keeping hold of their main man. Apart from Nolito, Fabian Orellana has continued his fine form from last season and already scored three this season.

That’s not to say their strikers aren’t prolific, Iago Aspas has had a terrific season and looks to have put his Liverpool struggles well behind him. His brace against Barcelona was a particular highlight. However, Nolito is still the main player in the team and he also top scored last season. When the chips are down, the team turn to him and look for him to deliver.

#3 AS Roma

As age started to come up with Roma’s legendary captain, Francesco Totti, there was a sizeable gap to fill in the Italian’s boots. Mattia Destro was supposed to gradually come of age and start to replace Totti in the lineup but Destro couldn’t quite deliver on his earlier potential and failed on the big test.

Thus, Roma dipped into their pockets this summer and bought Edin Dzeko from Manchester City. Dzeko is an accomplished footballer who brings in hold-up play as well as a lethal goalscoring pedigree to any team he plays in. The move was widely praised as good for both the player, who despite some promising spells of form couldn’t make it as first choice at Manchester City, and the team.

However, it hasn’t quite gone to plan. Edin Dzeko hasn’t set Rome alight and has only bagged 3 goals till now in his Roma career. Instead, it’s been another signing who has been a revelation for Roma.

Subject to a long, controversial saga in the summer, Mohamed Salah eventually ended up signing for Roma and has wasted no time settling in. Roma have been free-scoring in attack this season, notching a league-high 27 goals.

Dzeko and Totti account for only 3 of those. Gervinho, Salah and Miralem Pjanic on the other hand, share 16 between them. This is a familiar story to last season, where Alessandro Florenzi, Adam Ljajic and Gervinho accounted for most of Roma’s goals.

#4 Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace might not be the name of the club you’d expect to hear in this list. The club, after all, was content to let striker Glenn Murray leave for Bournemouth in the transfer window and had recruited two really promising English strikers in Patrick Bamford, the Championship player of the season (on loan), and Connor Wickham.

Combine that with the fact that they already have three more strikers in Fraizer Campbell, Dwight Gayle and Marouane Chamakh and you’d think this team would have its share of goals from forwards. So how many goals would you expect that strikeforce to have this season? Well, they have yet to score a single goal, combined!

Crystal Palace usually line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with the “3” behind the striker consisting of crafty, hard-working players who can cause problems to any team. Jason Puncheon has always been a source of goals from open play and from the dead ball, while Yannick Bolasie has always had a killer edge to his game.

Combine that with the fact that Wilfried Zaha and new-boy Bakary Sako also have popped in with vital goals and you already have 4 midfielders who have an eye for goal. All this before you consider the pivot.

Last season, Mile Jedinak scored some vital goals for the team and this season Yohan Cabaye has assumed the responsibility. The Frenchman is Palace’s top scorer in the league, although his penalty duties surely contribute to that tally.

#5 Augsburg

Augsburg ended the 2014/15 season in really lofty form. Having managed to grab wins against each of the top 4, Augsburg finished fifth and directly qualified for the Europa League. The team was led by it’s two flying wingers, Raul Bobadilla and Tobias Werner, who collectively grabbed 18 goals between them.

Meanwhile, Nikola Djurdjic, Ji Dong-Won and other strikers couldn’t really fire on all cylinders, which eventually led to Bobadilla playing as a centre-forward at times. Augsburg were a good team last season and could have been expected to kick on this season and make their place stick.

However, the current season has been a disaster of epic proportions. 12 games into the season, Augsburg have only picked up one win and currently sit rock-bottom of the Bundesliga. Their goals have mostly dried up, right-back Paul Verhaegh is the top scorer, all of his goals coming from penalties.

Tobias Werner has failed to kick on as well, failing to score this season and losing his place in the side. Raul Bobadilla has still got 6 goals in the season but most of his best performances have come in the Europa League (where Augsburg fare much better and with two games to go, are tied on points at second place).

The strikers haven’t really fired for the team again this season, while the overall terrible run has seen the goals dry up somewhat in midfield as well. Augsburg are firmly entrenched in a relegation battle and they need to kick on and put in better performances before it’s too late.