A mere two months ago that the Villa attacker found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered while the Villa manager berated him for not reading a pass in behind. During that period, with the team failed to win in six, doubts remained whether his performances were a sign or the reason of the team's broader struggles.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
This weekend, though, the manager's outburst was decidedly more positive. After Rogers drilled in his second to restore the lead for Villa, Emery tore off his winter coat, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. Villa were on their way to a tenth straight victory , after failing to win any of their first six games, are somehow only three points off pace-setters Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Genuine Title Contenders?
That’s a rather hard query to address. Past precedent, the perceived status of the club, suggests not. Furthermore, they've rarely been completely commanding during this run, despite the fact the victories have piled up.
As per the data, twice all season have Villa registered an expected goals figure significantly higher than the opposition. For a team which has put together ten consecutive victories, the Villans seem weirdly vulnerable – but currently the tight outcomes are swinging for them.
The Rogers Recipe
The current approach looks like to engage in a shootout with the opposition and wait for their star man to bail them out with some crisp finishes. It happened away to Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and again when facing United.
The initial strike stemmed from a superb shot, bent just inside the post from a wide position. The follow-up goal acted as a slight scruffier version of the opener capitalizing on a pass from Watkins.
“Perhaps Rogers’ right foot is becoming like Arjen Robben’s left: just because you know he’s going to whip the ball into the top corner doesn’t mean you can stop him.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Logic says not. In the recent win, the opponents managed more efforts and more direct attempts. They have secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in all except one of those matches.
A statistical correction could be the most significant challenge the club must confront in the near future. Rogers, surely, will not continue to drilling the ball past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.
Potential for Growth
Maybe there exists an alternative path where, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures may yet rediscover their best form.
- The centre-forward may begin to scoring again.
- The winger might become the force he was at Borussia Dortmund.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to come back from the treatment room, bolstering a periodically leaky backline.
Perhaps there is in that the potential for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.
Savoring the Moment
But then, this was unforeseen. Few believed Aston Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely earlier this season, no one envisioned Rogers now would be leading a title charge while establishing himself as an essential Three Lions star.
This winning streak is to be savoured for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. As Rogers stood in front of the Villa faithful when the game ended conducting the cheers, he seemed to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. These spells are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.
