It was two months ago that the Villa attacker found himself on the Sunderland turf, looking confused as the Villa manager admonished him over missing a through-ball. Back then, with the team went six without a win, doubts remained if his displays were a sign or a cause of the side's broader struggles.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
On Sunday, though, the sideline response proved to be decidedly more positive. After the England international swept in his second to restore his side's advantage, the boss discarded his jacket, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. The team were on their way to a tenth straight victory , despite not winning their initial half-dozen matches, now sit only three points off pace-setters Arsenal.
Is This Team Serious Challengers?
That’s a particularly tough question to answer. History, the perceived status of this institution, argues against it. Moreover, their performances haven't been completely commanding in many games, despite the fact the victories have piled up.
As per the data, in only two games have Villa posted an xG significantly higher than the opposition. For a side that have just won a ten-match winning streak, Villa look strangely fragile – yet right now the margins are falling their way.
The Reliant Strategy
The current approach appears to be to engage in a shootout with the opposition and then rely on Rogers to bail them out with a couple of crisp finishes. This occurred against Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and once more when facing Manchester United.
His opener originated from a superb shot, curled precisely inside the upright from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of the opener as he seized on a setup by his strike partner.
“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?
Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opponents had a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in all except one of those fixtures.
A reversion to average could be the most significant challenge they have to face as the season progresses. Their key man, in all likelihood, cannot keep on thrashing the ball past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.
A Case for Belief
Perhaps there is an alternative path in which, instead of results trending towards performances, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs could still rediscover their best form.
- The centre-forward might resume finding the net regularly.
- The winger might become the performer he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
- The defensive duo will eventually come back from the treatment room, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable defence.
Maybe within that lies the potential of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.
Enjoying the Ride
But then, this is a surprise. Few believed Aston Villa would be in the top three for the holidays. And certainly back in October, few could imagine Rogers as the year closed would be spearheading a hunt for the title while looking like an essential England player.
The current run must be cherished for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. When the hero positioned himself before the North End when the game ended leading the celebrations, it was clear to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These runs of form are rare in football and should be relished.
