It was eight weeks ago when Morgan Rogers stood on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered while Unai Emery scolded him for not reading a pass in behind. Back then, as Villa went six without a win, it wasn't clear if his displays were a symptom or the source for the side's broader struggles.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
In the latest match, in contrast, the sideline response was far more favourable. When the England international curled home his second strike to reclaim Villa's lead, Emery ripped off his winter coat, spread his arms and bellowed. Villa marched on to ten wins in a row , after failing to win their initial half-dozen matches, are somehow just three points off pace-setters Arsenal.
Is This Team Serious Title Contenders?
It remains a particularly tough question to answer. The historical record, the traditional standing of the club, indicates otherwise. Additionally, they have not been completely commanding this season, despite the fact the positive results have stacked up.
As per the data, twice all season have Villa had an expected goals figure notably superior than the other team. For a team which has just won ten consecutive victories, they seem curiously susceptible – but currently the fine lines are going in their favour.
The Rogers Recipe
The current approach appears to be to engage in a shootout with the opposition and wait for Rogers to bail them out with two crisp finishes. This was the case away to Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and it happened when facing Manchester United.
The initial strike originated from an exquisite effort, arced just inside the post from the corner of the box. For his second was essentially a slight scruffier version of his first as he pounced on a pass from Watkins.
“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”
Is It Sustainable?
Logic says not. During the latest victory, the opponents had more shots and more shots on target. Villa have won each of their last eight by just one goal. They have allowed goals in all except one of those fixtures.
A statistical correction might be the greatest opponent the club have to face as the season progresses. The forward, almost certainly, will not continue to blasting his shots into the net's top corner week in, week out.
A Case for Belief
Maybe there exists an alternative path where, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs could still rediscover their best form.
- The main striker may begin to scoring again.
- The attacking talent may rediscover the player he resembled in Germany.
- The injured centre-backs are set to come back from the treatment room, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable backline.
Perhaps there is in that the possibility for a sustained push, but they surely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.
Enjoying the Ride
Yet, this was unforeseen. Few believed Aston Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt two months ago, nobody thought the midfielder by the end of the year would be spearheading a hunt for the title and appearing as a crucial player for the national team.
This winning streak must be cherished precisely because it seems so surreal. When the hero faced the North End at the final whistle conducting the cheers, it was clear to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These runs of form are rare in football and must be appreciated.
