Just 60 days in the past when the young forward was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed as his coach admonished him for not reading a penetrating pass. Back then, as the club endured a six-game winless run, the question was whether his displays were a sign or the source of the side's more general malaise.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
On Sunday, in contrast, the touchline reaction proved to be much more joyous. As the in-form star drilled in his brace-sealing goal to reinstate Villa's lead, Emery ripped off his coat, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. The team marched on to ten wins in a row , after failing to win their opening six fixtures, are somehow a mere three points off table-toppers Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Serious Hopefuls?
That’s a particularly tough query to answer. History, the perceived status of this institution, indicates otherwise. Additionally, they have not been wholly dominant this season, even as the victories have stacked up.
According to the data, on just two occasions has the side had an expected goals figure significantly higher than the other team. For a side which has just won ten consecutive victories, Villa look weirdly vulnerable – however currently the tight outcomes are swinging for them.
The Reliant Strategy
Their recent policy seems to be to exchange chances with rivals before hoping their talisman to rescue them with two crisp finishes. This occurred at Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and it happened against United.
Rogers' first goal originated from a brilliant finish, curled just inside the upright from the edge of the area. For his second acted as a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he seized on a setup by his strike partner.
“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”
Can It Last?
Logic says not. Against United, the opponents had more efforts and more shots on target. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in all except one of those fixtures.
Regression to the mean may well be the biggest rival the club must confront over the coming weeks. Rogers, in all likelihood, cannot maintain thrashing his shots past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.
Potential for Growth
Maybe there exists another reality where, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs might still return to peak condition.
- The centre-forward may begin to scoring again.
- The attacking talent could transform into the force he showed during his peak.
- The injured centre-backs are set to regain fitness, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable backline.
This could contain the seeds of a genuine bid, however, it is improbable cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.
Savoring the Moment
But then, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought the team would sit third at Christmas. And without a doubt two months ago, no one envisioned the midfielder as the year closed would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a crucial player for the national team.
This winning streak is to be savoured for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. When Rogers faced the Villa faithful at the final whistle conducting the cheers, he appeared to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.
