Just 60 days in the past that Morgan Rogers found himself on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed as Unai Emery berated him over failing to anticipate a pass in behind. Back then, with the team failed to win in six, doubts remained whether his performances were a symptom or the source of the team's wider issues.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
In the latest match, however, the manager's outburst proved to be far more favourable. As the in-form star swept in his brace-sealing goal to reinstate Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician discarded his winter coat, spread his arms and roared. Villa were on their way to ten wins in a row , having failed to win any of their first six fixtures, are somehow only three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Serious Hopefuls?
It remains a rather hard query to answer. History, the traditional standing of Villa, argues against it. Additionally, they have not been wholly dominant in many games, despite the fact the victories have piled up.
Per Opta, in only two games have Villa had an expected goals figure notably superior than the other team. For a club that have put together 10 in a row, the Villans look weirdly vulnerable – yet currently the fine lines are going in their favour.
The Winning Formula
The prevailing tactic seems to be to engage in a shootout with rivals and wait for Rogers to save the day with some clinical strikes. This was the case against Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and again against United.
Rogers' first goal stemmed from a brilliant finish, curled right inside the upright from a wide position. The follow-up goal acted as a somewhat messier replica of the opener as he seized 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.”
Can It Last?
Logic says not. Against United, the opposition registered more efforts and more shots on target. Villa have secured their last eight victories by a single goal. They have allowed goals in all but one of those games.
A statistical correction could be the greatest opponent the club have to face in the near future. The forward, surely, cannot keep on blasting the football into the net's top corner forever.
Reasons for Optimism
Maybe there exists a different scenario where, instead of results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Important figures could still rediscover their best form.
- The centre-forward may begin to scoring again.
- Jadon Sancho might become the performer he resembled in Germany.
- The defensive duo will eventually regain fitness, strengthening an occasionally vulnerable backline.
This could contain the potential of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on one man.
Savoring the Moment
Yet, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought the team would sit third at Christmas. And certainly back in October, few could imagine the midfielder as the year closed would be spearheading a championship pursuit while looking like a crucial Three Lions star.
This remarkable period must be cherished for the very reason that it appears so improbable. When Rogers faced the home supporters after the match orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These spells are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.
