It was 60 days ago when Morgan Rogers was standing on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed as the Villa manager admonished him for not reading a through-ball. Back then, with the team went six without a win, doubts remained whether his displays were a sign or a cause for the team's wider issues.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
In the latest match, though, the sideline response was much more joyous. As Rogers swept in his brace-sealing goal to restore his side's advantage, Emery ripped off his winter coat, spread his arms and bellowed. The team continued to ten wins in a row , despite not winning their initial half-dozen fixtures, find themselves only three points behind the leaders Arsenal.
Are They Serious Hopefuls?
This is a rather hard proposition to answer. Past precedent, the traditional standing of the club, indicates otherwise. Moreover, they have not been wholly dominant in many games, while the positive results have piled up.
As per the data, on just two occasions have Villa had an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a club which has put together 10 in a row, Villa appear curiously susceptible – but currently the fine lines are going in their favour.
The Rogers Recipe
The prevailing tactic seems to be to exchange chances with rivals and wait for their star man to rescue them with two clinical strikes. This was the case away to Leeds, it transpired in London, and once more against Manchester United.
The initial strike originated from a superb shot, arced precisely inside the post from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal was essentially a somewhat messier replica of his first capitalizing 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.”
Can It Last?
Logic says not. Against United, the opposition registered more efforts and more shots on target. The team has secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in all except one of those matches.
A statistical correction may well be the greatest opponent the club must confront as the season progresses. The forward, surely, cannot keep on drilling the ball into the top corner week in, week out.
Reasons for Optimism
Maybe there exists a different scenario whereby, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Important figures might still return to peak condition.
- The main striker may begin to finding the net regularly.
- The winger may rediscover the player he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to come back from the treatment room, bolstering a sometimes shaky defence.
Perhaps there is in that the possibility for a sustained push, but they surely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.
Savoring the Moment
However, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought Aston Villa would be in a Champions League place in December. And certainly earlier this season, no one envisioned Rogers as the year closed would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while establishing himself as a crucial player for the national team.
This winning streak must be cherished precisely because it seems so surreal. As Rogers positioned himself before the home supporters after the match orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.
