It was 60 days prior that the young forward found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed as his coach admonished him over missing a through-ball. Back then, with the team failed to win in six, doubts remained whether his performances were a symptom or a cause of Villa's broader struggles.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
This weekend, in contrast, the touchline reaction was decidedly more positive. After the England international drilled in his brace-sealing goal to reclaim the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician discarded his jacket, opened his arms and roared. The Birmingham club were on their way to ten wins in a row , after failing to win their opening six fixtures, find themselves just three points off the leaders Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Genuine Challengers?
It remains an exceptionally difficult query to address. Past precedent, the traditional standing of the club, suggests not. Furthermore, they've rarely been completely commanding this season, even as the victories have stacked up.
As per statistical analysis, on just two occasions has the team had an expected goals figure significantly higher than their opponents. For a club who have just won ten consecutive victories, they appear strangely fragile – but right now the margins are swinging for them.
The Rogers Recipe
The prevailing tactic seems to be to trade blows with an opponent before hoping Rogers to save the day with some precise efforts. This occurred against Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and again when facing the Red Devils.
The initial strike came from a superb shot, arced right inside the post from the edge of the area. For his second was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one capitalizing on a setup by his strike partner.
“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, the opposition had a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. The defence has been breached in all but one of those matches.
Regression to the mean may well be the greatest opponent the club will encounter as the season progresses. Rogers, surely, cannot maintain drilling the ball into the top corner forever.
Reasons for Optimism
Perhaps there is another reality in which, rather than luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs could still find their top level.
- Ollie Watkins could start scoring again.
- The winger might become the player he resembled during his peak.
- The injured centre-backs are due to come back from the treatment room, fortifying a sometimes shaky backline.
Maybe within that lies the potential of a genuine bid, however, it is improbable cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.
Enjoying the Ride
But then, this is a surprise. Few believed Aston Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And certainly back in October, nobody thought the midfielder by the end of the year would be leading a championship pursuit and appearing as a vital Three Lions star.
This remarkable period should be enjoyed precisely because it seems so surreal. As the match-winner positioned himself before the Villa faithful at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These runs of form are rare in football and must be appreciated.
