A mere two months prior when Morgan Rogers was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed while his coach admonished him over missing a pass in behind. During that period, as Villa failed to win in six, doubts remained whether Rogers' form were a symptom or the source of the team's broader struggles.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
On Sunday, however, the sideline response was entirely much more joyous. As Rogers drilled in his second to reinstate his side's advantage, the boss discarded his jacket, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. Villa were on their way to a tenth straight victory , having failed to win their initial half-dozen games, now sit a mere three points behind the leaders Arsenal.
Are They Legitimate Hopefuls?
This is a particularly tough query to answer. History, a general sense of Villa, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they have not been wholly dominant during this run, while the victories have piled up.
According to Opta, on just two occasions has the team posted an xG significantly higher than the other team. For a side that have strung together ten consecutive victories, Villa seem curiously susceptible – however currently the margins are falling their way.
The Reliant Strategy
The current approach seems to be to engage in a shootout with the opposition before hoping their talisman to rescue them with a couple of precise efforts. This was the case away to Leeds, it occurred in London, and again versus United.
The initial strike came from a brilliant finish, arced just inside the post from the edge of the area. For his second 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.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Logic says not. In the recent win, the opponents had more shots and more shots on target. Villa have won each of their last eight by a single goal. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those games.
A statistical correction might be the most significant challenge Villa will encounter as the season progresses. The forward, surely, cannot maintain thrashing the football into the net's top corner week in, week out.
A Case for Belief
Perhaps there is a different scenario whereby, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs may yet rediscover their best form.
- The main striker could start scoring again.
- The winger could transform into the performer he was in Germany.
- The injured centre-backs will eventually return from injury, bolstering a sometimes shaky backline.
This could contain the seeds of a genuine bid, but they surely cannot keep relying on a single individual.
Savoring the Moment
But then, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Aston Villa would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt earlier this season, few could imagine Rogers now would be spearheading a hunt for the title while establishing himself as an essential Three Lions star.
This remarkable period should be enjoyed precisely because it appears so improbable. As Rogers stood in front of the Villa faithful after the match orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. Such periods are rare in football and should be relished.
