It was 60 days in the past when the young forward stood on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered while the Villa manager berated him over failing to anticipate a pass in behind. Back then, with the team endured a six-game winless run, the question was if Rogers' form were a symptom or the source of the side'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 entirely much more joyous. As the in-form star drilled in his brace-sealing goal to reclaim Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician discarded his jacket, spread his arms and bellowed. The Birmingham club continued to ten wins in a row and after failing to win their initial half-dozen games, now sit a mere three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.
Is This Team Genuine Challengers?
That’s a rather hard proposition to resolve. Past precedent, a general sense of this institution, argues against it. Additionally, they have not been completely commanding this season, despite the fact the victories have stacked up.
As per statistical analysis, on just two occasions has the side had an xG notably superior than the other team. For a side which has put together 10 in a row, they seem curiously susceptible – yet right now the tight outcomes are going in their favour.
The Reliant Strategy
The prevailing tactic looks like to trade blows with an opponent and then rely on Rogers to bail them out with a couple of clinical strikes. It happened against Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and once more against the Red Devils.
The initial strike stemmed from a brilliant finish, arced precisely inside the post from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of the opener as he pounced 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?
Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, the opponents registered more shots and more efforts on goal. They have won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those matches.
A statistical correction might be the greatest opponent they have to face as the season progresses. The forward, in all likelihood, cannot keep on thrashing his shots into the top corner indefinitely.
A Case for Belief
Maybe there exists an alternative path where, instead of luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Important figures could still return to peak condition.
- The centre-forward may begin to scoring again.
- The winger may rediscover the player he was in Germany.
- The injured centre-backs are set to return from injury, bolstering a sometimes shaky defensive unit.
Maybe within that lies the seeds for a sustained push, but they surely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.
Relishing the Unlikely
Yet, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely back in October, few could imagine the young forward as the year closed would be leading a hunt for the title and appearing as an essential Three Lions star.
The current run should be enjoyed for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. When Rogers positioned himself before the North End after the match orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.
