It was two months ago when the young forward stood on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused while Unai Emery admonished him for not reading a through-ball. Back then, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, the question was whether Rogers' form were a symptom or a cause for the side's wider issues.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
On Sunday, however, the sideline response was decidedly more positive. After the England international swept in his brace-sealing goal to restore Villa's lead, Emery discarded his coat, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. The team were on their way to a tenth straight victory , having failed to win any of their first six fixtures, are somehow a mere three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.
Are They Genuine Title Contenders?
It remains a rather hard proposition to answer. History, a general sense of Villa, suggests not. Moreover, they've rarely been wholly dominant this season, while the positive results have stacked up.
As per the data, on just two occasions has the side had an xG more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a club who have strung together ten consecutive victories, Villa seem strangely fragile – however currently the margins are falling their way.
The Reliant Strategy
The current approach seems to be to engage in a shootout with an opponent before hoping their star man to bail them out with some crisp finishes. This occurred away to Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and once more versus the Red Devils.
His opener originated from a brilliant finish, bent just inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal was essentially a somewhat messier replica of the opener as he seized 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.”
Is It Sustainable?
Reason suggests otherwise. During the latest victory, Manchester United had more shots and more efforts on goal. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in all but one of those games.
A statistical correction may well be the most significant challenge they will encounter over the coming weeks. The forward, surely, cannot maintain drilling the football into the net's top corner week in, week out.
Reasons for Optimism
Could it be another reality in which, instead of results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs might still rediscover their best form.
- The main striker may begin to scoring again.
- The winger might become the performer he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to regain fitness, bolstering a periodically leaky defensive unit.
This could contain the possibility for a sustained push, however, it is improbable cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.
Enjoying the Ride
Yet, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt two months ago, no one envisioned the young forward by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a title charge and appearing as an essential Three Lions star.
This remarkable period is to be savoured precisely because it seems so surreal. When Rogers faced the North End after the match conducting the cheers, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are rare in football and should be relished.
