Just eight weeks in the past when Morgan Rogers found himself on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered as the Villa manager berated him for not reading a pass in behind. At that point, as the club failed to win in six, it wasn't clear if his performances were a sign or a cause of the team's wider issues.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
In the latest match, however, the sideline response was entirely decidedly more positive. When the in-form star curled home his brace-sealing goal to restore his side's advantage, the boss ripped off his jacket, opened his arms and roared. Villa marched on to a 10th successive win , after failing to win any of their first six matches, now sit only three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Genuine Title Contenders?
This is a rather hard question to address. Past precedent, a general sense of this institution, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they have not been completely commanding this season, even as the positive results have piled up.
Per Opta, on just two occasions has the side had an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a club who have strung together a ten-match winning streak, Villa look weirdly vulnerable – yet currently the tight outcomes are falling their way.
The Winning Formula
The current approach appears to be to exchange chances with an opponent and then rely on Rogers to bail them out with a couple of precise efforts. This occurred against Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and it happened against the Red Devils.
The initial strike originated from an exquisite effort, curled just inside the goal frame from a wide position. His brace-completing goal proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one 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.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, Manchester United managed a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. Villa have secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in all except one of those fixtures.
A statistical correction might be the most significant challenge they must confront in the near future. Their key man, surely, will not continue to drilling the ball into the top corner forever.
Reasons for Optimism
Perhaps there is an alternative path in which, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players may yet find their top level.
- The centre-forward could start finding the net regularly.
- The attacking talent might become the force he was during his peak.
- The injured centre-backs will eventually come back from the treatment room, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable backline.
This could contain the potential of a genuine bid, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.
Relishing the Unlikely
Yet, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought the team would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely earlier this season, few could imagine Rogers as the year closed would be spearheading a title charge and appearing as an essential England player.
This remarkable period should be enjoyed exactly since it appears so improbable. When the match-winner faced the Villa faithful at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. These spells are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.
