A mere eight weeks in the past that the young forward stood on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused as his coach berated him over not reading a through-ball. At that point, with the team endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear if Rogers' form were a sign or the reason for Villa's wider issues.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
This weekend, however, the touchline reaction was entirely decidedly more positive. As Rogers curled home his brace-sealing goal to restore his side's advantage, the boss discarded his coat, threw his arms wide and bellowed. The team marched on to ten wins in a row , despite not winning their initial half-dozen games, are somehow a mere three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Legitimate Hopefuls?
This is a rather hard proposition to address. History, a general sense of Villa, suggests not. Furthermore, their performances haven't been wholly dominant during this run, despite the fact the victories have accumulated.
Per Opta, twice all season has the team registered an xG notably superior than their opponents. For a team who have just won ten consecutive victories, the Villans seem strangely fragile – but at the moment the fine lines are going in their favour.
The Rogers Recipe
Their recent policy looks like to exchange chances with the opposition and then rely on Rogers to bail them out with a couple of crisp finishes. This was the case against Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and again against United.
The initial strike came from an exquisite effort, bent just inside the post from a wide position. His brace-completing goal proved to be a slight scruffier version of his first capitalizing on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.
“Perhaps Rogers’ right foot is becoming like Arjen Robben’s left: just because you know he’s going to whip the ball into the top corner doesn’t mean you can stop him.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, the opponents registered more shots and more direct attempts. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. They’ve conceded in all but one of those fixtures.
Regression to the mean might be the most significant challenge they will encounter in the near future. Their key man, almost certainly, will not continue to thrashing the football past despairing goalkeepers forever.
Reasons for Optimism
Perhaps there is an alternative path whereby, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Important figures might still return to peak condition.
- Ollie Watkins could start scoring again.
- The winger might become the player he showed during his peak.
- The injured centre-backs are set to return from injury, bolstering a sometimes shaky defensive unit.
This could contain the possibility of a genuine bid, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.
Savoring the Moment
But then, nobody expected this. Nobody thought Aston Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt back in October, nobody thought the young forward now would be spearheading a hunt for the title and appearing as a vital England player.
The current run must be cherished precisely because it feels so unlikely. When Rogers faced the home supporters when the game ended conducting the cheers, he appeared to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.
