A mere 60 days ago when the young forward found himself on the Sunderland turf, looking confused while the Villa manager berated him over missing a penetrating pass. During that period, as Villa failed to win in six, the question was if his performances were an indicator or the reason for Villa's broader struggles.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
In the latest match, however, the sideline response proved to be far more favourable. After Rogers swept in his brace-sealing goal to restore his side's advantage, Emery discarded his jacket, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. Villa marched on to a tenth straight victory , after failing to win their initial half-dozen fixtures, find themselves only three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Genuine Title Contenders?
That’s a particularly tough proposition to address. The historical record, the traditional standing of this institution, argues against it. Moreover, they have not been entirely convincing this season, while the wins have stacked up.
According to Opta, in only two games have Villa registered an xG notably superior than the opposition. For a club that have strung together 10 in a row, Villa seem curiously susceptible – but right now the fine lines are swinging for them.
The Winning Formula
The current approach appears to be to exchange chances with rivals and wait for their talisman to rescue them with a couple of crisp finishes. This was the case away to Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and once more against United.
His opener originated from a superb shot, curled precisely inside the post from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal acted as 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.”
Is It Sustainable?
Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opponents had a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those games.
Regression to the mean might be the greatest opponent Villa will encounter in the near future. Rogers, surely, cannot maintain thrashing the football into the net's top corner forever.
A Case for Belief
Perhaps there is an alternative path where, rather than luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs could still rediscover their best form.
- The main striker might resume scoring again.
- The winger may rediscover the player he was during his peak.
- The defensive duo are set to come back from the treatment room, fortifying a periodically leaky defence.
Perhaps there is in that the seeds of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.
Savoring the Moment
Yet, nobody expected this. Few believed Aston Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And certainly back in October, few could imagine the midfielder by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while looking like an essential England player.
This remarkable period should be enjoyed for the very reason that it appears so improbable. As Rogers faced the North End at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be thoroughly enjoying it. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are rare in football and should be relished.
