It was two months in the past that the Villa attacker found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered as the Villa manager scolded him over failing to anticipate a pass in behind. Back then, with the team endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained if Rogers' form were a sign or the reason for the side's wider issues.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
On Sunday, in contrast, the sideline response proved to be far more favourable. When Rogers curled home his second strike to restore Villa's lead, the boss ripped off his jacket, spread his arms and roared. Villa marched on to ten wins in a row and having failed to win their opening six matches, now sit only three points off the leaders Arsenal.
Are They Genuine Hopefuls?
This is a particularly tough proposition to answer. The historical record, the traditional standing of Villa, suggests not. Furthermore, they have not been wholly dominant during this run, while the victories have accumulated.
According to the data, on just two occasions has the team registered an xG significantly higher than the other team. For a team that have strung together ten consecutive victories, the Villans look strangely fragile – yet at the moment the margins are falling their way.
The Rogers Recipe
The current approach looks like to exchange chances with the opposition before hoping their talisman to bail them out with some clinical strikes. It happened away to Leeds, it happened in London, and it happened when facing the Red Devils.
The initial strike stemmed from an exquisite effort, bent just inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal was essentially a somewhat messier replica of the opener capitalizing on a pass from Watkins.
“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”
Can It Last?
Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, Manchester United managed more shots and more shots on target. They have secured their last eight victories by a single goal. They’ve conceded in all but one of those fixtures.
A statistical correction might be the biggest rival they have to face in the near future. Their key man, almost certainly, will not continue to drilling his shots into the top corner forever.
Potential for Growth
Could it be another reality in which, instead of results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players could still rediscover their best form.
- The main striker may begin to scoring again.
- The attacking talent could transform into the force he was at Borussia Dortmund.
- The injured centre-backs will eventually come back from the treatment room, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable defence.
Maybe within that lies the possibility of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.
Savoring the Moment
But then, nobody expected this. Nobody thought Aston Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely earlier this season, no one envisioned the midfielder as the year closed would be spearheading a title charge while establishing himself as a crucial player for the national team.
This winning streak should be enjoyed precisely because it seems so surreal. When Rogers stood in front of the North End at the final whistle leading the celebrations, he appeared to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. These runs of form are rare in football and must be appreciated.
