Just eight weeks prior that the young forward found himself on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered as the Villa manager admonished him for missing a through-ball. Back then, as the club went six without a win, doubts remained whether his displays were a symptom or a cause of Villa's broader struggles.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
This weekend, however, the touchline reaction proved to be far more favourable. As Rogers curled home his brace-sealing goal to reinstate the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician ripped off his jacket, spread his arms and roared. The Birmingham club marched on to ten wins in a row , having failed to win any of their first six fixtures, are somehow just three points off table-toppers Arsenal.
Is This Team Legitimate Challengers?
That’s a particularly tough proposition to answer. The historical record, the traditional standing of the club, suggests not. Moreover, they have not been completely commanding during this run, even as the victories have stacked up.
According to statistical analysis, on just two occasions has the team registered an xG notably superior than their opponents. For a side who have strung together a ten-match winning streak, Villa seem strangely fragile – however at the moment the margins are falling their way.
The Rogers Recipe
The current approach seems to be to exchange chances with the opposition before hoping their star man to rescue them with two crisp finishes. This occurred against Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and it happened versus United.
The initial strike came from a superb shot, bent precisely inside the post from the edge of the area. For his second was essentially a slight scruffier version of the opener capitalizing 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?
Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, Manchester United registered more shots and more efforts on goal. They have secured their last eight victories by a single goal. They’ve conceded in all but one of those fixtures.
A statistical correction could be the greatest opponent Villa will encounter over the coming weeks. Their key man, surely, will not continue to drilling the football past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.
Potential for Growth
Perhaps there is an alternative path where, instead of results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Important figures might still return to peak condition.
- The centre-forward may begin to scoring again.
- The winger could transform into the player he showed during his peak.
- The injured centre-backs are set to regain fitness, strengthening a periodically leaky defensive unit.
Maybe within that lies the potential of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.
Relishing the Unlikely
But then, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And certainly back in October, few could imagine the young forward by the end of the year would be spearheading a championship pursuit while looking like a vital Three Lions star.
This winning streak must be cherished precisely because it appears so improbable. When the hero positioned himself before the home supporters after the match conducting the cheers, he appeared to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. These runs of form do not happen often and should be relished.
