It was two months prior that the young forward stood on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered while the Villa manager berated him for not reading a through-ball. Back then, with the team endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear whether his displays were an indicator or a cause for Villa's more general malaise.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
On Sunday, however, the manager's outburst was entirely much more joyous. When the in-form star curled home his second strike to restore the lead for Villa, the boss ripped off his coat, spread his arms and roared. The team were on their way to ten wins in a row and having failed to win any of their first six fixtures, are somehow only three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.
Are They Serious Title Contenders?
It remains a rather hard query to resolve. Past precedent, the perceived status of Villa, indicates otherwise. Additionally, they have not been wholly dominant during this run, despite the fact the victories have piled up.
Per statistical analysis, on just two occasions has the side registered an xG notably superior than the opposition. For a club that have just won ten consecutive victories, the Villans seem curiously susceptible – however right now the margins are swinging for them.
The Reliant Strategy
The prevailing tactic seems to be to exchange chances with the opposition before hoping Rogers to bail them out with a couple of precise efforts. This occurred against Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and it happened against United.
The initial strike originated from a brilliant finish, bent precisely inside the upright from a wide position. The follow-up goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one capitalizing on a setup by his strike partner.
“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”
Is It Sustainable?
Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, the opposition registered more efforts and more shots on target. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. They have allowed goals in all but one of those games.
A reversion to average might be the greatest opponent they will encounter over the coming weeks. The forward, almost certainly, will not continue to blasting the football into the net's top corner week in, week out.
A Case for Belief
Perhaps there is another reality where, rather than results trending towards performances, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players may yet find their top level.
- Ollie Watkins could start finding the net regularly.
- The attacking talent may rediscover the player he resembled during his peak.
- The injured centre-backs are set to regain fitness, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.
Perhaps there is in that the possibility of a title challenge, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.
Savoring the Moment
Yet, nobody expected this. Nobody thought Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt back in October, nobody thought the young forward as the year closed would be leading a hunt for the title while looking like an essential player for the national team.
This winning streak must be cherished for the very reason that it appears so improbable. As the hero positioned himself before 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.
