It was eight weeks ago that the Villa attacker found himself on the Sunderland turf, looking confused as the Villa manager admonished him for missing a through-ball. Back then, as Villa went six without a win, it wasn't clear if his performances were a sign or a cause of the side's wider issues.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
This weekend, though, the manager's outburst proved to be decidedly more positive. When the in-form star curled home his second to reclaim his side's advantage, the boss tore off his coat, threw his arms wide and bellowed. The Birmingham club continued to a 10th successive win , after failing to win their opening six games, now sit just three points off table-toppers Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Serious Title Contenders?
That’s an exceptionally difficult proposition to resolve. History, the perceived status of Villa, argues against it. Additionally, they have not been wholly dominant this season, even as the victories have accumulated.
As per Opta, twice all season have Villa registered an xG notably superior than the opposition. For a side who have strung together ten consecutive victories, they appear strangely fragile – but at the moment the tight outcomes are swinging for them.
The Reliant Strategy
Their recent policy looks like to exchange chances with an opponent and then rely on their star man to save the day with two clinical strikes. This was the case at Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and again against Manchester United.
Rogers' first goal came from a superb shot, curled just inside the post from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal proved to be a slight scruffier version of the opener as he pounced 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.”
Can It Last?
Logic says not. Against United, Manchester United registered more efforts and more direct attempts. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in all except one of those games.
A statistical correction might be the greatest opponent Villa have to face as the season progresses. The forward, in all likelihood, cannot maintain drilling his shots into the net's top corner indefinitely.
Reasons for Optimism
Could it be an alternative path where, rather than results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures might still rediscover their best form.
- Ollie Watkins may begin to scoring again.
- The attacking talent could transform into the force he resembled during his peak.
- The injured centre-backs will eventually return from injury, fortifying a periodically leaky defence.
This could contain the seeds for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.
Relishing the Unlikely
However, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt back in October, no one envisioned the young forward by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a title charge while establishing himself as a crucial Three Lions star.
The current run should be enjoyed for the very reason that it appears so improbable. When Rogers faced the North End when the game ended leading the celebrations, he seemed to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. Such periods are rare in football and must be appreciated.
