Just 60 days prior when Morgan Rogers stood on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed as the Villa manager admonished him for missing a penetrating pass. Back then, with the team endured a six-game winless run, the question was whether Rogers' form were an indicator or the reason for the side's more general malaise.
“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. As the in-form star swept in his second strike to reclaim his side's advantage, Emery tore off his winter coat, spread his arms and bellowed. Villa were on their way to a tenth straight victory , despite not winning their initial half-dozen fixtures, are somehow only three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Serious Hopefuls?
This is a particularly tough proposition to address. The historical record, a general sense of Villa, argues against it. Additionally, they've rarely been completely commanding during this run, even as the positive results have accumulated.
As per Opta, in only two games have Villa registered an expected goals figure significantly higher than their opponents. For a club that have put together ten consecutive victories, Villa appear strangely fragile – yet at the moment the tight outcomes are falling their way.
The Rogers Recipe
Their recent policy looks like to exchange chances with the opposition and then rely on their talisman to bail them out with some clinical strikes. This was the case against Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and once more when facing the Red Devils.
Rogers' first goal stemmed from an exquisite effort, bent precisely inside the upright from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal acted as a slight scruffier version of his first as he pounced on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.
“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, Manchester United registered more efforts and more shots on target. Villa have won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in all but one of those fixtures.
Regression to the mean may well be the greatest opponent the club will encounter as the season progresses. The forward, almost certainly, will not continue to drilling the football into the net's top corner indefinitely.
Reasons for Optimism
Perhaps there is a different scenario in which, rather than luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs might still return to peak condition.
- The centre-forward might resume adding to his goal tally.
- The attacking talent might become the force he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
- The defensive duo are set to come back from the treatment room, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable backline.
Maybe within that lies the potential for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on a single individual.
Relishing the Unlikely
But then, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely back in October, few could imagine Rogers now would be spearheading a championship pursuit and appearing as a crucial England player.
This remarkable period is to be savoured for the very reason that it seems so surreal. As the hero faced the Villa faithful after the match conducting the cheers, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. As he deserves to. These spells are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.
