It was 60 days prior that the Villa attacker found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused while the Villa manager scolded him for missing a pass in behind. Back then, with the team endured a six-game winless run, the question was whether his displays were a sign or a cause of the side's wider issues.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
In the latest match, though, the manager's outburst proved to be much more joyous. After Rogers drilled in his second strike to restore the lead for Villa, the boss tore off his winter coat, opened his arms and bellowed. The team marched on to ten wins in a row and despite not winning any of their first six fixtures, find themselves a mere three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.
Are They Serious Hopefuls?
It remains a rather hard query to address. Past precedent, a general sense of Villa, suggests not. Moreover, they have not been entirely convincing this season, even as the positive results have stacked up.
Per Opta, twice all season has the side posted an xG significantly higher than the other team. For a side that have just won a ten-match winning streak, they look strangely fragile – but currently the margins are falling their way.
The Reliant Strategy
The current approach seems to be to engage in a shootout with the opposition and wait for their star man to rescue them with a couple of crisp finishes. It happened against Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and it happened versus United.
His opener stemmed from an exquisite effort, curled precisely inside the post from a wide position. His brace-completing goal was essentially a slight scruffier version of the opener as he pounced on a setup by his strike partner.
“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, Manchester United managed more shots and more direct attempts. The team has won each of their last eight by a single goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those fixtures.
Regression to the mean could be the most significant challenge the club have to face in the near future. The forward, surely, cannot maintain thrashing the ball past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.
Reasons for Optimism
Perhaps there is an alternative path where, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures may yet rediscover their best form.
- Ollie Watkins could start adding to his goal tally.
- Jadon Sancho may rediscover the performer he showed during his peak.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to regain fitness, strengthening an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.
This could contain the potential of a genuine bid, but they surely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.
Relishing the Unlikely
Yet, nobody expected this. Few believed Aston Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely two months ago, no one envisioned Rogers by the end of the year would be spearheading a championship pursuit while establishing himself as an essential Three Lions star.
This winning streak must be cherished for the very reason that it appears so improbable. As the hero positioned himself before the home supporters at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form are rare in football and should be relished.
