Just eight weeks prior when the young forward found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed as his coach admonished him over missing a penetrating pass. At that point, as the club endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear if his performances were a sign or a cause of the team'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 sideline response proved to be much more joyous. When the England international drilled in his second strike to restore the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician discarded his winter coat, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. The team continued to a tenth straight victory and having failed to win their opening six fixtures, now sit just three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.
Is This Team Genuine Challengers?
It remains a particularly tough question to address. History, the traditional standing of Villa, argues against it. Additionally, their performances haven't been completely commanding during this run, while the victories have piled up.
According to Opta, on just two occasions have Villa registered an expected goals figure significantly higher than their opponents. For a team which has put together ten consecutive victories, Villa look weirdly vulnerable – yet at the moment the fine lines are swinging for them.
The Rogers Recipe
The prevailing tactic looks like to engage in a shootout with an opponent and wait for their star man to rescue them with some precise efforts. This occurred away to Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and once more against United.
His opener originated from an exquisite effort, bent just inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal acted as a somewhat messier replica of goal number one as he seized 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?
Reason suggests otherwise. During the latest victory, Manchester United had more shots and more efforts on goal. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in all but one of those games.
Regression to the mean might be the biggest rival Villa will encounter in the near future. Rogers, in all likelihood, will not continue to blasting the football past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.
Reasons for Optimism
Maybe there exists an alternative path whereby, rather than results trending towards performances, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players might still find their top level.
- The main striker may begin to scoring again.
- Jadon Sancho may rediscover the performer he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to come back from the treatment room, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable defence.
Perhaps there is in that the possibility for a sustained push, but they surely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.
Enjoying the Ride
But then, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And certainly back in October, nobody thought Rogers by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title and appearing as a crucial player for the national team.
The current run must be cherished exactly since it feels so unlikely. As Rogers stood in front of the Villa faithful after the match orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. Such periods are rare in football and should be relished.
