It was 60 days in the past when Morgan Rogers found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused as the Villa manager berated him for missing a through-ball. Back then, as Villa failed to win in six, it wasn't clear if his displays were a symptom or the source for Villa's broader struggles.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
This weekend, though, the manager's outburst was entirely far more favourable. When the in-form star swept in his brace-sealing goal to reclaim Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician discarded his winter coat, threw his arms wide and bellowed. Villa were on their way to a tenth straight victory and after failing to win any of their first six matches, find themselves a mere three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.
Are They Legitimate Hopefuls?
That’s a rather hard proposition to address. History, a general sense of this institution, indicates otherwise. Moreover, they have not been entirely convincing in many games, while the positive results have accumulated.
Per the data, on just two occasions have Villa had an xG significantly higher than the opposition. For a team which has strung together a ten-match winning streak, they appear curiously susceptible – yet at the moment the margins are swinging for them.
The Reliant Strategy
The prevailing tactic seems to be to engage in a shootout with rivals before hoping their talisman to bail them out with some clinical strikes. This was the case against Leeds, it transpired in London, and again against the Red Devils.
His opener originated from an exquisite effort, curled right inside the goal frame from a wide position. For his second acted as a slightly less clean iteration of his first 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?
Logic says not. During the latest victory, the opposition registered a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. The team has won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those fixtures.
A reversion to average might be the greatest opponent they must confront as the season progresses. The forward, almost certainly, will not continue to blasting the football past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.
Potential for Growth
Maybe there exists an alternative path whereby, rather than luck running out, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players might still return to peak condition.
- The centre-forward could start finding the net regularly.
- The winger might become the force he showed during his peak.
- The defensive duo are due to come back from the treatment room, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.
Perhaps there is in that the possibility for a sustained push, but they surely cannot keep relying on a single individual.
Savoring the Moment
But then, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would be in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt back in October, nobody thought Rogers as the year closed would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a vital Three Lions star.
This winning streak is to be savoured exactly since it seems so surreal. When the hero faced the home supporters at the final whistle leading the celebrations, it was clear to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These spells do not happen often and must be appreciated.
