It was two months ago that Morgan Rogers stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed while the Villa manager admonished him over failing to anticipate a pass in behind. During that period, with the team failed to win in six, the question was whether Rogers' form were a sign or the source for Villa's wider issues.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
This weekend, however, the manager's outburst proved to be much more joyous. When the in-form star curled home his brace-sealing goal to reclaim the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician tore off his winter coat, threw his arms wide and roared. Villa marched on to ten wins in a row , having failed to win their opening six fixtures, now sit a mere three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Serious Hopefuls?
This is a particularly tough question to answer. The historical record, the perceived status of the club, indicates otherwise. Moreover, they've rarely been completely commanding in many games, despite the fact the positive results have piled up.
Per the data, on just two occasions has the team had an xG notably superior than their opponents. For a club which has just won a ten-match winning streak, Villa look weirdly vulnerable – yet currently the margins are falling their way.
The Winning Formula
The current approach looks like to trade blows with the opposition before hoping Rogers to bail them out with some clinical strikes. This occurred at Leeds, it happened in London, and it happened against the Red Devils.
The initial strike came from an exquisite effort, bent precisely inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. For his second acted as a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he pounced on a pass from Watkins.
“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”
Can It Last?
Logic says not. In the recent win, Manchester United managed more shots and more efforts on goal. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. They have allowed goals in all but one of those games.
A statistical correction might be the biggest rival Villa must confront over the coming weeks. Rogers, surely, will not continue to thrashing the football past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.
Potential for Growth
Maybe there exists an alternative path where, instead of luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players might still find their top level.
- Ollie Watkins may begin to adding to his goal tally.
- Jadon Sancho could transform into the player he was during his peak.
- The defensive duo are due to return from injury, bolstering a periodically leaky defensive unit.
Maybe within that lies the seeds of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.
Savoring the Moment
However, nobody expected this. Nobody thought Aston Villa would be in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt back in October, no one envisioned the young forward as the year closed would be leading a title charge while establishing himself as a crucial player for the national team.
This winning streak must be cherished precisely because it seems so surreal. When Rogers faced the North End when the game ended conducting the cheers, he appeared to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. Such periods do not happen often and must be appreciated.
