It was eight weeks ago that the young forward found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered as Unai Emery berated him over missing a penetrating pass. Back then, as the club went six without a win, it wasn't clear if his displays were a sign or a cause of the side'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 far more favourable. When Rogers drilled in his second strike to reclaim the lead for Villa, the boss tore off his coat, spread his arms and bellowed. Villa marched on to a 10th successive win and despite not winning their opening six fixtures, are somehow just three points off the leaders Arsenal.
Is This Team Serious Hopefuls?
It remains a rather hard query to resolve. The historical record, the traditional standing of the club, indicates otherwise. Additionally, their performances haven't been wholly dominant in many games, while the victories have stacked up.
According to the data, on just two occasions have Villa posted an expected goals figure notably superior than the opposition. For a side who have strung together 10 in a row, Villa look strangely fragile – yet right now the tight outcomes are swinging for them.
The Reliant Strategy
The prevailing tactic appears to be to engage in a shootout with rivals before hoping their star man to bail them out with some precise efforts. This was the case against Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and again versus the Red Devils.
The initial strike came from an exquisite effort, curled just inside the upright from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal proved to be a somewhat messier replica of his first 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.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, Manchester United had more efforts and more shots on target. The team has secured their last eight victories by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those games.
Regression to the mean could be the biggest rival they must confront in the near future. Rogers, almost certainly, cannot maintain drilling the football into the top corner week in, week out.
Reasons for Optimism
Maybe there exists another reality where, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players could still rediscover their best form.
- The centre-forward may begin to scoring again.
- The winger could transform into the player he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
- The injured centre-backs will eventually come back from the treatment room, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.
This could contain the possibility for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.
Relishing the Unlikely
Yet, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable the team would sit in the top three for the holidays. And certainly earlier this season, no one envisioned the midfielder as the year closed would be leading a title charge while looking like a crucial player for the national team.
This winning streak should be enjoyed precisely because it feels so unlikely. As the match-winner positioned himself before the Villa faithful when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.
