It was two months in the past when Morgan Rogers stood on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed as Unai Emery admonished him for not reading a penetrating pass. At that point, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, it wasn't clear if his displays were an indicator or the reason of the side's more general malaise.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
In the latest match, though, the sideline response was entirely decidedly more positive. After the in-form star drilled in his brace-sealing goal to reclaim the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician tore off his winter coat, opened his arms and bellowed. The Birmingham club were on their way to a tenth straight victory and after failing to win their opening six fixtures, are somehow only three points off table-toppers Arsenal.
Is This Team Legitimate Hopefuls?
This is a particularly tough question to address. History, the perceived status of this institution, indicates otherwise. Additionally, they've rarely been completely commanding during this run, while the wins have accumulated.
According to Opta, twice all season have Villa registered an xG more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a team who have put together ten consecutive victories, the Villans look weirdly vulnerable – but at the moment the margins are falling their way.
The Rogers Recipe
The current approach seems to be to exchange chances with rivals before hoping Rogers to rescue them with two crisp finishes. This was the case away to Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and it happened against United.
His opener came from an exquisite effort, bent right inside the upright from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he seized on a setup by his strike partner.
“Perhaps Rogers’ right foot is becoming like Arjen Robben’s left: just because you know he’s going to whip the ball into the top corner doesn’t mean you can stop him.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Logic says not. In the recent win, Manchester United managed more efforts and more efforts on goal. They have secured their last eight victories by just one goal. They have allowed goals in all except one of those fixtures.
A reversion to average might be the most significant challenge the club have to face in the near future. The forward, almost certainly, cannot maintain blasting the ball past despairing goalkeepers forever.
A Case for Belief
Could it be an alternative path whereby, instead of luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players may yet rediscover their best form.
- The main striker might resume adding to his goal tally.
- The attacking talent could transform into the force he showed in Germany.
- The injured centre-backs are due to return from injury, fortifying a sometimes shaky backline.
Perhaps there is in that the possibility for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on one man.
Enjoying the Ride
Yet, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought the team would sit in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely earlier this season, nobody thought the young forward by the end of the year would be leading a title charge while looking like an essential Three Lions star.
This winning streak is to be savoured exactly since it seems so surreal. When the hero positioned himself before the Villa faithful after the match conducting the cheers, he seemed to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.
