Just 60 days ago when the young forward found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered as Unai Emery admonished him over missing a penetrating pass. During that period, with the team went six without a win, it wasn't clear whether his performances were an indicator or the reason for the team's broader struggles.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
In the latest match, though, the manager's outburst was entirely far more favourable. After Rogers drilled in his brace-sealing goal to restore the lead for Villa, Emery tore off his jacket, threw his arms wide and bellowed. Villa were on their way to a tenth straight victory , after failing to win any of their first six matches, are somehow just three points off the leaders Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Genuine Hopefuls?
This is a particularly tough query to address. History, the perceived status of the club, argues against it. Additionally, they've rarely been wholly dominant in many games, despite the fact the victories have accumulated.
As per the data, in only two games has the side posted an xG more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a club which has put together a ten-match winning streak, the Villans appear curiously susceptible – but currently the fine lines are going in their favour.
The Reliant Strategy
The prevailing tactic appears to be to exchange chances with rivals and wait for Rogers to save the day with a couple of clinical strikes. It happened at Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and once more versus United.
His opener stemmed from a superb shot, arced precisely inside the upright from the edge of the area. The follow-up 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?
Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opponents managed a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. The team has secured their last eight victories by just one goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those fixtures.
A statistical correction may well be the greatest opponent Villa have to face over the coming weeks. Their key man, in all likelihood, will not continue to blasting the ball into the top corner indefinitely.
Reasons for Optimism
Perhaps there is another reality in which, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs may yet find their top level.
- Ollie Watkins may begin to adding to his goal tally.
- The winger could transform into the force he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
- The injured centre-backs will eventually regain fitness, bolstering a periodically leaky backline.
This could contain the potential for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.
Savoring the Moment
But then, this was unforeseen. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would be in a Champions League place in December. And certainly back in October, nobody thought the young forward by the end of the year would be spearheading a hunt for the title while looking like an essential player for the national team.
The current run should be enjoyed for the very reason that it seems so surreal. When the match-winner positioned himself before the home supporters when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.
