It was 60 days in the past when the young forward found himself on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed while the Villa manager admonished him for not reading a penetrating pass. During that period, as the club failed to win in six, doubts remained whether his displays were an indicator or the reason of Villa's wider issues.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
In the latest match, though, the touchline reaction proved to be decidedly more positive. After the England international curled home his second to reinstate Villa's lead, the boss discarded his jacket, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. Villa were on their way to a 10th successive win , having failed to win any of their first six matches, now sit a mere three points off the leaders Arsenal.
Are They Genuine Hopefuls?
This is a rather hard proposition to answer. The historical record, the perceived status of the club, indicates otherwise. Moreover, their performances haven't been wholly dominant during this run, even as the victories have piled up.
As per statistical analysis, on just two occasions has the side registered an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a team who have strung together a ten-match winning streak, the Villans appear curiously susceptible – but at the moment the fine lines are going in their favour.
The Rogers Recipe
Their recent policy seems to be to trade blows with the opposition and then rely on their star man to bail them out with some clinical strikes. It happened away to Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and again versus the Red Devils.
His opener came from an exquisite effort, bent right inside the post from a wide position. His brace-completing goal proved to be a somewhat messier replica of the opener capitalizing 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?
Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, the opponents had more efforts and more efforts on goal. The team has secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those fixtures.
Regression to the mean may well be the greatest opponent Villa have to face over the coming weeks. Rogers, almost certainly, cannot maintain thrashing the football into the top corner week in, week out.
Potential for Growth
Perhaps there is another reality in which, rather than results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures could still rediscover their best form.
- The centre-forward could start scoring again.
- Jadon Sancho might become the performer he resembled in Germany.
- The defensive duo are due to regain fitness, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable backline.
Maybe within that lies the potential for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.
Enjoying the Ride
But then, this is a surprise. Few believed Aston Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely back in October, few could imagine the midfielder now would be spearheading a title charge while establishing himself as a crucial England player.
This remarkable period should be enjoyed for the very reason that it appears so improbable. When the match-winner positioned himself before the home supporters at the final whistle conducting the cheers, it was clear to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. Such periods do not happen often and must be appreciated.
