It was two months in the past that the young forward was standing on the Sunderland turf, looking confused while his coach berated him for not reading a through-ball. Back then, with the team failed to win in six, it wasn't clear whether Rogers' form were a symptom or the reason for the side's wider issues.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
In the latest match, in contrast, the sideline response was decidedly more positive. As the England international swept in his second to restore Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician tore off his coat, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. Villa marched on to ten wins in a row and after failing to win their initial half-dozen matches, are somehow just three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.
Is This Team Legitimate Hopefuls?
It remains a particularly tough query to address. The historical record, the perceived status of Villa, argues against it. Furthermore, they have not been entirely convincing during this run, while the positive results have stacked up.
As per Opta, twice all season has the team had an xG significantly higher than their opponents. For a club who have just won 10 in a row, the Villans look curiously susceptible – yet right now the fine lines are going in their favour.
The Rogers Recipe
Their recent policy seems to be to exchange chances with an opponent and then rely on their star man to bail them out with two clinical strikes. This was the case at Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and once more versus the Red Devils.
The initial strike stemmed from an exquisite effort, bent just inside the upright from a wide position. The follow-up goal acted as a somewhat messier replica of the opener as he pounced on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.
“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.”
Can It Last?
Logic says not. During the latest victory, the opposition managed a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all but one of those fixtures.
A reversion to average could be the greatest opponent they have to face as the season progresses. Their key man, surely, cannot keep on blasting his shots into the net's top corner forever.
A Case for Belief
Maybe there exists another reality where, instead of luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players may yet find their top level.
- The main striker may begin to adding to his goal tally.
- Jadon Sancho may rediscover the player he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
- The injured centre-backs are due to return from injury, fortifying a periodically leaky defence.
This could contain the seeds of a title challenge, but they surely cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.
Enjoying the Ride
But then, this is a surprise. Few believed the team would be third at Christmas. And certainly two months ago, no one envisioned the midfielder as the year closed would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while establishing himself as an essential player for the national team.
This winning streak should be enjoyed exactly since it feels so unlikely. When the match-winner faced the home supporters when the game ended leading the celebrations, it was clear to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. These spells do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.
