A mere 60 days in the past that the young forward found himself on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed as Unai Emery scolded him for failing to anticipate a pass in behind. Back then, with the team went six without a win, the question was if his performances were a sign or the source for the team's more general malaise.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
On Sunday, however, the sideline response was much more joyous. As the in-form star drilled in his second to reclaim Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician discarded his winter coat, opened his arms and roared. The Birmingham club continued to ten wins in a row , having failed to win their opening six games, find themselves just three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.
Is This Team Serious Hopefuls?
It remains a rather hard query to address. Past precedent, the perceived status of Villa, argues against it. Furthermore, they've rarely been completely commanding in many games, despite the fact the wins have accumulated.
According to Opta, twice all season have Villa registered an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a side which has put together ten consecutive victories, the Villans appear curiously susceptible – yet right now the margins are swinging for them.
The Reliant Strategy
The current approach looks like to exchange chances with rivals and wait for Rogers to bail them out with a couple of precise efforts. This was the case at Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and once more versus United.
The initial strike originated from a brilliant finish, curled precisely inside the post 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.
“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opponents had more efforts and more efforts on goal. Villa have secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in all except one of those fixtures.
A reversion to average may well be the greatest opponent Villa must confront as the season progresses. The forward, surely, cannot maintain blasting the ball into the top corner indefinitely.
Potential for Growth
Perhaps there is an alternative path where, rather than results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players could still rediscover their best form.
- Ollie Watkins might resume adding to his goal tally.
- The attacking talent could transform into the player he showed in Germany.
- The injured centre-backs are due to regain fitness, strengthening a periodically leaky defensive unit.
This could contain the potential for a sustained push, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.
Enjoying the Ride
However, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Villa would occupy third at Christmas. And without a doubt back in October, few could imagine the young forward as the year closed would be leading a hunt for the title and appearing as a vital England player.
This winning streak must be cherished for the very reason that it seems so surreal. When the match-winner faced the home supporters after the match orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. These spells do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.
