It was two months in the past when the young forward found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered while his coach scolded him for missing a through-ball. Back then, as Villa went six without a win, doubts remained whether his displays were an indicator or the source for the side's wider issues.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
This weekend, however, the sideline response was entirely decidedly more positive. After the England international swept in his second to restore his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician discarded his coat, threw his arms wide and roared. The Birmingham club marched on to a 10th successive win and despite not winning their initial half-dozen fixtures, find themselves a mere three points behind the leaders Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Genuine Hopefuls?
That’s an exceptionally difficult question to resolve. History, the traditional standing of Villa, indicates otherwise. Additionally, their performances haven't been completely commanding this season, even as the positive results have piled up.
Per Opta, twice all season have Villa had an xG notably superior than the other team. For a team that have just won ten consecutive victories, they appear weirdly vulnerable – however at the moment the margins are swinging for them.
The Rogers Recipe
The current approach seems to be to trade blows with rivals and wait for their star man to rescue them with two precise efforts. This was the case at Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and once more when facing the Red Devils.
The initial strike came from a superb shot, arced right inside the upright from the edge of the area. For his second proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he seized 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.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Logic says not. Against United, the opponents had more shots and more shots on target. The team has secured their last eight victories by just one goal. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those games.
A statistical correction might be the most significant challenge the club will encounter over the coming weeks. The forward, surely, cannot maintain drilling the ball past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.
Reasons for Optimism
Could it be an alternative path whereby, rather than results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs could still find their top level.
- The main striker might resume finding the net regularly.
- Jadon Sancho may rediscover the player he showed in Germany.
- The injured centre-backs are due to return from injury, fortifying a periodically leaky backline.
This could contain the potential for a sustained push, but they surely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.
Savoring the Moment
But then, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Villa would occupy third at Christmas. And without a doubt earlier this season, few could imagine the midfielder as the year closed would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title and appearing as an essential Three Lions star.
The current run must be cherished precisely because it seems so surreal. When the match-winner positioned himself before the home supporters after the match orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.
