It was two months prior that Morgan Rogers found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed as Unai Emery berated him for not reading a penetrating pass. Back then, as Villa failed to win in six, it wasn't clear whether his performances were an indicator or a cause of the side's more general malaise.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
This weekend, however, the touchline reaction was decidedly more positive. When the in-form star swept in his second to restore the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician ripped off his winter coat, opened his arms and roared. The Birmingham club were on their way to ten wins in a row , despite not winning any of their first six matches, find themselves only three points off the leaders Arsenal.
Are They Legitimate Hopefuls?
This is an exceptionally difficult proposition to address. The historical record, a general sense of this institution, suggests not. Furthermore, they've rarely been entirely convincing during this run, even as the wins have accumulated.
According to Opta, on just two occasions have Villa had an expected goals figure notably superior than the other team. For a side which has put together 10 in a row, Villa look strangely fragile – yet right now the fine lines are swinging for them.
The Rogers Recipe
The current approach looks like to trade blows with an opponent before hoping Rogers to save the day with a couple of clinical strikes. This occurred at Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and again against United.
The initial strike stemmed from an exquisite effort, arced precisely inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal proved to be a somewhat messier replica of his first as he seized on a pass from Watkins.
“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”
Can It Last?
Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opponents managed more shots and more shots on target. They have secured their last eight victories by just one goal. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those fixtures.
A reversion to average could be the greatest opponent the club have to face in the near future. Their key man, surely, will not continue to blasting his shots into the top corner week in, week out.
Reasons for Optimism
Could it be a different scenario where, rather than results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures might still return to peak condition.
- The main striker may begin to adding to his goal tally.
- The winger might become the performer he was during his peak.
- The injured centre-backs are due to come back from the treatment room, strengthening a periodically leaky defence.
Perhaps there is in that the potential of a title challenge, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.
Relishing the Unlikely
Yet, this is a surprise. Few believed the team would sit in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt two months ago, nobody thought the young forward as the year closed would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit while looking like a crucial England player.
The current run is to be savoured for the very reason that it appears so improbable. As the hero faced the Villa faithful at the final whistle leading the celebrations, it was clear to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods do not happen often and should be relished.