It was 60 days in the past when Morgan Rogers stood on the Sunderland turf, looking confused as the Villa manager admonished him over failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. During that period, as Villa went six without a win, it wasn't clear if his performances were a sign or a cause for the team'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 manager's outburst was far more favourable. As Rogers curled home his second strike to restore his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician discarded his coat, spread his arms and bellowed. The team continued to a 10th successive win , despite not winning their initial half-dozen games, are somehow a mere three points off pace-setters Arsenal.
Are They Genuine Title Contenders?
That’s a particularly tough proposition to answer. History, a general sense of the club, argues against it. Furthermore, they have not been wholly dominant this season, while the victories have piled up.
According to Opta, on just two occasions has the side posted an expected goals figure notably superior than their opponents. For a side which has put together ten consecutive victories, they appear strangely fragile – however at the moment the tight outcomes are going in their favour.
The Winning Formula
The current approach appears to be to engage in a shootout with rivals before hoping Rogers to bail them out with some clinical strikes. It happened against Leeds, it transpired in London, and again against the Red Devils.
The initial strike came from an exquisite effort, bent right inside the post from the corner of the box. For his second proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he pounced on a setup by his strike partner.
“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. Against United, the opponents registered more shots and more direct attempts. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those games.
A reversion to average could be the most significant challenge they must confront in the near future. Their key man, surely, cannot keep on blasting the ball past despairing goalkeepers forever.
A Case for Belief
Could it be a different scenario whereby, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures might still find their top level.
- Ollie Watkins may begin to finding the net regularly.
- Jadon Sancho might become the player he showed in Germany.
- The defensive duo are due to come back from the treatment room, bolstering a sometimes shaky backline.
Maybe within that lies the seeds of a title challenge, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.
Enjoying the Ride
Yet, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought the team would be in a Champions League place in December. And certainly two months ago, few could imagine the midfielder as the year closed would be leading a title charge and appearing as a vital England player.
This remarkable period must be cherished precisely because it seems so surreal. As the match-winner faced the home supporters after the match conducting the cheers, he seemed to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.
