It was eight weeks in the past when Morgan Rogers was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered as the Villa manager admonished him over missing a through-ball. At that point, as Villa failed to win in six, it wasn't clear if Rogers' form were a sign or the source of the side's broader struggles.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
This weekend, however, the touchline reaction was entirely much more joyous. As Rogers swept in his second to reinstate the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician ripped off his winter coat, spread his arms and bellowed. The Birmingham club continued to a tenth straight victory , despite not winning any of their first six fixtures, find themselves only three points off table-toppers Arsenal.
Are They Genuine Title Contenders?
It remains a rather hard proposition to address. The historical record, the perceived status of this institution, suggests not. Furthermore, they've rarely been completely commanding this season, even as the wins have accumulated.
According to Opta, on just two occasions has the side posted an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a team which has put together ten consecutive victories, they seem weirdly vulnerable – yet right now the fine lines are swinging for them.
The Reliant Strategy
The prevailing tactic seems to be to exchange chances with an opponent and wait for their star man to bail them out with some clinical strikes. This occurred at Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and it happened when facing Manchester United.
The initial strike originated from a superb shot, bent right inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal proved to be a somewhat messier replica 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.”
Can It Last?
Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opposition registered a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. Villa have secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in all except one of those games.
A reversion to average may well be the biggest rival the club will encounter over the coming weeks. Rogers, almost certainly, cannot keep on thrashing the ball into the top corner week in, week out.
A Case for Belief
Could it be another reality in which, rather than luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures may yet return to peak condition.
- The main striker may begin to scoring again.
- Jadon Sancho may rediscover the player he was during his peak.
- The defensive duo will eventually return from injury, bolstering a periodically leaky backline.
Perhaps there is in that the seeds of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.
Savoring the Moment
Yet, this was unforeseen. Few believed the team would sit third at Christmas. And without a doubt two months ago, no one envisioned the young forward by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit and appearing as an essential player for the national team.
This winning streak should be enjoyed for the very reason that it seems so surreal. As Rogers stood in front of the Villa faithful after the match leading the celebrations, he appeared to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.
