Just eight weeks prior that Morgan Rogers stood on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered as Unai Emery scolded him for missing a penetrating pass. During that period, with the team failed to win in six, doubts remained whether his displays were a sign or the source for the team's broader struggles.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
This weekend, however, the touchline reaction was entirely much more joyous. When Rogers drilled in his second strike to reinstate his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician tore off his jacket, threw his arms wide and roared. The Birmingham club marched on to ten wins in a row and despite not winning their initial half-dozen games, are somehow a mere three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.
Is This Team Genuine Hopefuls?
That’s a rather hard proposition to address. History, the perceived status of this institution, argues against it. Additionally, they have not been wholly dominant during this run, despite the fact the positive results have stacked up.
Per Opta, in only two games has the team registered an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a club that have put together 10 in a row, they look weirdly vulnerable – however at the moment the margins are going in their favour.
The Rogers Recipe
The prevailing tactic looks like to exchange chances with an opponent and wait for their talisman to bail them out with a couple of clinical strikes. It happened away to Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and it happened when facing the Red Devils.
Rogers' first goal stemmed from a superb shot, curled just inside the upright from a wide position. His brace-completing goal proved to be a slight scruffier version of goal number one as he seized on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.
“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”
Can It Last?
Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, the opponents had a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. Villa have secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in all but one of those fixtures.
A statistical correction may well be the greatest opponent they will encounter over the coming weeks. The forward, surely, will not continue to thrashing the ball into the net's top corner week in, week out.
A Case for Belief
Perhaps there is a different scenario whereby, instead of results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players may yet return to peak condition.
- The centre-forward might resume adding to his goal tally.
- Jadon Sancho might become the performer he showed during his peak.
- The defensive duo are set to regain fitness, fortifying a sometimes shaky defence.
Perhaps there is in that the seeds for a sustained push, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on one man.
Relishing the Unlikely
Yet, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would sit third at Christmas. And most definitely back in October, few could imagine Rogers now would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title and appearing as a vital England player.
This remarkable period must be cherished for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. As the hero stood in front of the Villa faithful when the game ended conducting the cheers, it was clear to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are rare in football and should be relished.
