Just two months ago when the young forward stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed as Unai Emery admonished him for failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. At that point, with the team endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained if his displays were a sign or the source for Villa's wider issues.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
On Sunday, however, the manager's outburst proved to be much more joyous. After the England international drilled in his brace-sealing goal to restore Villa's lead, the boss tore off his winter coat, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. The team were on their way to ten wins in a row , despite not winning their opening six games, now sit a mere three points behind the leaders Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Genuine Hopefuls?
It remains a rather hard query to address. Past precedent, a general sense of the club, argues against it. Additionally, they have not been wholly dominant during this run, despite the fact the positive results have accumulated.
As per statistical analysis, on just two occasions have Villa posted an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a side that have just won ten consecutive victories, they seem curiously susceptible – however currently the tight outcomes are going in their favour.
The Rogers Recipe
The prevailing tactic appears to be to engage in a shootout with an opponent and then rely on their talisman to bail them out with some clinical strikes. This occurred against Leeds, it occurred in London, and once more versus the Red Devils.
His opener came from a brilliant finish, arced just inside the upright from a wide position. For his second proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he seized on a setup by his strike partner.
“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Logic says not. During the latest victory, the opponents had more efforts and more efforts on goal. They have won each of their last eight by just one goal. They’ve conceded in all except one of those matches.
A reversion to average might be the most significant challenge they must confront as the season progresses. Rogers, almost certainly, will not continue to drilling the football into the net's top corner forever.
Potential for Growth
Could it be another reality whereby, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players could still return to peak condition.
- Ollie Watkins could start finding the net regularly.
- The attacking talent may rediscover the performer he resembled in Germany.
- The defensive duo are set to come back from the treatment room, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable backline.
Perhaps there is in that the potential for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.
Enjoying the Ride
However, this was unforeseen. Few believed the team would be third at Christmas. And most definitely earlier this season, nobody thought the midfielder by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while establishing himself as a crucial Three Lions star.
This winning streak must be cherished exactly since it seems so surreal. As Rogers positioned himself before the North End at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These runs of form do not happen often and must be appreciated.
