Just eight weeks ago when the Villa attacker was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered while Unai Emery admonished him for failing to anticipate a through-ball. At that point, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, the question was if his displays were a sign or a cause for the team's broader struggles.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
On Sunday, though, the manager's outburst was entirely much more joyous. When Rogers drilled in his brace-sealing goal to reclaim the lead for Villa, Emery discarded his coat, spread his arms and bellowed. The team were on their way to a tenth straight victory and having failed to win any of their first six matches, are somehow only three points off table-toppers Arsenal.
Are They Serious Title Contenders?
It remains a rather hard proposition to address. The historical record, the traditional standing of the club, suggests not. Moreover, their performances haven't been wholly dominant in many games, despite the fact the wins have accumulated.
According to statistical analysis, on just two occasions has the side had an xG more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a team who have strung together a ten-match winning streak, they seem strangely fragile – yet currently the fine lines are going in their favour.
The Reliant Strategy
The current approach seems to be to engage in a shootout with rivals and then rely on their talisman to save the day with some precise efforts. This occurred at Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and again against United.
His opener stemmed from a superb shot, bent precisely inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. For his second acted as a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he pounced 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.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, the opposition registered more efforts and more efforts on goal. The team has won each of their last eight by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those fixtures.
A reversion to average could be the greatest opponent they will encounter in the near future. The forward, almost certainly, will not continue to blasting his shots into the net's top corner week in, week out.
Potential for Growth
Could it be another reality in which, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players could still find their top level.
- The centre-forward might resume scoring again.
- Jadon Sancho could transform into the performer he resembled during his peak.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to return from injury, fortifying a sometimes shaky backline.
Maybe within that lies the seeds for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.
Enjoying the Ride
However, nobody expected this. Few believed the team would be in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely two months ago, nobody thought the young forward by the end of the year would be spearheading a hunt for the title while looking like a crucial player for the national team.
The current run should be enjoyed precisely because it appears so improbable. As Rogers stood in front of the home supporters at the final whistle conducting the cheers, it was clear to be thoroughly enjoying it. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.
