It was two months in the past when Morgan Rogers found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed as Unai Emery scolded him for not reading a pass in behind. Back then, with the team went six without a win, doubts remained if his displays were a sign or a cause of Villa's broader struggles.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
In the latest match, however, the manager's outburst proved to be decidedly more positive. As the in-form star curled home his brace-sealing goal to restore the lead for Villa, Emery tore off his winter coat, threw his arms wide and roared. The team were on their way to a tenth straight victory and after failing to win their opening six fixtures, are somehow a mere three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.
Is This Team Legitimate Hopefuls?
That’s a rather hard question to answer. The historical record, the traditional standing of the club, indicates otherwise. Moreover, they have not been completely commanding in many games, while the positive results have piled up.
As per statistical analysis, in only two games have Villa had an xG more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a club who have just won 10 in a row, they appear weirdly vulnerable – but at the moment the margins are falling their way.
The Reliant Strategy
The prevailing tactic seems to be to exchange chances with the opposition and then rely on their star man to bail them out with some clinical strikes. This was the case against Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and it happened versus the Red Devils.
Rogers' first goal stemmed from a superb shot, arced precisely inside the upright from the edge of the area. For his second proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of his first 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.”
Is It Sustainable?
Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, the opposition had a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. They have won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those fixtures.
A reversion to average could be the most significant challenge Villa have to face over the coming weeks. The forward, in all likelihood, cannot keep on drilling the football past despairing goalkeepers forever.
Reasons for Optimism
Maybe there exists an alternative path where, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures might still find their top level.
- The main striker may begin to scoring again.
- The winger might become the player he showed during his peak.
- The defensive duo will eventually return from injury, strengthening an occasionally vulnerable defence.
Perhaps there is in that the possibility of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.
Relishing the Unlikely
Yet, nobody expected this. Nobody thought Aston Villa would occupy third at Christmas. And certainly 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 looking like an essential player for the national team.
The current run is to be savoured exactly since it feels so unlikely. When the match-winner positioned himself before the Villa faithful after the match conducting the cheers, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.
