Just eight weeks in the past that Morgan Rogers stood on the Sunderland turf, looking confused as Unai Emery scolded him for missing a penetrating pass. During that period, as the club endured a six-game winless run, the question was whether his displays were a symptom or a cause for 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, though, the manager's outburst was entirely decidedly more positive. After the in-form star curled home his brace-sealing goal to reinstate Villa's lead, the boss tore off his winter coat, opened his arms and bellowed. The Birmingham club marched on to ten wins in a row and despite not winning their opening six matches, find themselves only three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.
Are They Serious Title Contenders?
This is an exceptionally difficult proposition to address. History, a general sense of Villa, suggests not. Additionally, they've rarely been wholly dominant this season, despite the fact the victories have piled up.
Per statistical analysis, on just two occasions has the team had an xG more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a club which has just won a ten-match winning streak, Villa seem strangely fragile – yet right now the fine lines are swinging for them.
The Rogers Recipe
The current approach seems to be to trade blows with the opposition and wait for their star man to save the day with two clinical strikes. This occurred at Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and again against the Red Devils.
The initial strike stemmed from a superb shot, curled right inside the upright from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal acted as a somewhat messier replica of his first as he pounced on a setup by his strike partner.
“Perhaps Rogers’ right foot is becoming like Arjen Robben’s left: just because you know he’s going to whip the ball into the top corner doesn’t mean you can stop him.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Reason suggests otherwise. During the latest victory, Manchester United managed more efforts and more efforts on goal. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those games.
A statistical correction may well be the biggest rival they must confront in the near future. Their key man, surely, cannot keep on blasting the ball into the net's top corner forever.
A Case for Belief
Could it be another reality whereby, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs could still return to peak condition.
- The main striker may begin to adding to his goal tally.
- Jadon Sancho may rediscover the performer he was at Borussia Dortmund.
- The defensive duo are set to regain fitness, bolstering a periodically leaky defensive unit.
This could contain the seeds for a sustained push, but they surely cannot keep relying on a single individual.
Enjoying the Ride
But then, this is a surprise. Few believed Aston Villa would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And certainly two months ago, no one envisioned the young forward as the year closed would be leading a hunt for the title and appearing as a crucial player for the national team.
This winning streak is to be savoured exactly since it seems so surreal. As the hero stood in front of the home supporters at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.
