A mere eight weeks in the past when the young forward found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered as the Villa manager scolded him for not reading a through-ball. Back then, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, the question was if his displays were a symptom or the reason for the side's broader struggles.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
This weekend, though, the touchline reaction was entirely much more joyous. After Rogers swept in his second to reclaim Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician ripped off his jacket, opened his arms and bellowed. Villa were on their way to a tenth straight victory and having failed to win their initial half-dozen fixtures, find themselves only three points off the leaders Arsenal.
Are They Genuine Hopefuls?
It remains a rather hard query to address. The historical record, the perceived status of this institution, argues against it. Furthermore, their performances haven't been entirely convincing in many games, while the wins have stacked up.
As per the data, twice all season has the team posted an xG significantly higher than the other team. For a side who have put together ten consecutive victories, Villa appear curiously susceptible – but at the moment the fine lines are swinging for them.
The Rogers Recipe
Their recent policy looks like to exchange chances with an opponent and then rely on their talisman to save the day with two clinical strikes. This was the case at Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and again when facing United.
His opener stemmed from a brilliant finish, bent precisely inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. For his second was essentially a slight scruffier version of his first as he seized 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.”
Is It Sustainable?
Logic says not. Against United, the opposition had a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. Villa have secured their last eight victories by just one goal. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those matches.
A statistical correction could be the biggest rival the club must confront over the coming weeks. The forward, surely, cannot keep on blasting the ball past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.
Potential for Growth
Could it be another reality in which, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures could still find their top level.
- The centre-forward may begin to finding the net regularly.
- Jadon Sancho may rediscover the performer he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
- The injured centre-backs are due to return from injury, strengthening a sometimes shaky defence.
This could contain the potential of a genuine bid, but they surely cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.
Enjoying the Ride
But then, this is a surprise. Nobody thought the team would sit third at Christmas. And certainly earlier this season, nobody thought Rogers by the end of the year would be spearheading a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a crucial England player.
The current run is to be savoured for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. When the match-winner stood in front of the North End when the game ended conducting the cheers, it was clear to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. These spells are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.
