A mere two months ago that Morgan Rogers found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused while the Villa manager scolded him over not reading a penetrating pass. During that period, as the club failed to win in six, it wasn't clear whether his displays were a symptom or the reason of the team's wider issues.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
This weekend, in contrast, the manager's outburst was much more joyous. As the England international swept in his second strike to restore Villa's lead, the boss discarded his coat, threw his arms wide and roared. The Birmingham club marched on to a 10th successive win and despite not winning their initial half-dozen matches, now sit a mere three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.
Are They Serious Hopefuls?
That’s a particularly tough query to address. The historical record, the traditional standing of Villa, argues against it. Furthermore, they have not been entirely convincing in many games, while the wins have piled up.
According to Opta, twice all season has the team had an xG notably superior than the opposition. For a side who have just won 10 in a row, Villa seem strangely fragile – but at the moment the fine lines are going in their favour.
The Rogers Recipe
The current approach seems to be to trade blows with an opponent and wait for their star man to save the day with two crisp finishes. This was the case away to Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and it happened when facing United.
His opener originated from a brilliant finish, arced precisely inside the goal frame from a wide position. The follow-up goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he pounced on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.
“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Logic says not. Against United, the opposition had more efforts and more efforts on goal. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in all but one of those games.
A statistical correction might be the greatest opponent they must confront in the near future. The forward, surely, cannot maintain drilling his shots past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.
Reasons for Optimism
Perhaps there is another reality whereby, rather than results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures may yet rediscover their best form.
- Ollie Watkins might resume adding to his goal tally.
- Jadon Sancho might become the performer he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
- The injured centre-backs are due to return from injury, strengthening a periodically leaky backline.
Maybe within that lies the potential of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.
Relishing the Unlikely
Yet, nobody expected this. Few believed Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And certainly back in October, nobody thought Rogers now would be leading a hunt for the title and appearing as a vital Three Lions star.
This remarkable period should be enjoyed exactly since it feels so unlikely. As the hero positioned himself before the Villa faithful at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. As he deserves to. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.
