A mere 60 days ago that Morgan Rogers stood on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed while his coach admonished him over not reading a pass in behind. At that point, with the team failed to win in six, doubts remained whether his displays were a sign or the source of the team's broader struggles.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
On Sunday, though, the touchline reaction was entirely far more favourable. As Rogers drilled in his second to restore the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician discarded his winter coat, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. Villa continued to a 10th successive win , having failed to win their opening six matches, find themselves a mere three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.
Is This Team Genuine Hopefuls?
This is a rather hard query to answer. History, the perceived status of the club, argues against it. Furthermore, they've rarely been completely commanding in many games, while the positive results have piled up.
As per the data, in only two games has the team registered an expected goals figure significantly higher than the opposition. For a team which has just won ten consecutive victories, they seem curiously susceptible – yet at the moment the fine lines are going in their favour.
The Reliant Strategy
Their recent policy appears to be to trade blows with the opposition and then rely on their talisman to rescue them with two crisp finishes. This was the case against Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and again versus Manchester United.
His opener stemmed from a superb shot, curled just inside the post from a wide position. For his second was essentially a somewhat messier replica of goal number one capitalizing 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.”
Is It Sustainable?
Logic says not. In the recent win, Manchester United registered more efforts and more shots on target. The team has secured their last eight victories by a single goal. They have allowed goals in all but one of those fixtures.
A statistical correction may well be the most significant challenge Villa will encounter over the coming weeks. Their key man, almost certainly, will not continue to thrashing his shots past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.
Potential for Growth
Could it be a different scenario where, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players could still return to peak condition.
- The main striker might resume finding the net regularly.
- The attacking talent may rediscover the performer he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to return from injury, fortifying a sometimes shaky defensive unit.
Perhaps there is in that the seeds of a genuine bid, but they surely cannot keep relying on one man.
Relishing the Unlikely
But then, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Villa would be in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely earlier this season, nobody thought Rogers by the end of the year would be spearheading a hunt for the title and appearing as a crucial player for the national team.
This winning streak should be enjoyed for the very reason that it seems so surreal. As the hero faced the Villa faithful when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. Such periods do not happen often and must be appreciated.
