Just eight weeks in the past that Morgan Rogers was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed as the Villa manager admonished him over not reading a penetrating pass. At that point, as the club failed to win in six, the question was if Rogers' form were a symptom or the reason of Villa's wider issues.
“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 far more favourable. As the in-form star swept in his second strike to reclaim his side's advantage, Emery discarded his coat, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. Villa were on their way to a tenth straight victory and despite not winning any of their first six fixtures, now sit only three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.
Is This Team Serious Hopefuls?
This is a particularly tough proposition to address. Past precedent, the perceived status of this institution, argues against it. Moreover, their performances haven't been wholly dominant this season, while the victories have stacked up.
As per the data, in only two games has the side had an xG notably superior than the other team. For a team that have strung together ten consecutive victories, they appear weirdly vulnerable – yet currently the tight outcomes are going in their favour.
The Winning Formula
The current approach looks like to engage in a shootout with the opposition and then rely on their star man to bail them out with a couple of crisp finishes. This was the case against Leeds, it occurred in London, and it happened against the Red Devils.
The initial strike came from a brilliant finish, bent just inside the post from the corner of the box. For his second proved to be a somewhat messier replica of goal number one as he seized on a pass from Watkins.
“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”
Can It Last?
Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, the opponents had more shots and more direct attempts. Villa have won each of their last eight by just one goal. They have allowed goals in all but one of those matches.
Regression to the mean could be the most significant challenge Villa must confront as the season progresses. The forward, in all likelihood, cannot keep on thrashing the football into the net's top corner indefinitely.
A Case for Belief
Could it be a different scenario in which, rather than results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs could still rediscover their best form.
- The centre-forward could start scoring again.
- The attacking talent could transform into the performer he resembled in Germany.
- The injured centre-backs will eventually come back from the treatment room, strengthening a periodically leaky backline.
This could contain the potential of a genuine bid, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.
Enjoying the Ride
However, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought the team would sit in the top three for the holidays. And certainly back in October, no one envisioned Rogers by the end of the year would be spearheading a title charge while looking like a vital Three Lions star.
This winning streak should be enjoyed for the very reason that it seems so surreal. When the hero faced the North End at the final whistle conducting the cheers, he appeared to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. These spells are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.
