A mere eight weeks ago that Morgan Rogers found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered as his coach scolded him for not reading a penetrating pass. Back then, as Villa went six without a win, it wasn't clear if his displays were an indicator or a cause for the team's broader struggles.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
In the latest match, in contrast, the touchline reaction proved to be much more joyous. When the England international drilled in his second to reclaim Villa's lead, the boss ripped off his winter coat, threw his arms wide and roared. The Birmingham club were on their way to ten wins in a row and having failed to win their opening six fixtures, now sit only three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.
Are They Genuine Hopefuls?
It remains a rather hard proposition to answer. The historical record, the perceived status of Villa, argues against it. Additionally, they've rarely been entirely convincing in many games, while the wins have stacked up.
Per statistical analysis, twice all season has the team posted an expected goals figure notably superior than their opponents. For a team that have strung together 10 in a row, they appear weirdly vulnerable – but currently the tight outcomes are falling their way.
The Reliant Strategy
The prevailing tactic appears to be to trade blows with rivals and wait for their star man to save the day with two crisp finishes. This occurred against Leeds, it transpired in London, and again against United.
The initial strike stemmed from a brilliant finish, bent precisely inside the goal frame from a wide position. For his second proved to be a slight scruffier version of his first as he seized on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.
“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.”
Can It Last?
Common sense dictates no. Against United, the opponents had more efforts and more efforts on goal. They have secured their last eight victories by just one goal. They’ve conceded in all except one of those games.
A reversion to average might be the greatest opponent the club will encounter as the season progresses. The forward, in all likelihood, will not continue to thrashing his shots past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.
Reasons for Optimism
Maybe there exists another reality whereby, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Important figures could still find their top level.
- Ollie Watkins could start scoring again.
- The attacking talent may rediscover the player he resembled during his peak.
- The injured centre-backs will eventually return from injury, strengthening an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.
This could contain the potential of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.
Relishing the Unlikely
However, nobody expected this. Few believed the team would sit in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt earlier this season, nobody thought the young forward now would be spearheading a championship pursuit and appearing as a crucial England player.
The current run must be cherished precisely because it appears so improbable. As the match-winner positioned himself before the Villa faithful at the final whistle conducting the cheers, he appeared to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. These runs of form are rare in football and must be appreciated.
