It was eight weeks ago that the young forward stood on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered while his coach berated him for failing to anticipate a through-ball. Back then, as Villa went six without a win, doubts remained whether his displays were a sign or the reason for the side's wider issues.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
In the latest match, though, the touchline reaction proved to be decidedly more positive. After Rogers curled home his second to restore his side's advantage, the boss discarded his coat, threw his arms wide and bellowed. The team marched on to ten wins in a row , after failing to win their initial half-dozen fixtures, find themselves a mere three points behind the leaders Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Serious Title Contenders?
It remains a particularly tough question to address. History, the perceived status of the club, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they've rarely been wholly dominant this season, despite the fact the wins have accumulated.
Per Opta, on just two occasions has the team posted an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a club which has strung together a ten-match winning streak, they look strangely fragile – yet right now the fine lines are falling their way.
The Rogers Recipe
The current approach appears to be to exchange chances with an opponent before hoping their star man to save the day with two crisp finishes. This was the case away to Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and again against United.
The initial strike stemmed from a brilliant finish, curled right inside the post from a wide position. For his second proved to be a slight scruffier version of his first capitalizing 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.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, Manchester United had more shots and more direct attempts. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. The defence has been breached in all but one of those games.
Regression to the mean may well be the most significant challenge they will encounter over the coming weeks. Rogers, surely, will not continue to thrashing his shots into the net's top corner forever.
A Case for Belief
Maybe there exists an alternative path in which, instead of results trending towards performances, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players might still return to peak condition.
- The main striker might resume adding to his goal tally.
- The winger could transform into the force he showed during his peak.
- The injured centre-backs are set to return from injury, strengthening an occasionally vulnerable backline.
Perhaps there is in that the possibility for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on one man.
Savoring the Moment
However, this is a surprise. Few believed the team would occupy third at Christmas. And certainly two months ago, nobody thought the young forward by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a title charge and appearing as a crucial player for the national team.
This remarkable period must be cherished for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. When the match-winner positioned himself before the North End when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and must be appreciated.
