A mere eight weeks prior when the young forward stood on the Sunderland turf, looking confused while the Villa manager scolded him for missing a penetrating pass. Back then, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained 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.”
On Sunday, in contrast, the touchline reaction was entirely far more favourable. As Rogers drilled in his brace-sealing goal to reclaim the lead for Villa, the boss ripped off his winter coat, spread his arms and roared. Villa were on their way to a 10th successive win , after failing to win any of their first six matches, are somehow a mere three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.
Is This Team Serious Title Contenders?
That’s a particularly tough query to answer. Past precedent, a general sense of the club, suggests not. Furthermore, they have not been entirely convincing in many games, despite the fact the victories have accumulated.
As per Opta, in only two games has the side posted an expected goals figure notably superior than the opposition. For a team that have put together a ten-match winning streak, the Villans appear strangely fragile – yet right now the tight outcomes are going in their favour.
The Reliant Strategy
Their recent policy appears to be to trade blows with rivals before hoping Rogers to save the day with two crisp finishes. This was the case at Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and again versus the Red Devils.
The initial strike stemmed from a superb shot, arced just inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of his first 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?
Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, the opposition registered a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. The team has won each of their last eight by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those games.
A statistical correction might be the greatest opponent the club must confront in the near future. Rogers, almost certainly, cannot keep on thrashing his shots past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.
Potential for Growth
Maybe there exists an alternative path whereby, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players could still rediscover their best form.
- The main striker may begin to scoring again.
- The winger might become the performer he was at Borussia Dortmund.
- The injured centre-backs are due to regain fitness, fortifying a periodically leaky defensive unit.
Perhaps there is in that the potential of a genuine bid, however, it is improbable cannot keep relying on one man.
Enjoying the Ride
But then, this was unforeseen. It seemed improbable Villa would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt earlier this season, nobody thought Rogers by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a crucial player for the national team.
This remarkable period must be cherished for the very reason that it appears so improbable. As the hero stood in front of the home supporters at the final whistle leading the celebrations, it was clear to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. These spells do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.
