Just two months ago when the young forward found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed as his coach scolded him over not reading a penetrating pass. Back then, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, the question was whether his performances were an indicator or a cause for the team's more general malaise.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
This weekend, however, the manager's outburst was decidedly more positive. After the in-form star drilled in his second strike to reinstate Villa's lead, the boss discarded his jacket, opened his arms and bellowed. The Birmingham club were on their way to a tenth straight victory , despite not winning their initial half-dozen games, now sit only three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.
Are They Genuine Title Contenders?
It remains an exceptionally difficult question to resolve. Past precedent, the perceived status of the club, suggests not. Moreover, they've rarely been entirely convincing during this run, despite the fact the victories have stacked up.
Per Opta, in only two games have Villa had an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a club which has just won ten consecutive victories, the Villans seem strangely fragile – yet right now the margins are falling their way.
The Rogers Recipe
The current approach seems to be to engage in a shootout with the opposition before hoping their star man to bail them out with a couple of precise efforts. This occurred against Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and it happened when facing the Red Devils.
The initial strike stemmed from a brilliant finish, arced just inside the post from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal proved to be a slight scruffier version of goal number one as he pounced on a setup by his strike partner.
“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 shots and more direct attempts. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those fixtures.
A reversion to average might be the biggest rival they must confront as the season progresses. The forward, surely, will not continue to thrashing the ball past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.
A Case for Belief
Maybe there exists another reality whereby, rather than results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs may yet rediscover their best form.
- Ollie Watkins could start scoring again.
- The winger might become the player he resembled during his peak.
- The injured centre-backs are set to return from injury, strengthening a periodically leaky defensive unit.
Maybe within that lies the seeds of a genuine bid, but they surely cannot keep relying on one man.
Enjoying the Ride
Yet, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely back in October, few could imagine the young forward by the end of the year would be leading a title charge and appearing as a vital England player.
The current run must be cherished exactly since it seems so surreal. When the match-winner positioned himself before the North End at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. As he deserves to. These runs of form do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.
