Just 60 days ago when the Villa attacker stood on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused as the Villa manager scolded him over missing a pass in behind. At that point, with the team failed to win in six, the question was if his performances were a symptom or a cause of the team's more general malaise.
“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. As Rogers swept in his second strike to restore his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician ripped off his winter coat, opened his arms and bellowed. Villa continued to ten wins in a row , having failed to win any of their first six fixtures, find themselves only three points behind the leaders Arsenal.
Is This Team Serious Hopefuls?
That’s an exceptionally difficult question to answer. The historical record, the perceived status of Villa, indicates otherwise. Moreover, they've rarely been completely commanding in many games, while the positive results have accumulated.
Per statistical analysis, in only two games have Villa had an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a club which has put together a ten-match winning streak, they seem curiously susceptible – but currently the margins are swinging for them.
The Winning Formula
The prevailing tactic seems to be to engage in a shootout with rivals before hoping their star man to save the day with some crisp finishes. This occurred at Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and it happened when facing the Red Devils.
His opener originated from a superb shot, arced right inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. For his second was essentially a slight scruffier version of his first as he pounced on a setup by his strike partner.
“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, the opponents had more shots and more shots on target. They have won each of their last eight by a single goal. They’ve conceded in all but one of those matches.
A reversion to average could be the greatest opponent they must confront over the coming weeks. Rogers, surely, cannot maintain blasting the football into the top corner forever.
Reasons for Optimism
Could it be a different scenario where, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs might still return to peak condition.
- The main striker could start scoring again.
- Jadon Sancho could transform into the performer he showed during his peak.
- The injured centre-backs are set to regain fitness, strengthening an occasionally vulnerable defence.
Maybe within that lies the possibility of a genuine bid, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on one man.
Enjoying the Ride
However, nobody expected this. Nobody thought the team would sit third at Christmas. And without a doubt two months ago, few could imagine the young forward now would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit and appearing as an essential England player.
This winning streak must be cherished exactly since it feels so unlikely. As the match-winner stood in front of the home supporters at the final whistle conducting the cheers, it was clear to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.
