It was two months prior when the young forward found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed as the Villa manager admonished him for not reading a penetrating pass. At that point, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained if his displays were a sign or the reason for the team's wider issues.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
On Sunday, though, the manager's outburst proved to be decidedly more positive. As the in-form star swept in his brace-sealing goal to restore the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician discarded his winter coat, spread his arms and roared. The Birmingham club marched on to ten wins in a row and despite not winning their initial half-dozen matches, are somehow just three points off the leaders Arsenal.
Are They Legitimate Title Contenders?
That’s a rather hard question to address. Past precedent, the perceived status of Villa, argues against it. Moreover, they've rarely been completely commanding during this run, even as the positive results have stacked up.
According to the data, in only two games have Villa posted an xG more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a team which has strung together ten consecutive victories, they appear curiously susceptible – yet currently the margins are swinging for them.
The Rogers Recipe
The prevailing tactic appears to be to engage in a shootout with an opponent and wait for their talisman to rescue them with a couple of precise efforts. It happened away to Leeds, it happened in London, and it happened versus Manchester United.
His opener originated from a brilliant finish, arced just inside the upright from the corner of the box. For his second proved to be a somewhat messier replica of the opener as he pounced on a pass from Watkins.
“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?
Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, Manchester United had a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. Villa have secured their last eight victories by just one goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those matches.
Regression to the mean may well be the greatest opponent Villa must confront as the season progresses. The forward, in all likelihood, will not continue to drilling the football into the top corner indefinitely.
Potential for Growth
Maybe there exists an alternative path whereby, rather than results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs might still rediscover their best form.
- The centre-forward could start scoring again.
- The attacking talent could transform into the force he showed in Germany.
- The defensive duo are set to regain fitness, fortifying a periodically leaky backline.
Maybe within that lies the seeds for a sustained push, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on one man.
Savoring the Moment
But then, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable the team would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt two months ago, few could imagine the young forward as the year closed would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit while looking like a vital player for the national team.
This remarkable period is to be savoured for the very reason that it seems so surreal. As Rogers positioned himself before the North End after the match orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form do not happen often and should be relished.
