It was eight weeks in the past when the young forward was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered while the Villa manager berated him for not reading a through-ball. Back then, with the team endured a six-game winless run, the question was whether his displays 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, in contrast, the manager's outburst was entirely much more joyous. When the England international drilled in his second strike to reinstate his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician ripped off his jacket, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club marched on to ten wins in a row and having failed to win their initial half-dozen matches, now sit only three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.
Is This Team Legitimate Title Contenders?
It remains an exceptionally difficult proposition to answer. Past precedent, the traditional standing of the club, argues against it. Moreover, they have not been completely commanding this season, despite the fact the positive results have piled up.
As per the data, on just two occasions have Villa registered an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a club that have strung together a ten-match winning streak, they look curiously susceptible – however right now the margins are swinging for them.
The Rogers Recipe
The current approach seems to be to engage in a shootout with an opponent and wait for their star man to bail them out with some precise efforts. This was the case at Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and again versus Manchester United.
The initial strike originated from a brilliant finish, curled right inside the upright from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal proved to be a somewhat messier replica of his first capitalizing 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?
Logic says not. Against United, the opposition registered a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. Villa have won each of their last eight by a single goal. They have allowed goals in all except one of those fixtures.
A statistical correction could be the biggest rival they must confront in the near future. Their key man, surely, will not continue to blasting his shots into the top corner week in, week out.
A Case for Belief
Could it be a different scenario whereby, rather than luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs could still return to peak condition.
- The main striker may begin to adding to his goal tally.
- The winger could transform into the force he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to come back from the treatment room, strengthening an occasionally vulnerable defence.
This could contain the seeds for a sustained push, but they surely cannot keep relying on a single individual.
Savoring the Moment
Yet, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable the team would be third at Christmas. And certainly earlier this season, nobody thought the midfielder now would be spearheading a championship pursuit and appearing as an essential Three Lions star.
This winning streak should be enjoyed precisely because it feels so unlikely. When the hero stood in front of the North End when the game ended leading the celebrations, he seemed to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.
