A mere 60 days ago when Morgan Rogers found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed while his coach admonished him over missing a penetrating pass. Back then, with the team went six without a win, doubts remained if his displays were an indicator or the source for Villa's broader struggles.
“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 manager's outburst was entirely decidedly more positive. When the England international drilled in his second to reinstate Villa's lead, the boss discarded his coat, spread his arms and roared. The team were on their way to a 10th successive win , having failed to win their opening six fixtures, now sit just three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Serious Title Contenders?
That’s a rather hard question to address. Past precedent, the perceived status of the club, indicates otherwise. Moreover, they have not been wholly dominant this season, despite the fact the victories have accumulated.
Per the data, twice all season has the side posted an xG notably superior than their opponents. For a side who have just won 10 in a row, the Villans look strangely fragile – yet right now the tight outcomes are falling their way.
The Winning Formula
The prevailing tactic looks like to exchange chances with an opponent and then rely on their talisman to rescue them with a couple of precise efforts. It happened at Leeds, it occurred in London, and once more against Manchester United.
The initial strike originated from a superb shot, arced precisely inside the upright from a wide position. For his second proved to be a slight scruffier version of goal number one as he pounced on a pass from Watkins.
“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.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Logic says not. In the recent win, the opposition registered more shots and more direct attempts. Villa have secured their last eight victories by a single goal. The defence has been breached in all but one of those fixtures.
Regression to the mean may well be the greatest opponent the club must confront as the season progresses. The forward, surely, will not continue to blasting the ball into the net's top corner indefinitely.
Reasons for Optimism
Maybe there exists a different scenario in which, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures may yet find their top level.
- The centre-forward may begin to adding to his goal tally.
- The winger might become the force he resembled in Germany.
- The injured centre-backs are due to return from injury, fortifying a periodically leaky defence.
This could contain the potential for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.
Savoring the Moment
Yet, this was unforeseen. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would sit third at Christmas. And certainly two months ago, no one envisioned the midfielder by the end of the year would be spearheading a hunt for the title while establishing himself as a vital Three Lions star.
The current run should be enjoyed precisely because it feels so unlikely. As the hero faced the Villa faithful at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are rare in football and must be appreciated.
