It was 60 days ago that the young forward stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused as his coach berated him over failing to anticipate a pass in behind. At that point, as the club failed to win in six, it wasn't clear if his displays were a symptom or a cause for the team's broader struggles.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
This weekend, however, the sideline response was much more joyous. As the England international curled home his second strike to restore Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician ripped off his winter coat, opened his arms and roared. The team were on their way to ten wins in a row , after failing to win their initial half-dozen fixtures, find themselves just three points off the leaders Arsenal.
Is This Team Legitimate Hopefuls?
It remains a rather hard query to resolve. History, the perceived status of the club, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they have not been wholly dominant this season, even as the victories have accumulated.
Per the data, in only two games has the team registered an xG more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a team which has strung together 10 in a row, they look strangely fragile – yet right now the tight outcomes are swinging for them.
The Rogers Recipe
The current approach seems to be to trade blows with the opposition and then rely on their talisman to save the day with a couple of clinical strikes. This was the case at Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and again when facing the Red Devils.
His opener stemmed from a superb shot, bent just inside the upright from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of the opener as he pounced on a pass from Watkins.
“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”
Is It Sustainable?
Reason suggests otherwise. During the latest victory, Manchester United had a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those fixtures.
Regression to the mean might be the most significant challenge the club must confront over the coming weeks. Rogers, in all likelihood, cannot keep on drilling his shots into the top corner indefinitely.
Potential for Growth
Could it be an alternative path where, instead of luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players could still rediscover their best form.
- Ollie Watkins could start scoring again.
- The winger could transform into the force he resembled in Germany.
- The injured centre-backs are set to regain fitness, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable backline.
Maybe within that lies the possibility for a sustained push, however, it is improbable cannot keep relying on one man.
Relishing the Unlikely
But then, nobody expected this. Few believed Aston Villa would sit third at Christmas. And without a doubt back in October, nobody thought Rogers by the end of the year would be leading a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a vital player for the national team.
This remarkable period must be cherished precisely because it appears so improbable. As the hero stood in front of the North End after the match orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.
