It was 60 days ago when the Villa attacker was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered while Unai Emery admonished him for not reading a pass in behind. Back then, as the club went six without a win, doubts remained if Rogers' form were an indicator or the reason for the side's wider issues.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
This weekend, in contrast, the touchline reaction proved to be much more joyous. When Rogers drilled in his brace-sealing goal to reinstate his side's advantage, Emery tore off his coat, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. The team continued to a tenth straight victory , after failing to win their initial half-dozen fixtures, find themselves only three points off pace-setters Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Serious Hopefuls?
This is a rather hard question to address. Past precedent, the traditional standing of this institution, suggests not. Furthermore, they have not been completely commanding during this run, even as the positive results have accumulated.
As per statistical analysis, on just two occasions has the side had an expected goals figure significantly higher than their opponents. For a team which has put together 10 in a row, Villa seem curiously susceptible – yet at the moment the tight outcomes are swinging for them.
The Rogers Recipe
Their recent policy appears to be to trade blows with an opponent and wait for their talisman to bail them out with a couple of crisp finishes. This was the case away to Leeds, it happened in London, and again when facing Manchester United.
Rogers' first goal stemmed from a brilliant finish, bent just inside the upright from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal proved to be a somewhat messier replica of his first capitalizing on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.
“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, the opponents managed more shots and more direct attempts. They have won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in all except one of those fixtures.
Regression to the mean may well be the greatest opponent Villa must confront as the season progresses. The forward, almost certainly, cannot keep on blasting his shots into the top corner indefinitely.
Reasons for Optimism
Maybe there exists an alternative path whereby, rather than results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs might still find their top level.
- The main striker may begin to finding the net regularly.
- Jadon Sancho may rediscover the performer he resembled during his peak.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually regain fitness, bolstering a sometimes shaky backline.
This could contain the seeds for a sustained push, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on one man.
Savoring the Moment
But then, this is a surprise. Nobody thought the team would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And certainly back in October, no one envisioned Rogers by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title and appearing as a vital Three Lions star.
This remarkable period is to be savoured precisely because it appears so improbable. As the hero positioned himself before the home supporters after the match conducting the cheers, he seemed to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These spells are rare in football and should be relished.
