A mere 60 days ago that the Villa attacker stood on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused as his coach scolded him for not reading a pass in behind. Back then, as the club went six without a win, it wasn't clear whether his displays were an indicator or the source of the side's more general malaise.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
This weekend, however, the touchline reaction was decidedly more positive. After the England international swept in his second strike to reclaim the lead for Villa, the boss ripped off his winter coat, opened his arms and roared. The Birmingham club were on their way to ten wins in a row , despite not winning any of their first six fixtures, now sit only three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.
Are They Serious Challengers?
This is a particularly tough question to address. Past precedent, the perceived status of Villa, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they have not been completely commanding in many games, despite the fact the victories have accumulated.
As per statistical analysis, twice all season has the team posted an expected goals figure notably superior than the opposition. For a club which has strung together a ten-match winning streak, the Villans appear weirdly vulnerable – yet at the moment the fine lines are going in their favour.
The Reliant Strategy
The prevailing tactic appears to be to exchange chances with rivals before hoping their talisman to bail them out with two clinical strikes. This occurred away to Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and again versus United.
His opener stemmed from an exquisite effort, arced right inside the goal frame from a wide position. The follow-up goal proved to be a somewhat messier replica of goal number one capitalizing on a setup by his strike partner.
“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”
Can It Last?
Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opponents had a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. The team has won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in all but one of those games.
A statistical correction may well be the greatest opponent Villa will encounter in the near future. The forward, surely, cannot maintain blasting his shots into the net's top corner forever.
Potential for Growth
Could it be another reality in which, rather than results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs could still return to peak condition.
- The main striker could start finding the net regularly.
- The winger might become the performer he resembled in Germany.
- The defensive duo are due to regain fitness, fortifying a sometimes shaky backline.
Perhaps there is in that the potential for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on one man.
Savoring the Moment
But then, this was unforeseen. It seemed improbable the team would sit in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely earlier this season, nobody thought the young forward as the year closed would be leading a championship pursuit while looking like a crucial England player.
The current run must be cherished exactly since it feels so unlikely. When the hero faced the Villa faithful after the match orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form do not happen often and should be relished.
