It was 60 days ago when the Villa attacker stood on the Sunderland turf, looking confused as the Villa manager berated him for not reading a through-ball. Back then, with the team failed to win in six, the question was if his performances were an indicator or the source of the team's more general malaise.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
In the latest match, though, the touchline reaction proved to be decidedly more positive. As Rogers drilled in his second strike to reinstate his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician ripped off his coat, threw his arms wide and bellowed. The Birmingham club were on their way to a 10th successive win , despite not winning any of their first six fixtures, find themselves a mere three points behind the leaders Arsenal.
Are They Legitimate Title Contenders?
It remains a particularly tough query to resolve. Past precedent, a general sense of the club, indicates otherwise. Moreover, they've rarely been completely commanding this season, even as the positive results have accumulated.
As per statistical analysis, twice all season have Villa posted an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a side that have strung together 10 in a row, the Villans look curiously susceptible – yet currently the tight outcomes are swinging for them.
The Winning Formula
Their recent policy looks like to engage in a shootout with the opposition and then rely on their talisman to bail them out with two crisp finishes. It happened at Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and once more against the Red Devils.
The initial strike came from a superb shot, curled just inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. His brace-completing 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?
Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, Manchester United managed more efforts and more shots on target. Villa have secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in all but one of those matches.
A statistical correction might be the greatest opponent Villa have to face over the coming weeks. Rogers, in all likelihood, cannot maintain blasting the ball into the net's top corner week in, week out.
A Case for Belief
Could it be another reality whereby, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Important figures could still rediscover their best form.
- The centre-forward might resume scoring again.
- The attacking talent could transform into the force he was at Borussia Dortmund.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually regain fitness, bolstering a sometimes shaky backline.
Perhaps there is in that the possibility of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on one man.
Relishing the Unlikely
Yet, nobody expected this. Nobody thought the team would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely two months ago, few could imagine Rogers by the end of the year would be spearheading a hunt for the title while establishing himself as a crucial Three Lions star.
This remarkable period should be enjoyed exactly since it seems so surreal. When the hero positioned himself before the Villa faithful at the final whistle conducting the cheers, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. Which he fully merits. These runs of form are rare in football and should be relished.
