It was eight weeks in the past that the Villa attacker was standing on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed as the Villa manager admonished him for not reading a pass in behind. At that point, as Villa failed to win in six, the question was whether Rogers' form were a symptom or the reason for the side's broader struggles.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
This weekend, however, the sideline response was decidedly more positive. After Rogers drilled in his brace-sealing goal to reclaim Villa's lead, the boss tore off his coat, spread his arms and bellowed. Villa were on their way to a 10th successive win , despite not winning their opening six games, are somehow a mere three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Legitimate Title Contenders?
That’s a rather hard proposition to answer. The historical record, a general sense of the club, suggests not. Furthermore, they have not been completely commanding during this run, even as the positive results have stacked up.
As per the data, on just two occasions has the side registered an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a team who have just won ten consecutive victories, Villa appear strangely fragile – however at the moment the tight outcomes are going in their favour.
The Reliant Strategy
Their recent policy looks like to trade blows with an opponent before hoping their talisman to save the day with two crisp finishes. It happened against Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and again against Manchester United.
Rogers' first goal stemmed from a superb shot, bent precisely inside the post from a wide position. For his second acted as a somewhat messier replica 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, the opposition had more efforts and more efforts on goal. The team has secured their last eight victories by just one goal. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those games.
A statistical correction could be the greatest opponent the club have to face in the near future. Their key man, surely, will not continue to blasting the football into the net's top corner week in, week out.
A Case for Belief
Maybe there exists another reality where, instead of luck running out, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs may yet find their top level.
- The main striker could start scoring again.
- The winger might become the force he resembled during his peak.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually come back from the treatment room, fortifying a sometimes shaky backline.
Maybe within that lies the potential of a title challenge, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.
Relishing the Unlikely
But then, nobody expected this. Nobody thought the team would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt earlier this season, no one envisioned the midfielder by the end of the year would be spearheading a championship pursuit and appearing as a crucial England player.
The current run must be cherished exactly since it seems so surreal. When the hero faced the North End at the final whistle leading the celebrations, he appeared to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.
