Unai Emery’s decision to substitute Morgan Rogers during Aston Villa’s heavy 4-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, 3 November, proved to be a critical mistake.
Despite Villa initially leading 1-0, they suffered a major second-half collapse, conceding four goals and leaving fans questioning Emery’s tactics.
Rogers, one of Villa’s standout performers this season, showcased his skill in the game and maintained an active presence on the field before his unexpected substitution with just over 20 minutes remaining.
His efforts even drew praise from former England international Micah Richards, who highlighted Rogers’ exceptional talent on The Rest is Football podcast, saying, “How good is Morgan Rogers? I mean, seriously? He’s ridiculous… really excellent.”
The 22-year-old England Under-21 international’s removal came as a surprise to Villa supporters, as he had been one of the few players showing promise against Spurs. Following his exit, Villa struggled to maintain control, conceding three more goals and ultimately succumbing to a heavy defeat.
Rogers’ impact was clear in his pass completion rate, which was 82% from 50 attempts—slightly below his Premier League average of 87% over the past year but still a solid performance under pressure.
Defensively, Villa as a whole had a difficult day, with notable errors contributing to their downfall. Pau Torres, for instance, faced particular challenges against Tottenham’s Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski, failing to win any aerial duels and showing vulnerability in physical battles.
His performance was mixed, recording one tackle, four clearances, and five ground duels won, but it was clear that Villa’s backline struggled to cope with Tottenham’s relentless attacks.
Despite some positives in individual performances, the team’s overall defensive lapses and questionable tactical decisions led to a disappointing result. Emery’s decision to take off Rogers has since been scrutinized, and it remains a learning point as Villa seek to bounce back in upcoming matches.