When Andrés Palop’s level under the sticks began to deteriorate the change was going to be a tough one. Knowing that you had to be looking at making the change, the uncertainty of Javi Varas was evident. This is what made Gregorio Manzano’s move to bring Varas to the fray was that much more courageous. It was finally a chance for the hometown kid to get the opportunity of a lifetime and do good on it. Varas was always a second-fiddle. An eternal promise. One of those players whose future is always going to be promising. Still there was no coach that was looked to pull the trigger on him.

Part of the reason is because Palop had become an institution in the Nervion portion of Seville and success had made him almost immovable under the sticks.

At this point you an say it was one of those tough moves that Sevilla had to make especially after the residuals of their success were still apparent. More importantly, you can start to see that this decision can be fundamental and it was part of that changing of the guard that many Nervionenses are always looking forward to and in many cases, dreading.

So far Javi Varas’ numbers are better than those being posted by Iker Casillas and Víctor Valdés. The three goals that he has allowed are second best in the only behind Willy Caballero of Málaga. Varas also is in the middle of a 287-minute scoreless streak.

What makes his run of form even more impressive is the fact that the defense is very suspect. Their backline was very shaky throughout their last three matches. Sevilla were also able to fend off a Valencia side with more players on the pitch. It was just Varas that kept the sheet clean during this barrage.

It’s Varas, more than Negredo or even Kanouté, that keeps Sevilla within a fingernail of first place. Should they look at Varas for the national team, that is a tough sell, but he makes an enviable problem for Vicente Del Bosque an even darker shade of green.