The Game Changer

Enter January 2007, United are narrowly leading back-to-back Premier League winners Chelsea with a strike force of Rooney, Saha and Solskjaer.

With 4 trophies to compete for, United turn to Barcelona's then 35 year old striker Henrik Larrson who puts in 10 good shifts for United scoring 4 goals, with 2 of them being match winners.

Brought in on loan, he helps United win the title by 6 points over Chelsea. Before him, 31 year old Teddy Sheringham lit up Old Trafford for a 4 year spell which included 3 titles and a crucial goal in the Champions League final.

This summer, United again were the team who decided to go against their youthful policy to recruit RVP from Arsenal, and it's probably why they are first and we are third right now.

Goal after goal from a natural scorer who's thriving from the service. Age for once, was not a factor in the signing. United have shown over the years, that a team can reap rewards by bucking the trend in the philosophy and taking a risk for the right player.

Perhaps one can learn from that. Chelsea are in need of a game changer right now, someone who can come in and score a flurry of goals to stop the reliance on Torres and take us over the final stretch especially given the hectic schedule coming up.

Enter David Villa. A player who needs little introduction and is famed for his goal scoring prowess at both national and International level. His finishing remains one of the most clinical in the game, whilst the curve shot around the keeper into the net remains his trademark.

He's well capable of beating several players on his own and loves cutting in from the wide spaces. He still hasn't lost his scoring boots as he averages a goal every 80 minutes for Barca this season. He's had limited playtime however having returned this season from a broken leg.

The cumulative effect of the above means a reported price tag of £12million and a wage of around £130k. Which begs an interesting question. Chelsea have some very talented young forwards coming through who should be able to challenge in a year or so time (Lukaku anyone), so we don't really need a long term forward.

At the same time, Villa fits into the team like a fiddle. Chelsea will soon have only one recognized striker in Torres who happens to be great friends with David Villa and has competed for the Spanish striker role with him to great effect in the past.

Also, his style of play is suited to Chelsea's quick paced, on the ground play and his technical ability makes him ideal to take up the positions vacated by our creative players and still be devastating, something Torres fails to do when he's forced wide or deeper. He's as clinical as they get, so if he gets the odd chance in a game, we can expect him to take it, even late on when the pressure is immense to get a winner, due to his experience.

He could be the difference between a point, or three, on several occasions. The downside to the deal is the recovery from Injury, but if Torres could be made fit again, I don't see why the Chelsea medical staff should have any problems with Villa.

Above that, unlike Torres, Villa's game is all about his technical ability rather than his physique. This technical ability still seems as good as ever judging by his limited showings at Barca this term. All that in mind, I'm hoping for a deal to go through and I'd have Villa before I'd have any of Negredo, Ba, Bony, Schurrle, Llorente or even Cavani (given the prices involved). Falcao ruled himself out of the equation anyway. He could be the difference between a top 4 finish and a sustained title challenge.

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