Time for Chelsea and Villas-Boas to go back to basics:

Chelsea’s 5-3 defeat at home to Arsenal was undoubtedly one of the most entertaining games in years, but the result itself will send shivers running through all those connected with the Pensioners. To ship five goals at home would have been inconceivable under previous management at the bridge. Villas Boas in his haste to turn Chelsea into a more attacking and attractive seems to have inadvertently forgotten to lock the back door. The most shocking aspect of Saturday’s defeat was that Chelsea were even more defenively inept than Arsenal and that takes some doing.

Villas Boas Chelsea had been quietly going about their duties and had slipped casually under the radar as the spotlight was firmly fixed on the Manchester clubs. They were like a viper silently waiting in the shadows to pounce on any slip above them, that slip came when United were mauled by City. Yet they missed their chance to capitalize and crashed to a defeat to QPR despite a valiant effort with nine men. This latest defeat has left them 9 points adrift of City and even at this ridiculously early stage it is tempting to write off their title wining hopes.

Villas Boas has brought shrewdly from an attacking perspective with fine additions in Mereilles and Mata but his squad is beginning to look increasingly top heavy. Title winning teams are built on strong defences and at the moment Chelsea’s has more holes in it than a colander.

For the last few years Chelsea have done their best to prove wrong the critics who derided them too old, but eventually the doomsayers would be proved right. Chelsea may have added youth and zest upfront but their creaking defence is in desperate need for fresh legs. To a certain degree Villas Boas should have seen this coming, when he arrived at the Bridge he only had to take a look at his defensive stalwarts and recognize all was not well.

John Terry is vital to the club as its figurehead but his body has been ravaged by injury and he is no longer the imperious defender of three years ago. He needs a mobile, composed individual alongside to him and the cumbersome Alex is not the answer. David Luiz has his detractors but this writer believes he has the qualities to become a top class centre back, unfortunately at his present he is rash. It may be a while before Chelsea can get the best out of him, time they can ill afford. Ivanovic is a solid proven performer but he can be found wanting against the very best players. Bosingwa is a force going forward but defensively he remains naïve and lax. The biggest worry is the continuing struggles of Cole. This writer pointed out the warning signs of his decline, and on Saturday this was confirmed when Walcott gave him a torrid time all afternoon. Cole was once the most reliable defender in Europe, but sadly for club and country his best years seem firmly behind him.

Cech committed at least two errors on Saturday and only the most ardent Chelsea fan would attest to his status as one of the worlds finest keepers, some may even claim he has never been the same his horrific head injury. In front of the defence Mikel who has never wholly convinced looks more poodle than guard dog.

Villas Boas cannot fix all these problems in one season, but what he must do is strengthen in January, Chelsea need at least one centre half and one full back. Chelsea are going through a transitional phase as they slowly phase out the elder statesmen and draft in the younger recruits. Villas Boas needs to eliminate the rudimentary defensive errors on the training pitch, and hope he can steady the ship long enough to bring in new cargo.

Introducing the neat little app that’ll pay you to view content tailored to your interests:

ThisisFutbol.com are seeking new writers to join the team! If you’re passionate about football, drop us a line at “thisisfutbol.com@snack-media.com” to learn more.