STEVEN HOWARD - Chief sports writer
Under Villas-Boas, Chelsea have failed to keep a clean sheet
in nine league games, their worst run for a decade.
AVB lost 3 in the first 10 games — is the worst start
by ANY Blues boss under Abramovich.
Claudio Ranieri 18 games before he lost 3.
Mourinho an extraordinary 64.
Avram Grant was beaten in just twice of his first
32
Phil Scolari lost three of 21, four of 25 and was
fired.
Carlo Ancelotti lost three of the opening 15 — and six in
all — but still won the Double.
Andre Villas-Boas was bought in to brighten the place up and get
Chelsea playing the attacking football Roman Abramovich craves.
Sadly, the stable door is not so much ajar as wide open with a
galeforce wind whipping up off the Thames and blowing right through
it.
There were always going to be unfavourable comparisons with Jose
Mourinho if things went wrong for his Portuguese protege at
Stamford Bridge.
And after the shambolic 5-3 defeat by Arsenal, the stats are
growing increasingly grim. In 10 league games this term, Chelsea
have conceded 15 goals — as many as Mourinho's team let in winning
the title in the ENTIRE 2004-2005 campaign.
In fact, the five shipped against Arsenal was just one less than
the six surrendered in all 19 home league games that season.
In terms of league defeats — three in the first 10 games — it's
the worst start by ANY Blues boss under
Abramovich.
It took Claudio Ranieri 18 games before he lost three. It took
Mourinho an extraordinary 64. Yes, SIXTY-FOUR.
Avram Grant was beaten in just two of his first 32 — including
his first at Old Trafford — and still vacated his post.
Phil Scolari lost three of 21, four of 25 and was fired. And,
finally, Carlo Ancelotti. He lost three of the opening 15 — and six
in all — but still won the Double.
Even in his second season, there was only one defeat in the
first 10 though this would rise to four in 14 and six in 21. And we
all know what happened there.
Under Villas-Boas, Chelsea have failed to keep a clean sheet in
nine league games, their worst run for a decade.
OK, we know statistics don't tell the whole story but there is
some damning evidence here.
We also know a young manager should be given time. Even
Abramovich, with his notoriously itchy trigger-finger, must
appreciate this.
Yet Chelsea fans trooping disconsolately away from Stamford
Bridge on Saturday must be seriously concerned.
Incredibly, their own defence was as poor after the break as
Arsenal's had been before it.
And this is taking into account the lumbering, out of position
Per Mertesacker — at fault for both of Chelsea's opening two goals
— and Andre Santos, who for 45 minutes gave one of the poorest
full-back displays seen this season.
And yet after half-time Chelsea turned into a carbon copy of
their north London rivals.
Sure, Arsene Wenger's side are quick on the break and have Robin
van Persie in the form of his life.
But it was still a shock to see how easily unhinged the Chelsea
back four became, as slow on the turn as waxworks, a veritable
defensive chamber of horrors.
Then, again, this has been creeping up on them. Jose Bosingwa is
as good going forward as Santos appeared after the break.
But he is as equally a liability when it comes to positional
play — totally exposed by Arsenal's Brazilian full-back for the
Gunners' second equaliser.
And then we come to the heart of the problem — central
defence.
Under Mourinho, John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho formed a near
impenetrable barrier.
Carvalho allowed Terry to play, covered for him and the England
skipper did the same.
Terry, of course, is now five years older. But he is not helped
by a lack of a regular partner.
Alex isn't rated by Villas- Boas and could well be sold in
January while David Luiz, despite a great touch and easy, languid
movement going forward, is another with defensive weak link.
To discover this after forking out £21million is a high price to
pay.
Which leaves Branislav Ivanovic. Athletic, powerful, he is the
best of the three though too similar to Terry and, like his
captain, susceptible to a quick-turning player as we saw when both
were left for dead by Theo Walcott for Arsenal's third.
Only now are people realising just what an accomplished defender
Carvalho was.
And, finally, Petr Cech. To be beaten three times at your near
post is a worrying sign of increasing vulnerability.
As was Chelsea's lack of midfield bite and another anonymous
showing from the allegedly revitalised Fernando Torres.
That this was also, supposedly, Chelsea's best side leaves AVB4
with much work to do.
So when he says he is also special, he meant losing more games
than the previous managers? 
