Andre Villas-Boas has no case for his Chelsea defence

By STEVEN HOWARD

IF it goes on like this, he'll be known as AVB4 — A Vulnerable Back Four.

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.