Chelsea vs. Napoli Champions League: Predicting the Starting XI for the Blues

As the jeers rained down on Andre Villas-Boas as he exited the pitch after Chelsea’s embarrassing draw to Birmingham last Saturday in the FA Cup, the Portuguese bass had to shrug them off and get ready for the next game.

Chelsea is set to play the first leg of the round of 16 in Champions League against a strong a resilient Napoli side.

The lineup Villas-Boas placed out Saturday afternoon reflected what the future held for the club, as he is well aware that the best way to cool the hot seat he is on is by performing well in Europe.

Owner Roman Abramovich has sacked manager after manager, all in a desperate attempt to achieve the title that has eluded him for so long. Villas-Boas’ hiring was partly out of his European pedigree and well-rounded knowledge of different leagues and teams.

However, he has yet to establish a true starting 11, which has created a fun game amongst the Chelsea faithful of predicting who will actually be out there at the first whistle.

There are few players you can say have truly earned their spot. Many have had some ups and mostly downs this season, rotating in and out of a system that is not completely developed to the level it must be.

Last week, I went a career best six for 11, which only goes to prove how erratic Villas-Boas’ choices are and how incompetent I am at reading his mind.

Here is my best guess of the starting XI we will see first on the pitch in Napoli.

GK: Petr Cech

The gimme of the group, Cech is the only logical choice we could ever see for a meaningful game. Unfortunately for the keeper, he has featured probably many more times than he would have liked to.

Knowing they would have a mere three days in between two major games, many managers would like to assume they could rest their starting keeper against a lower division side in the fifth round of  a domestic cup. But with the Chelsea back line a mess, you need the best insurance policy you can have in front of goal.

Should Chelsea advance in the Champions League, there is a good chance at age 29, Cech could play in more games than he ever has in a single season. Not an astonishing fact, but nonetheless proves more about how delicate this team has been than their best keeper is needed in every situation, even then the results have been poor.

RB: Branislav Ivanovic

Like a prayer answered from above, Villas-Boas finally decided to put his fellow countryman, Jose Bosingwa, on the bench in favor of Ivanovic.

For months now, Chelsea fans have begged for the inconsistent Bosingwa to no longer be the outright starter in the position. His speed and desire to get forward was making for an extremely vulnerable flank, as we know not to count of Daniel Sturridge for help.

Ivanovic has been a stalwart defender since he arrived. However, his mere size and appearance does not liken him to the kind of player who would go forward, but these are inaccurate misconceptions.

In 140 games, Ivanovic has provided 14 assists and 10 goals in 140 appearances. Both are better rates than Bosingwa at nine assists and three goals in 86 appearances.

So, he may not have the pace of Bosingwa, but he still is a threat getting forward. When you add in the fact he is twice the defender Bosingwa is, then he should get the start in Chelsea’s biggest game of the season.

CB: David Luiz

Luiz’s game against Birmingham was marred by the result more than anything. He played an effective game in the back, and considering that he was the more experienced Chelsea defender of the two, he did a good job in controlling a line that conceded only one goal.

However, his inability to play a perfect 90 minutes resulted in the only goal against. A brief mental lapse allowed his player to escape him on a corner and flick it on leading to the goal.

There are few who doubt the ability and skill of Luiz. He is fast, good with the ball and decent in positioning. But he always seems make mistakes that cost the team points. Like a goalie, consistency is as important for a defender as any kind of technical skill.

With John Terry doubtful for Tuesday’s game, he will almost definitely be in the starting lineup.

A good performance could help sway fans who are still on the edge of whether he is a defender for the future or not. But a bad one will only fan the flames that he does not belong in the back.

CB: Gary Cahill

After a tough day against United in his first appearance, Cahill really stepped up against Birmingham to prove that he was not wasted money.

But let’s keep this in perspective: You are going from one of the very best sides in the world to one that is a whole division lower than you. He had better proven himself in the latter at least.

This will be another big test for Cahill, as not only are circumstances greater than his first two appearances, but he will also play for the first time away from Stamford Bridge.

Italian crowds are well known for their hostility so much so that the club has issued a public plea for their fans to “behave” themselves while Chelsea are there. Cahill has almost surely never played in such an environment.

If that was not enough, he will also have to contend with one of the hottest young strikers in the game Edinson Cavani. The Uruguayan striker is as big and strong as they come and a lethal finisher. Cahill will have to match him move for move, or Chelsea will not come away with an invaluable clean sheet.

In the end, Cahill’s inclusion is more of a result of Terry’s injury than anything. Let’s just hope we are not begging for the skipper's return by the final whistle.

LB: Ashley Cole

When Landon Donovan fed the ball to Denis Stracqualursi for the brace Everton needed as they went on to beat Chelsea, 2-0, the goal was made all the worse by the fact it caused Ashley Cole an injury.

Cole missed the Birmingham match and was replaced by youngster Ryan Bertrand. Bertrand played excellently, especially when you consider he was the weakest-looking link in a back line that was missing two starters.

However, there is quite a difference between Birmingham and Napoli, and the confidence will not be there quite yet to give him the nod.

Cole is expected to be OK for a return on Tuesday, but it is not yet 100 percent certain.

If he is in the lineup, it would be a big boost to a side that needs all the confidence they can get. No one else on the Chelsea back line has anywhere near the Champions League pedigree Cole has accumulated over the years, and it will be of the utmost importance they have that kind of experience to man the flanks.

Napoli generally play down the wings and try to swing the ball into their big forward. Cole will be especially important if they should decide to play Marek Hamsik down his side and take advantage as Cole creeps forward.

CDM: Oriol Romeu

Fans were disappointed not to see the youngster against Birmingham. He came on to the scene quickly, and so far, it is the only thing Villas-Boas can hang his hat on and say that he made the right move.

But for some reason, he has found playing time harder and harder to come by in recent weeks.

He could have been used against Birmingham to help unlock that stubborn midfield the visitors had. Mikel did a fine job, but is not exactly the player you want to deliver that decisive pass.

Hopefully, his exclusion from Saturday’s match was merely used to give him rest before the Napoli tie.

CM: Ramires

No Chelsea player has been as consistently effective in his role this season as Ramires. The Brazilian is a workhorse in the midfield unlike any other in the game and necessary in a system that creates as many gaps through the middle as Villas-Boas’.

In the Birmingham match, it was Ramries who got the ball rolling in the offense. His pace allowed him to earn the penalty, and his endurance was the only bright spot of the entire game.

His energy will need to be at its highest come Tuesday. Napoli has plenty of playmakers, and he will need to be quick between them to shut them down.

I think I can safely say that no player has had as much influence on a team this season in the entire league as Ramires has for Chelsea. I really hope he gets some recognition for his play this season.

CM/CAM: Frank Lampard

I don’t quite understand the logic of Villas-Boas concerning Lampard. On the one hand, his moves have pretty much made the midfielder a second choice player. On the other, he does not play him against a lesser opponent and subs on late his team’s highest goal scorer when his team needs a goal.

I hope that choice was made with an eye towards this match.

Many fans have come forward and stated their case their case that Raul Meireles is not desired in the teams midfield. He does not do much of anything it often seems, drifting from one line to the other, always too late to have an impact at either end.

Lampard needs to play, if nothing more than for the simple fact that he gives them their best opportunity to win. Ignore the idea of a future because if they are not able to grab a goal in Italy, that future is not looking very promising anyway.

He has the experience, the where-with-all and skill needed at this level of the competition. Stop being a nationalist Villas-Boas and play the man who deserves to be played!

LW: Juan Mata

Mata had a tough ride Saturday. He was unable to truly unlock the Birmingham defense, and his missed penalty kick ended up being the difference between a Chelsea win and an extra game.

However, this may favor the Blues going forward.

Mata has had his fair share of poor outings, but never back-to-back. He always rebounds to the kind of player we expect him to be.

Napoli has generally relied on only three defenders for most of the season. This benefits Mata, as he will have more opportunities to go one-on-one where he is at his best.

Napoli could quiet him by preventing him from getting the ball by having a midfield that blocks it path. Villas-Boas needs to recognize this early and make sure he adjusts the instant he sees it not working.

RW: Daniel Sturridge

Sturridge has had a season of ups and downs, more downs if you evaluate him in the position he has been forced to play.

As a winger he holds on to the ball far too much and does not have the vision you would want out of a wide man. As a striker however, he is ideal always moving and ready to pull the trigger.

The latter has him giving a break out year, second on the team in scoring and easily the most consistent Chelsea threat on goal.

Napoli will be a tough test for him, but again the three defender set will benefit his wide play. His speed will hopefully allow him to beat a defender and go behind without much else to challenge him.

If he can learn to make the right decision as a winger, he will help the team much more in the long run.

CF: Didier Drogba

The halftime against Birmingham was a revelatory experience for the Chelsea coach. His realization that his job was on the line only led to a further realization that Fernando Torres is not going to be the player he once was.

Drogba being subbed suggested this, and the way the team came out with pressure, and eventually a goal, confirmed it.

Drogba did not have much direct impact in the second half, but his presence is always something of concern for the other team.

The ability for him to create out of nothing has made him one of the game’s best strikers over the past decade. Speed fullbacks can’t keep up with, strength that matches any center-back can’t match and skill that would make a midfielder jealous he is the complete package. At 33 years old, it may not be what it once was, but the respect teams have for him is high as ever.

If Drogba can occupy at least two of the defenders, it will allow the wingers and the rest of the midfield to move up without concern. If only one marks him, then expect a career day from the Ivorian.

In the end, though, his experience is of the utmost value. Like Lampard, he knows what it takes to play at this level, and you can expect him to show up on Tuesday like he has so many times before.