Chelsea vs. Napoli: Blues' Leaky Back Line Leaves Andre Villas-Boas in a Bind

Chicken Little has spent the season bouncing between the powers of the English Premier League, though he appears to have built a nest at Stamford Bridge.

That would seem to be the case, anyway, after Chelsea's 3-1 defeat to Napoli at the Stadio San Paolo in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tilt. The Blues went up 1-0 on a brilliant finish by Juan Mata in the 27th minute.

That is, before the back line cowered at the fancy feet of Edinson Cavani and Ezequiel Lavezzi, who each put through a goal in the final seven minutes of the half and added a third in the second half on yet another outstanding Argentine connection.

There was no shortage of face-palming to be seen on the Chelsea touchline, where Andre Villas-Boas seemed all too resigned to defeat, a sight made even more sorry by the specter of Roman Abramovich dangling an axe over his neck.

He was without John Terry, who was out on account of injury, lost Jose Bosingwa to a knock early in the first half and could do little more than watch as Gary Cahill and David Luiz danced and pranced around in front of Petr Cech to little effect.

The loss leaves Chelsea without a victory in their last five outings and AVB even further from the vote of confidence that he so desires from the club's upper management. What was supposed to be a season in transition (and has proven to be) has since devolved into a disaster for Villas-Boas.

That being said, the manager certainly deserves at least some time to turn around a club whose hodgepodge of a roster is hardly conducive to top-tier success. Shifting from well-respected veterans like Terry, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and Didier Drogba to the young-gun group of Juan Mata, Daniel Sturrdige and Gary Cahill hasn't been easy, nor will it be, nor should it have been expected to be.

All the while, AVB has run out inconsistent and makeshift starting 11's at times, often the sort that leave supporters and observers alike scratching their heads and pining for answers.

Change is difficult, though Abramovich and the Chelsea board appear all too ready to make sweeping ones of their own rather than allowing their prodigal young manager to institute his share.

Still, there will be no defending Villas-Boas if his Blues fail to finish in the top four of the EPL after enduring disasters of varying degrees in the FA Cup and the Champions League. Rightly or wrongly, AVB will be managing for his life against Bolton Wanderers and West Brom.

Without some measure of success going forward, Villas-Boas will almost certainly be packing his bags at Stamford Bridge, making way for yet another ring leader to come in and attempt to restore order to the circus that's broken out on Roman's watch.

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