Scolari's Honeymoon Period Is Well and Truly Over

The solution to Chelsea's recent slip in form may not be clear, but the fact that Luiz Felipe Scolari's honeymoon period is over was made abundantly so by the reaction to yesterday's disappointing 2-1 defeat to Arsenal.

Jeers began to ring out as the referee's whistle ended a game that was Chelsea's second home defeat of the season. Fortress Stamford Bridge is clearly no more.

The big problem of Scolari's reign so far is that the Blues simply don't look as strong at home as they used to.

Defeats to Liverpool and Arsenal have combined with draws against Tottenham, Manchester United and Newcastle to make this fact evident. Three wins in eight home games so far is a poor return by Chelsea's high standards.

Away from home the club looks impressive—unbeaten on the road so far this term—but a slip in standards at home could cost Scolari dear in the title reckoning.

Another problem that keeps cropping up is the Brazilian's lack of a plan B. Sexy football may be enough to blow the likes of Hull City and Sunderland away, but when faced with a dogged and well-drilled team, Chelsea have been found wanting.

What made Jose Mourinho's Chelsea such a great team was that you knew, once they had gone ahead, they would almost definitely see the game out, no matter how badly they were playing.

Within the space of five days, Scolari's Chelsea have failed to do this twice. That sense of defensive security and reassurance just doesn't seem to be there any more.

The football is sexier, but the defence is weaker.

This summer's failure to acquire Robinho is increasingly starting to look like a missed opportunity. Many will feel that the Brazilian could provide the key to unlock those stubborn defences.

Nicolas Anelka, Florent Malouda and Salomon Kalou may look good against lesser teams, but all of them have failed to step up their game when faced with the defences of Manchester United and Liverpool.

Scolari's persistence with Deco is also becoming a worry. The Portuguese schemer started the season in stunning fashion, scoring twice in as many games.

But as the weeks have progressed and the British winter has begun to set in, his form has taken a nose-dive.

The hustle and bustle of the Premier League seems to be getting to him. Whereas in La Liga he had time on the ball, in England he barely has time to think before a defender is snapping away at him in an attempt to win the ball.

Yet Scolari seems to persevere with him; leaving him on and taking Mikel off yesterday for example. Deco characterised the sudden limpness in Chelsea's play, looking slow and lost.

Scolari's wheeling and dealing in the January transfer window will allow us a window into his thinking. Peter Kenyon has intimated recently that Chelsea will have to sell before they can buy.

Will Scolari offload a few players to make room for a blockbuster purchase? Or will he make minor tweaks to a squad that has, overall, served him pretty well in the opening few months of the season?

'Big Phil' may have already decided that the solution to his problems lies in fresh faces, but for the time being Chelsea fans will have to sit tight and be patient.

The temptation to indulge in fatalistic thinking in light of yesterday afternoon's events will be too much for some fans. Others will think that the jeers are dangerously premature, but even the most ardent optimist cant deny that things aren't completely rosy at Stamford Bridge.