Chelsea FC: What Manager André Villas-Boas Must Do to Beat Blackburn Rovers

At least Blackburn Rovers manager Steve Kean doesn't have a site dedicated to monitoring when he'll be sacked. 

That feat belongs to Chelsea manager André Villas-Boas.

Already 10 points adrift of Manchester City, winning is the only option for Villas-Boas.

So here are eight things the Portuguese manager must do to ensure victory. 

Bench José Bosingwa and Play Branislav Ivanović at Right Back

During André Villas-Boas' time under José Mourinho, Villas-Boas was appointed the Director of Opposition Intelligence. 

A fancier name for a scout, derived by the Special One presumably to give Villas-Boas a sense of importance. 

Surely Villas-Boas has identified Blackburn Rovers most dangerous player. 

If he hasn't, I'll tell him right now: the 5'8" tall Canadian winger Junior Hoilett. 

Where did he play against Norwich City, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, Arsenal, Fulham and Aston Villa? 

On the left wing, therefore, who is he likely to come up against? 

A clueless José Bosingwa, who has seemingly forgotten how to defend. 

It's only common sense to bench Bosingwa and to play Branislav Ivanović at right back. 

Start with the Midfield Triumvirate of Frank Lampard, Ramires and Raul Meireles

When André Villas-Boas was the manager of Porto, he used a 4-3-3 in 93 percent of his games. 

Whenever Villas-Boas plays a 4-3-3 with John Obi Mikel in it, he is not sticking to his philosophy. 

A 4-3-3 is meant to be a flexible formation, theoretically it turns into a 4-1-4-1 in defence and shifts into a 4-3-3 on the counter.

But with Mikel, it will be a 4-1-2-3 because Mikel sits too deep. 

Against Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea must take the initiative in taking the attack to Rovers before the Riversiders get on a roll like scoring four against Arsenal and Newcastle United. 

Ditch the High Line

The idea of playing such a high line of defence is to not give the opposition space to breathe, so you can win possession and counter with immediate potency. 

If Chelsea manager André Villas-Boas plays John Obi Mikel, then ditch the high line of defence because Mikel doesn't adequately protect the back four enough. 

In 24 seconds against Barcelona, Alexandre showed how hit and miss a high line can be.

Villas-Boas is not playing to John Terry's strengths but then again one can also make the argument that as a professional, Terry must adapt and survive. 

Just like sweepers morphing into ball playing centre backs who had to learn how to play the off-side trap, Terry should do the same when playing in such a high line. 

But is it that simple? 

You're asking John Terry to lead a high line of defence, even though he knows it's not going to work out well, is probably not going to result in good leadership. 

The concerning part is that is has led to schoolboy-like errors. 

Alex giving the ball away against West Bromwich Albion. The nonexistent communication between Branislav Ivanović and Hilário against Norwich City. Manchester United's Chris Smalling ghosting in to score.

Seek out Blackburn Rovers' Weak Link

Clearly Blackburn Rovers manager Steve Kean doesn't have the cojones to tell former Real Madrid stalwart Míchel Salgado that he isn't good enough.

It's comprehensible how someone like Salgado, who has been so out of depth, has managed to play seven Premier League games. 

It's a blessing in disguise for Kean that Salgado probably won't be match fit against Chelsea, therefore Jason Lowe, a natural centre midfielder, will play at right back. 

I saw Lowe against QPR in midfield and he looked good but he didn't look secure enough at right back against Norwich City.

Lowe was thankful that the in-form Anthony Pilkington didn't have a high game. 

Last week, Chelsea did not give Ashley Cole enough possession against an inept Johan Djourou.

It must be different this week against Lowe. 

Watch out for Yakubu

When I was watching Yakubu for Leicester City, I thought he looked very sharp, and he scored 11 goals and provided five assists in 20 games. 

Though I took his form with a grain of salt considering it wasn't done in the Premier League. 

As of late, Chelsea's defending have been Arsenal-like and the centre back pairing need to keep their eye out for Yakubu making a simple run in between the two centre backs and poaching a goal. 

Look at Arsenal's defensive shape, four players run straight to Junior Hoilett, and Laurent Koscielny is ball watching.

The only two players in sync and on the 8-ball are Hoilett and Yakubu. 

Quit Making Stupid Substitutions

Maybe Juan Mata's fitness levels aren't Scott Parker-like but why is he always a candidate to be substituted? Five times the Spanish genius has been subbed off. 

He can change a game with one flash of brilliance but Chelsea manager André Villas-Boas is not giving him any leeway. 

Daniel Sturridge is another regular substitution option. Against Sunderland, he was raring to go, looked very sharp, scored a cheeky backheel goal and he gets subbed off in 62nd minute for Florent Malouda, who didn't do much at all. 

Last week, Sturridge was torching André Santos, and Villas-Boas gives the Brazilian a break by taking Sturridge off. 

Unsurprisingly, the Brazilian's efforts in the second half improved after having had one of the most awful halves I've seen a footballer endure. 

Need I not remind you about Villas-Boas subbing on Salomon Kalou against Valencia. Again, he took off Frank Lampard, who was having a very good game. 

Romelu Lukaku, the Super Sub

Romelu Lukaku is the future of Chelsea, yet manager André Villas-Boas gives deadwood like Nicolas Anelka and Salomon Kalou games. 

Start actively integrating Lukaku into the first team week in, week out, before he decides to leave and become a world class player elsewhere. 

Be Proactive Rather Than Reactive

If things are not going according to plan, Chelsea manager André Villas-Boas must be proactive rather than reactive.

If Fernando Torres is having no influence whatsoever, haul him off and sub on Romelu Lukaku. 

If David Luiz has given away a penalty and looking out of his depth, take him off and sub on Alex. 

Do not let the situation escalate to a point where you do make the right substitution but it is too late. 

Oh, and if you're losing, do not sub on a defensive-minded player, like subbing on John Obi Mikel with Manchester United leading  3-1. 

Be like José Mourinho and throw caution to the wind:

"

"I finished the game with two defenders. I risk in a crazy way. But when I did that, the first thing that happens in the game was [Siena] hit the post. If that goes in, it's 3-1 and I kill the game for my team. After that, we scored for 2-2. There are still two or three minutes to go, and then Walter Samuel scored the winning goal. So you also need a little bit of the luck!"

"

Please also read the Best Attacking Combinations in Football History.