CHELSEA LEAKING GOALS - HERE'S THE SOLUTION!

Chelsea have conceded an alarming amount of goals since the players came back for pre-season and now the start of the Premier League. Is anyone else concerned?

I wrote my match report on Sunday after the game and stated that I was concerned about the way we were playing and the fact that it seemed to me anyway, that the players seem to be stuck in first gear and never really looked like getting going. If Chelsea are to live up to the to the bookmakers tip as title favourites tip as title favourites, they need to snap out of whatever they are stuck in and quickly!

The real problem at the moment however is our defence. Up to this point, we haven't won a single game since the players returned from their summer breaks and we have conceded ELEVEN goals!

Some people will be of the opinion that the season has only just started and that it's too early to judge. I guess that's a far point but think about it, this Sunday we face Manchester City away and in a couple of weeks time Arsenal at home!

Something needs to be done and I am sure Jose Mourinho and his technical staff are more than aware of the issues we have at the back currently. You can guarantee that it will be worked on this week ahead of the trip to Manchester and I would prepare yourselves for Chelsea to park the bus and look to hit our title rivals on the counter attack. 

Gary Cahill spoke after the Swansea game and gave an insight in what could lie ahead for Chelsea in the next month or so. He said: 

"We've got two tough away games now.

We always have difficult games away at West Brom and obviously Man City, everyone knows how hard it is there.

We've got two massive games coming up. It is only the first game but it is not an ideal start. But we keep working hard - dig in, work hard in what is going to be a very tough season.

We knew that from the start, so we need to keep going, keep digging in and make sure we get results."

That's what it's all about these days, getting the result at the end of the day and I am sure like me, 100% of the Chelsea fans will be happy to come back from City on Sunday night with three points!

However, I still believe that depending on the team Jose decides to start with on Sunday, we could leave ourselves exposed. Think back to two seasons ago when we travelled to City away and we lined up with Nemanja Matic alongside David Luiz in the holding midfield roles. Ramires was deployed on the right with Eden Hazard on the left and it worked a treat. 

It worked because we gave our back four additional protection with a second defensive minded player in the holding role alongside Matic. Both of them held positions and made sure there was no space between the two centre backs and themselves. I expect Chelsea to adopt the same strategy on Sunday. 

John Obi Mikel is the player I predict will come into the side at the expense of Oscar on Sunday. Cesc Fabregas will move into the number ten role to support Diego Costa with Hazard and Willian playing either side. 

The problem is that Nemanja Matic cannot do everything himself in that position. Just look at the ground he covers in games, he is literally everywhere. On Saturday late on, as he pushed forward with the ball trying to create an opening for Chelsea, he looked shattered!

Just look at Manchester City's goals last night at West Brom, especially two scored by Yaya Toure and you will see that it's vitally important that the space just in front of our back four is shut down. 

We could play Ramires in that role but I believe Jose will feel it's too risky as Ramires can get caught out and more often than not will collect Yellow cards like their Panini Football Stickers!

Jose Mourinho is the master or preparing his side for the big games. He knows what it takes to win games that are so important to the title race so as Cahill says, be prepared for his Chelsea team to dig in at City. 

Don't get me wrong here. Chelsea WILL remain a dangerous attacking threat to Manchester City and our opponents will be well aware of that. With our attacking four players, we have the ability to create and craft something out of nothing and that's what we will be looking to do on Sunday. 

I just hope that we can display a solid defensive performance and Branislav Ivanovic has received a real kick up his arse after Swansea. We cannot afford to carry anyone on the day especially after he was roasted down his side by Jefferson Montero on Saturday!

What do you people think about our defensive frailties so far? Do you agree that we need another defensive midfielder next to Matic or do you see the problems elsewhere?