Pick your team against Chelsea: Defense

It's been a tough few games for Benoit Assou-Ekotto, who doesn't look anything like his mid-season and last-season self. He's the club's only natural left back and the best crosser of a ball of any of the Tottenham Hotspur players who can play left back, but if he's not at his best, Spurs have other options. Andre Villas-Boas might pick one of them against Chelsea.

Here are our reasonable back-line options.

BAE - Vertonghen - Dawson - Walker

The obvious pick. The status quo. Ol' reliable. Even those who think there's a better option can't really begrudge AVB for picking this back four.

Vertonghen - Caulker - Dawson - Walker

This gives the team a more reliable defender at left back, more height on attacking and defensive set pieces and a left-footed left back who is competent at crossing. Steven Caulker is obviously talented enough to play against anyone, but he's also our least experienced central defender and has made a few minor mental errors when he's played this season.

Naughton - Vertonghen - Dawson - Walker

Sick of BAE's form but unwilling to change our central defense partnership? Here's the other option. Kyle Naughton isn't left-footed and is a much worse attacking left back option than BAE and Johnny Verts, but he's looked competent -- if not spectacular -- at left back this season.