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Ivanovic - The "Groundhog Day" Thread

Does anyone think that Conte will rotate Ivanovic in at centre half now, if he sticks with a back 4?

 
Argo said:
I didn't like Ivanovic at centre half in his prime, let alone now!!!
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I have no idea were this "Ivan is a centre half" comes from. Its certainly not from his play. I think because hes not built like a typical fullback, some feel that he must be a centre half or that he is a "natural centre half, despite not having any of the characteristics of one. As a fullback he was, in his prime, best in the PL and you could make an argument for top five in the world. As a Centre half he was nowere close to that level

 
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Xfaxtor said:
I have no idea were this "Ivan is a centre half" comes from. Its certainly not from his play. I think because hes not built like a typical fullback, some feel that he must be a centre half or that he is a "natural centre half, despite not having any of the characteristics of one. As a fullback he was, in his prime, best in the PL and you could make an argument for top five in the world. As a Centre half he was nowere close to that level
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There weren't many better in his prime that is for sure.

It use to drive me insane when Carlo and AVB played him at CB and Bosingwa RB, Carlo you can excuse due to lack of depth at the time due to Alex being injured but Andre did it by choice.

Rather ironic really because I spent years basically campaigning for Ivan to have right back on lockdown and it finally happened when he started declining.

 
I thought Ivan started as a CB even before he came to us.  And that he would also play as a DM (albeit in a completely different league).

Anyway, to answer the question, I think Ivan will be rotated in as needed.  I'd like to think Azpi is going back to RB and Alonso in at LB. 

 
I seem to recall the team had a very good defensive record (streak?) Where Ivan was at CB. 

Personally, I never liked him at right back. He was always tucking in too much and letting crosses come in even in his prime/close to his prime in that position, not to mention the amount of times he would be allowed possession only for things to peter out through him.

(There's a striker slot available. Ivan as the third striker - he certainly knows how to find the net. :] )

 
Kante Conte said:
I seem to recall the team had a very good defensive record (streak?) Where Ivan was at CB. 

Personally, I never liked him at right back. He was always tucking in too much and letting crosses come in even in his prime/close to his prime in that position, not to mention the amount of times he would be allowed possession only for things to peter out through him.

(There's a striker slot available. Ivan as the third striker - he certainly knows how to find the net. :] )
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On the contrary I thought we were conceding too many and it also brought the extra added horror of Bosingwa being selected. Ivan-Alex/Luiz-JT-Cole back four was our main source of clean sheets circa 2009-2012. The other back four that was played a lot back then was Bossy-Ivan-JT-Cole, which was a total shambles, I can't recall one good defensive display with that back four, my heart use to sink when those four came out in the teamsheet.

Bare in mind I'm talking solely his prime here, and 2012/2013 in my opinion represented the start of Ivan's decline, I remember him looking awful vs Wigan and Reading despite netting in both an I haven't had the same confidence in him since, RB or CB.

Apart from Lavezzi, I can't recall one left winger who gave him a torrid time in his prime, Bale, Silva, Nani, Arshavin (the latter two were class back then) all faced Ivan on a fair few occasions back then and never got a sniff.

 
Ernie_blue said:
Ivan should not be in the first team at RB or CB. Squad player in his last season yes. First team no way specially when Zouma returns.
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From the evening standard article relating to possible new conte formation " The arrival of left-back Marcos would also allow azpillicueta to revert to his original right back role and ivanovic to shift further infield giving conte more options at the back"

If true who on gods green would he replace?

 
kennypaul said:
From the evening standard article relating to possible new conte formation " The arrival of left-back Marcos would also allow azpillicueta to revert to his original right back role and ivanovic to shift further infield giving conte more options at the back"

If true who on gods green would he replace?
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You mean at CB? There's no way Ivan should be in the first team. Squad player at most and we should be looking to the future now.

 
Kante Conte said:
I seem to recall the team had a very good defensive record (streak?) Where Ivan was at CB. 

Personally, I never liked him at right back. He was always tucking in too much and letting crosses come in even in his prime/close to his prime in that position, not to mention the amount of times he would be allowed possession only for things to peter out through him.

(There's a striker slot available. Ivan as the third striker - he certainly knows how to find the net. :] )
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Your right for some reason Ivan has always let crosses come in to easy and his obsessed with putting his hands behind his back in or outside the box. In his prime he was a good defender, his just always been useless and very frustrating when crossing the ball.

 
Kante Conte said:
I seem to recall the team had a very good defensive record (streak?) Where Ivan was at CB. 

Personally, I never liked him at right back. He was always tucking in too much and letting crosses come in even in his prime/close to his prime in that position, not to mention the amount of times he would be allowed possession only for things to peter out through him.

(There's a striker slot available. Ivan as the third striker - he certainly knows how to find the net. :] )
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He single-handedly cost us the League Cup the year Swansea won it. Was horrific at CB.

It just got glossed over because of the whole ballboy incident.

 
startedwithglenn said:
He single-handedly cost us the League Cup the year Swansea won it. Was horrific at CB.

It just got glossed over because of the whole ballboy incident.
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I don't think it was glossed over, tbh. 

That's been with him since that day. I've seen people are very quick to mention that Swansea game when it comes to Iva playing CB. 

He got a lot of long-lasting criticism for that one.

 
It also got glossed over because people (very much including myself) were so willing to blame Benitez for everything during that season and largely ignore any other factors.

Also I was waiting for the 'hands behind his back' line to come up.

 
I still reckon he'll be a regular starter this season, but I agree it's getting to the stage where we need to be giving minutes to potential successors.

I think a lot of people underestimate just how useful he is in the side. Huge physical presence for a full back, rarely loses out in the air (which allows us to play a more back 4 when the game requires it) and links & supports our attacks well down the right hand side (although I'd struggle to argue his crossing is better than a hit-or-miss at best). 

Admittedly he had a poor start to last season against the pacier/direct runners, and a half-decent alternative might have seen his playing time drop, but he's been generally a solid performer through 2016.

I'm the same as most - I hope Alonso and even Aina see a good amount of gametime and perform well, but I wouldn't be surprised (nor that upset, given recent form) if Azpi and Ivan continue to be first choice.

 
Truly was groundhog day today, third season in a row where we've splashed the cash for an expensive full back to replace him, only for him to inexplicably continue to play virtually every minute.

 
absolute chelsea legend but i can't wait for Ivanovic - the "retirement day" thread

 
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