Branislav Ivanovic - Your Views?

[dantheman23]

was watching the city game in the pub today and me and my mates all chelsea fans had a debate on ivanovic. They all like him think hes quality. Iv never seen what people like about him though he an extremely limited right back his crossing is shockin and cant beat a player. As a centre back hes better but id still have him behind cahill,JT and luiz.Hes obsessed with playing long balls that almost never work out.To be fair however he is a big threat for set pieces and has scored some fine goals.

I was just interested to hear other peoples views on him?Am I just a negative twat or have I basis for the argument?

[sleepy_gonzalez]

Not sure I agree that he's extremely limited at right back. He has limitations, but don't forget he had an amazing season in that position. I do think he looks less assured as a centre back though, and as you say he is a goal threat too. At the moment our back 4 is in a bit of a transitional phase, as Terry will more than likely to play less. I think Ivanovic is more likely than the other candidates to bring a bit of leadership at the back, but at the moment he doesn't seem as commanding as I had hoped. 

Basically he's a great player, but needs to grow into the role at CB.

[Englishman]

He's been having a poor season by his standards, IMO. Some very sloppy performances.

[mactheknife]

He along with many others, Brana needs to review his performances of late.

[foxy1980]

Ivanovic doesnt cut it for me. Hes crossing and forward play isnt good enough as a right back and hes to short at centre back. Cahill and JT is our best partnership. Luiz and Ivanovic are to reckless to have in front of Cech if we want to contend again

[CFCCAN]

We need a complete clear out - and he is one of those I would clear out, along with Mikel, Paulo, Cahill, Turnbull, Hilarious, Yossi and Torres plus one or two others.   Ivan has been a clown this year and is always out of position, can't possibly be an RB, he can't cross the ball worth sh*te and he is hardly speedy merchant for a full back, gives away stupid free kicks and can't pass worth sh*te....apart from that he's not too bad. 

[blue man]

I agree he has had a dodgy season

[Erik]

I think what Brana offers offensively is below par. He lacks pace, vision and probably his worst attribute ; his crossing. Many a time we will be on the break only for Brana to hit a underpowered wayward cross. Defensively he is pretty sound, but in the modern game your full backs need balance and he unfortunately lacks this.

[highwayman64]

Have to agree with this view, not a good season but for me happier when he is CB if at all

[Jonty]

Has anyone really had a consistently good season apart from Mata and Cech?

 

I find it hard to single people out except people that have been obviously useless for ages like Torres or Mikel, because we've seen that under the right manager these players are world beaters.

[Remodez]

Has anyone really had a consistently good season apart from Mata and Cech?

 

I find it hard to single people out except people that have been obviously useless for ages like Torres or Mikel, because we've seen that under the right manager these players are world beaters.

Oscar, Apzi, Cole and maybe Lampard?

 

But yeah, this is a bit of an overreaction (Selling him that is, no denying he's been poor all season at RB) given the circumstances.

[Jonty]

Oscar, Apzi, Cole and maybe Lampard?

 

But yeah, this is a bit of an overreaction (Selling him that is, no denying he's been poor all season at RB) given the circumstances.

 

Oscar hasn't been great in the league for much of the season, although to be fair it normally takes Brazilians time to adjust to the EPL and he's very young, but I wouldn't say he's been consistently good, definitely shown flashes of his brilliance though and I think he'll be an amazing player.

 

Azpi fair point, he had a bit of a nightmare in the CWC final but for the most part he's been very good.

 

Ash hasn't really done anything wrong this season and has made some great tackles and blocks, but as highlighted yesterday when Iva was the only fullback trying to do things up the field, his offensive contribution has been lacking this season, and for fullback's these days that's nearly as important as the defensive aspect (which he is still the best in the league by a country mile at).

 

Lamps was pretty bad before he got that injury in the first few months of the season, he's been great since he's come back but yeah.

[jack_super_class]

I like Ivanovic but not as a RB now that we have Dave, he does a good job there and is solid but i prefer a natural RB.He has had a poor season though for me.His passing is shocking especially in the 2nd leg away to Swansea he gave the ball away every time he got it.

[niall_hearty2000]

To be honest if we want to return to former glories then Ivanovich really isn't quite good enough for me.. He always seems laboured especially at right back. Luiz is good on the ball but for me is also a liability in the centre of defence.

[sals]

I love Ivan and think it may blind stop me from rating him objectively. He has made a few pretty bad mistakes this year and had some shocking games but I think he is  a class player. So good for a squad to have a player capable of playing RB and CB at such a level as him. He is quite underrated offensively as well. Scores a few goals and he is such a powerful presence. Still has a big future at the club in my opinion

[That Boy Brandinho]

He's been awful this year, truly shocking, but I don't understand how anyone can suddenly forget just how great he was at RB last year. His crossing is shocking? Pish. He's a better crosser than any other option we have at RB, save perhaps sticking Ramires there. I've never liked him in the middle and now with his decline in form, I'm tempted to say we'd be better off selling him, but I'm not going to retroactively pretend that he's always performed like this. 

[jack_super_class]

Lets remember his fine cross for Lampard goal against Blackburn away last season,his crossing isnt too bad.

[bluegraham]

He's been awful this year, truly shocking, but I don't understand how anyone can suddenly forget just how great he was at RB last year. His crossing is shocking? Pish. He's a better crosser than any other option we have at RB, save perhaps sticking Ramires there. I've never liked him in the middle and now with his decline in form, I'm tempted to say we'd be better off selling him, but I'm not going to retroactively pretend that he's always performed like this.

This year or this season? At the start under rdm he was solid and offering plenty in attack has been poor since fsw came in. Remember he's not a right back he's a centre back. He has been out of sorts since fsw took charge.

[ForeverCarefree]

He's had a bad season but we shouldn't hold it against him too much, it's been a turbulent year and it could be affecting some players form more than others.

 

I like Ivanovic a lot, although I prefer to call him Brian I-Have-An-Itch.

[That Boy Brandinho]

This year or this season? At the start under rdm he was solid and offering plenty in attack has been poor since fsw came in. Remember he's not a right back he's a centre back. He has been out of sorts since fsw took charge.

 

I don't agree with this and I'm usually all for blaming the FSW whenever I have the opportunity. IMO, he was playing quite poorly under Robbie too. Moses wrecked him against Wigan, ditto for McAnuff against Reading, he was consistently out of position and making bad tackles in nearly every match, but a lot of that was masked by the overall play of the team and the fact that he was consistently contributing goals. He's just had a really bad year, for whatever reason, although I do agree that he's a fullback, not a center back. He's just not suited to play in the middle, but part of me worries that he simply isn't suited to defend at this level anymore regardless of position. Next year will be telling.

Edited March 1, 2013 by That Boy Brandinho

[bluegraham]

I don't agree with this and I'm usually all for blaming the FSW whenever I havei the opportunity. IMO, he was playing quite poorly under Robbie too. Moses wrecked him against Wigan, ditto for McAnuff against Reading, he was consistently out of position and making bad tackles in nearly every match, but a lot of that was masked by the overall play of the team and the fact that he was consistently contributing goals. He's just had a really bad year, for whatever reason, although I do agree that he's a fullback, not a center back. He's just not suited to play in the middle, but part of me worries that he simply isn't suited to defend at this level anymore regardless of position. Next year will be telling.

He's a center back not a right back. I thought he done well at the start of the season. Ain't easy playing right back for Ivan hes to big I reckon full backs are usual quite slender I should know I was a full back saying that I'm not that slender anymore bit if a beer belly ha ha

[SydneyChelsea]

I actually think he was worse under di Matteo. He seems a little lost this season, a little unfit maybe, and is often caught daydreaming upfield after bursting forward or on set-pieces. The biggest indicator for me is his poor tackling, he used to be one of the best in the team at blocks and tackles but he seems to be either very rash or very reticent.

 

I think he'll come back to form sooner or later but he's gone from one of the best around last season to pretty average this season.

[That Boy Brandinho]

He's a center back not a right back. I thought he done well at the start of the season. Ain't easy playing right back for Ivan hes to big I reckon full backs are usual quite slender I should know I was a full back saying that I'm not that slender anymore bit if a beer belly ha ha

 

Why is he a center back? Is it because that's the position he played in Russia (it wasn't) or for the Serbian national team (it isn't) or the position at which he's had the most success for Chelsea (it hasn't been)? No, he's a fullback, regardless of whether he looks the part physically. He didn't have any trouble getting up and down the pitch last year when he was the best fullback in the Premiership. Conversely, every time he's played in the middle, he's looked completely out of his depth. 

[bluegraham]

What position was he signed for?ok then let's put Ashley Cole in center back see how he gets on. Have you ever played football as a matter of interest?

[bluegraham]

Name another full back as big as Ivan