Ivanovic actually lost the ball twice in the lead up to two goals. Sure, he was the only one to blame for the goals, but he had an failing hand in the debacle.

Ivanovic actually lost the ball twice in the lead up to two goals. Sure, he was the only one to blame for the goals, but he had an failing hand in the debacle.

^^^ this.

I'm trying my best to find other players to point the finger at for the goals but most of them are starting with Ivanovic this whole season. Hate seeing the guy go through such a poor spell and now even the pundits are slating him from all angles.

Two things stood out for me:

1)  The way Ivanovic blatantly grabbed Van Dyke's jersey during a Southampton corner, basically trying to rip his jersey off, was unbelievable!  I know refs rarely call such holds, but this one was on the order of trying to get a penalty, just grabbing the jersey and pulling Van Dyke as hard as possible.   

 

2)  The way Ivanovic was skinned alive on the goal line by a Southampton player, who waltzed around him and basically walked his way to Begovic.

ivanovic now is beyond poor, so poor that I can't help but to play around with the thought that he did it on purpose.. why he did that? it's open for imagination.. 

Far too many goals have come from his side this season. Surely now is time to change it. Jose must realise that ivanovic is no longer fit for purpose

Far too many goals have come from his side this season. Surely now is time to change it. Jose must realise that ivanovic is no longer fit for purpose

Mourinho may realize it but he surely won't drop Ivanovic.  After all, he did claim Ivanovic is his "best right-back"!

I think it is Mourinho's stubborn streak tht has kept Ivanovic in the team for so long - by dropping him it would be saying the media and the fans are picking the team and not Jose and he can't have that. 

People say bench Ivanovic and play Baba but what do we know about Baba? Maybe he is even worse. Jose can watch him every day at Cobham while we can only guess. Jose gets the benefit of the doubt.

 

Having said that, I would prefer we found a suitable replacement for Ivanovic soon. 

People say bench Ivanovic and play Baba but what do we know about Baba? Maybe he is even worse. Jose can watch him every day at Cobham while we can only guess. Jose gets the benefit of the doubt.

 

Having said that, I would prefer we found a suitable replacement for Ivanovic soon. 

 

We know he was one of the best in the Bundesliga, has 2 full years of first division football, is an attacking threat and his stats there were top of the line. 

We also knows he has a left foot so Azpi can use his right.

If Ivan was still playing in his natural position as a centre back he might be escaping the criticism he is currently receiving. Unfortunately, in the right back positions he is being horribly exposed and being embarrassed game after game. His days as a right back should be over. He could still possible do a job as centre back though.

We know he was one of the best in the Bundesliga, has 2 full years of first division football, is an attacking threat and his stats there were top of the line. 

We also knows he has a left foot so Azpi can use his right.

 

That all sounds really promising and a lot of the reason the club went in for him but there must be a reason Jose hasn't used him, not seeing the problems is unlikely, too nice to drop one of his favourites in Ivan again unlikely, feels it is an issue right through the defense and midfield leaving our right side vulnerable, for me that's very possible, feels that Azpi is better in the LB position than he is in the RB position, again unlikely but possible.

 

There are probably other possible reasons but none of the likely ones include Jose not seeing the problem, Jose wanting us to concede so he gets sacked and a payoff, or not wanting to sort it out for any reason.

People say bench Ivanovic and play Baba but what do we know about Baba? Maybe he is even worse. Jose can watch him every day at Cobham while we can only guess. Jose gets the benefit of the doubt.

 

Having said that, I would prefer we found a suitable replacement for Ivanovic soon. 

 

He won most tackles in the Bundesliga, was one of the best LB's in the Bundesliga. Also how can you say that when he played only two matches, his debut against Maccabi Tel Aviv was good but the game against Walsall wasn't good enough, we can't judge him by two games, we should give a run of few months.  Ivanovic gets all that and only disappointing us, now it's Baba's time to show what he got. 

People say bench Ivanovic and play Baba but what do we know about Baba? Maybe he is even worse. Jose can watch him every day at Cobham while we can only guess. Jose gets the benefit of the doubt.

 

Having said that, I would prefer we found a suitable replacement for Ivanovic soon. 

We know that he cost us £21m and for that price you better damn well play him. 

We know that he cost us £21m and for that price you better damn well play him. 

 

Certainly worked with Torres.

Certainly worked with Torres.

Whether or not it works is irrelevant, when you spend that much you have give them games to justify the fee. Especially when the competition is so poor, unlike Torres who was taking game time away from better players.

I am leaning on Mourinho showing blatant favouritism to Ivanovic than any other reason. No player who has been among the worst performers in the Premiership would last being in the squad, let alone starting all matches bar one.

Ivanovic does not even deserve the bench. For the sake of the club's future, he needs to be given a free transfer when his contract expires next summer. Meanwhile, just replace him with Cesar and Ola and never allow him to wear the shirt again.

his legs are gone, and you need pace if you're a full back. I dunno why jose doesn't try him at cb alongside terry or zouma. it isn't like that cb position is alien to ivan, and he still has more pace than terry and cahill. 

Edited October 5, 201510 yr by enigma

People say bench Ivanovic and play Baba but what do we know about Baba? Maybe he is even worse. Jose can watch him every day at Cobham while we can only guess. Jose gets the benefit of the doubt.

Having said that, I would prefer we found a suitable replacement for Ivanovic soon.

He cant possibly be worse

The case with Baba & Ivanovic can be explained as follows:

 

My wife often goes out to purchase me clothes which quite frankly I dont like and neither do they suit my elegant style, even though they might be a slight improvement on my raggy old ones but I will not wear them out of protest (Even if secretly they might not seem that bad). If I wear them regularly and don't take a stand she will see this as a green light & shop for me more often.

Right...so you are Jose. Your wife is emanolo.

Iva - raggedy old clothes. Baba - clothes bought by wifey.

Only problem is Iva is not raggy old clothes (and he's certainly never been elegant) - iva in current form equates to you being stark naked in the streets, desperately trying to cover your bits, with everyone looking on and laughing. You need to grab those clothes your wife bought and gratefully put them on - unless you want to stay in the nude that is.

"At the same time, every team expect Maccabi Tel-Aviv is a team of giants. And if you don't have a minimum of five tall players good in the air, you are dead in set-pieces."

"When I play Azpilicueta on the right and Baba Rahman on the left and I don't play Ivanovic, I have only three, not ever four [good players in the air]. So we have to think about all the details. And I think about all the details."

.....

Zouma, Cahill, Matic, RLC, Costa, Mikel... That's ample height on set pieces without considering Ivanovic.

He won most tackles in the Bundesliga, was one of the best LB's in the Bundesliga. Also how can you say that when he played only two matches, his debut against Maccabi Tel Aviv was good but the game against Walsall wasn't good enough, we can't judge him by two games, we should give a run of few months.  Ivanovic gets all that and only disappointing us, now it's Baba's time to show what he got. 

 

Fact is, I haven't.

 

But more importantly, we don't know enough about him, certainly not more than Jose. The Bundesliga is a different pair of shoes - Cuadrado looked good in Italy, too. And speaking of what last season was like, we know best how little that means, don't we?

 

I personally give JM the benefit of the doubt. Ivanovic is awful, but if Baba is even worse then play Ivanovic, simple as that.

Fact is, I haven't.

 

But more importantly, we don't know enough about him, certainly not more than Jose. The Bundesliga is a different pair of shoes - Cuadrado looked good in Italy, too. And speaking of what last season was like, we know best how little that means, don't we?

 

I personally give JM the benefit of the doubt. Ivanovic is awful, but if Baba is even worse then play Ivanovic, simple as that.

 

You still trust Jose on this? The same guy that sold Kevin de Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku? You honestly trust his nose for talent? An elite LB in the Bundesliga is supposed to be worse than a totally has been Ivanovic... c'mon...

Edited October 5, 201510 yr by Jon Stakes

You still trust Jose on this? The same guy that sold Kevin de Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku? You honestly trust his nose for talent? An elite LB in the Bundesliga is supposed to be worse than a totally has been Ivanovic... c'mon...

Jose didnt want to sell either. They wanted out