No I dont think Branna should be moved into the DM role. There is no need for it.

Love Ivanovi?,hard working defender always gives his 110% future Captain material.

 

He's 31 in Feb, there isn't time for him to be our next captain.

No I dont think Branna should be moved into the DM role. There is no need for it.

 

We also don't know if he will be any good at it. No point changing him at his age. It's either RB or CB from now on with Ivanovic.

We also don't know if he will be any good at it. No point changing him at his age. It's either RB or CB from now on with Ivanovic.

Pros and cons as far as I can see, pros are he can play further up field and have good quality cover, he and Matic are on the same wavelength, the speed required to be a top class wing back is no longer an issue and he would do a better job in DM than Rami or Mikel, or so I believe. It would also give A to Z his position at RB back and allow Luiz in at LB

Cons are he is unproven at DM.

Impossible, really. f**king love Branna. No-nonsense player who commands. He is the exact opponent of typical Arsenal player. Wenger needs to buy this kind of talent instead of those Bambi-type african-french boys.

 

No one thinks this is a little uncalled for?

A 100% player made out of granite,Ivan is Chelsea through and through,love him too bits.

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Edited October 25, 201411 yr by BelgradeCFC

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Ha ha Ivanovic is nuts.

No posts in how long for possibly the best right-back in Europe on current form?

No posts in how long for possibly the best right-back in Europe on current form?

 

It's not fun or fashionable to talk about the defensive side of football anymore. 

 

Fabio Cannavaro was the last defender to win the Ballon D'or and I can't see one winning it again for a very long time. 

 

Look at MOTM votes, it's nearly always attackers who get the nod regardless of how good or consistent the defenders are. 

 

JT, Ivan and Dave have all had excellent seasons so far, I would argue the three best in their respective positions in the Premier League. 

Some people say he's the best defensive right back in the world..

Some people says he bombs forward too much and let our backline exposed..... and he need Willian to cover for him.

 

 

 

 

 

I dun't get it.

But all we know is, he's called The Stig.

I am shocked no one is giving Brana praise w/ that excellent backheel during the build up for the 2nd goal this weekend. I was shocked when I saw him pull it off TBH. Take a look at this again

What I will never understand is people's openness to dropping him at any given opportunity. Massively underrated by our own fans, to the point of being disrespected in my opinion. 

 

His problem is he doesn't look like a right-back should. Neville had the same for part of his career. Give him a spray tan and the sh*ts, turn his name to Ivanovinho and he'd be our most beloved player.

 

One of the most important players in our team because he gives us almost all of our wide play down the right.

I am shocked no one is giving Brana praise w/ that excellent backheel during the build up for the 2nd goal this weekend. I was shocked when I saw him pull it off TBH. Take a look at this again

Have to say i never noticed the back heel until now! I was drawn to Hazards great little turn

Not really a frequent poster but watched the Roma V City highlights (again) and after Zabaleta's goal, Neville went on to say that he was the best right back of the past couple years probably longer. Also that Ivanovic was closing in on him in the past 18 months or so. I disagree I really do feel Ivanovic is equal to if not better than Zabaleta. Was intrigued as to what others views are?

Not really a frequent poster but watched the Roma V City highlights (again) and after Zabaleta's goal, Neville went on to say that he was the best right back of the past couple years probably longer. Also that Ivanovic was closing in on him in the past 18 months or so. I disagree I really do feel Ivanovic is equal to if not better than Zabaleta. Was intrigued as to what others views are?

 

Zaba has been playing in a better team so he probably got more attention. Since Jose came back Ivanovic has been getting a bigger and bigger role in the side and he's probably playing as well, if not better than Zaba but I have no doubt that City fans would disagree and they'd have a great shout.

 

The difference is that I think Zaba is far more appreciated by City fans despite them being very similar players. Half the time you get people wanting Ivanovic dropped for Azpi in pre-match threads.

Zaba has been playing in a better team so he probably got more attention. Since Jose came back Ivanovic has been getting a bigger and bigger role in the side and he's probably playing as well, if not better than Zaba but I have no doubt that City fans would disagree and they'd have a great shout.

The difference is that I think Zaba is far more appreciated by City fans despite them being very similar players. Half the time you get people wanting Ivanovic dropped for Azpi in pre-match threads.

I agree in terms of consistency Ivanovic has been one of the most consistent players for a while now not just for Chelsea but in the league. If someone was to ask how many 'bad' games he has had I would only be able to think of Swansea in the capital one cup which speaks volumes of the performances Ivanovic puts in.

I myself sometimes question why Azpi isn't RB and Luis LB but the fact is the back 4 or 5 including Courtois are very solid and don't concede many. So would Azpi at RB change the overall sturdiness of the defence in comparison to Ivanovic at RB.

I think Dave and Luis offer a better balance and more natural width as fullbacks.

 

But I'd have Ivanovic in the middle alongside JT because I think he is the better player. 

But then there's no Cahill who I feel is more than worthy of a first XI place. I'm all for reverting to a back 5 with Luis and Azpi as Wing backs and Iva,Jt and Cahill as Cb's. Maybe thats a bit far but reckon it would be worth an experiment.

Well as this is all about opinion I just as well have mine....I still don't like him playing at RB and I think that Dave and Luis offer the best RWB / LWB combination as stated by Forevercarefree.  Ivan from my point of view still goes forward too deeply and ends up wandering around in the opponents box when he should be cognizant of the opponents breaking out and help defend, instead far too often he saunters back leaving the right flank exposed or runs back and commits stupid fouls.   Also he plays inside too much for my liking as if he was a centre back and often leaves loads of space for the oppositions left back or winger to get the crosses in; speaking of crosses I don't think he has hit one decent cross to worry the opposition despite having the time and room on many occasions to do so..Dave can do a far better job IMO. I also don't like his unsportsmanlike conduct at times, maybe because I am old fashioned but at times his 'acting' is annoying.  While he can be a wonderful player and gives it his all IMO he should be alongside Terry with Cahill sat on the bench; Cahill's form of late is very worrying and Jose should sit him out for a few games then rotate our four main centre backs, Cahill, Terry, Zouma and Ivan.    

His problem is he doesn't look like a right-back should. Neville had the same for part of his career. Give him a spray tan and the sh*ts, turn his name to Ivanovinho and he'd be our most beloved player.

 

 

Why is this idea so widely propagated on here? Yes certainly, Ivanovic - and others in his position - often don't get their fair dues, largely due to the nature of their role. But you're not seriously suggesting it's because he's not from a Latin background... which supposedly makes a player more appealing to the fan base...? I think we can give our fans a little bit more credit there.

 

Not directing it to you specifically but quite a few on here often say 'oh, but if his name was xxx-inho he'd be the most revered player in the world'. Just gets a bit tiring to be honest.

But then there's no Cahill who I feel is more than worthy of a first XI place. I'm all for reverting to a back 5 with Luis and Azpi as Wing backs and Iva,Jt and Cahill as Cb's. Maybe thats a bit far but reckon it would be worth an experiment.

 

Yep, that's the conundrum as, as mentioned, the Azpilicueta and Luis combination gives the most width but leaves out Ivan who's had a fantastic season. And as you say Cahill and Terry have already solidified their partnership in the middle. Think it's a matter of mixing and matching depending on our opponent, but regardless it's not a bad problem to have by any means.

Why is this idea so widely propagated on here? Yes certainly, Ivanovic - and others in his position - often don't get their fair dues, largely due to the nature of their role. But you're not seriously suggesting it's because he's not from a Latin background... which supposedly makes a player more appealing to the fan base...? I think we can give our fans a little bit more credit there.

 

Not directing it to you specifically but quite a few on here often say 'oh, but if his name was xxx-inho he'd be the most revered player in the world'. Just gets a bit tiring to be honest.

 

It was more of a reference to him resembling someone like Cafu or Dani Alves rather than being a generic Latin player.

 

Yep, that's the conundrum as, as mentioned, the Azpilicueta and Luis combination gives the most width but leaves out Ivan who's had a fantastic season. And as you say Cahill and Terry have already solidified their partnership in the middle. Think it's a matter of mixing and matching depending on our opponent, but regardless it's not a bad problem to have by any means.

 

 

How does Azpi give us more width than Ivanovic? Does he stand one inch closer to the touchline than Iva?

How does Azpi give us more width than Ivanovic? Does he stand one inch closer to the touchline than Iva?

 

Generally I think it's because if Azpi is playing right back it means Luis is playing at left back which mean we have natural width in both fullback positions whereas Azpi when he gets forward often cuts in on his favoured right foot.