🇷🇸 Branislav Ivanovic

[The only place to be 11,313]

Indeed, this is a season i would like to forget about Ivanovic, he's starting to become a liability if anything.

Though in his defence, he's won us more games than lost, scored the winner against Napoli, still a legend in my eyes. Happy B-Day Ivan!

A few months ago I'd disagree, but he's really not been playing that well for a while now especially on the ball. He's still a valuable player but I think next season he'll take a backseat role with Azpi locking down the RB position and Luiz the main guy in defence (providing we get a new midfielder) with Terry, Cahill and Ivanvic fighting for that other spot.

He'll be a great squad player though and the type of depth we need.

[Zone 290]

Though in his defence, he's won us more games than lost, scored the winner against Napoli, still a legend in my eyes. Happy B-Day Ivan!

No doubt about that. Absolute legend but he needs to get it together. Throughout our every shit moment he always used to be one of the most consistent, reliable leaders.

Nowadays every shit striker is making runs behind and easily getting passed him.

[Kojo 4,676]

No doubt about that. Absolute legend but he needs to get it together. Throughout our every shit moment he always used to be one of the most consistent, reliable leaders.

Nowadays every shit striker is making runs behind and easily getting passed him.

Exactly, I'm very surprised, i remember back in 2010-2011 season, he was our best player. Luis Nani was ripping up the league, he was getting compared to be the next Ronaldo, with the most assists ever in a premier league season, and he played us and Ivanovic bullied him all game, and after that Nani was never the same, even now he hasn't touched that form since coming up against Ivan. Obviously it's not because of him but Ivanovic made him look like shit that night, it was our 2-1 victory over United.

Now he puts in more bad performances than good ones, even his defending is shambles, he never gets the game going forward as he's a poor passer of the ball, but that doesn't surprise me. What's surprising me is his defending lately, as you said more than enough players have flew past him.

[Mufassir08 2,400]

A few months ago I'd disagree, but he's really not been playing that well for a while now especially on the ball. He's still a valuable player but I think next season he'll take a backseat role with Azpi locking down the RB position and Luiz the main guy in defence (providing we get a new midfielder) with Terry, Cahill and Ivanvic fighting for that other spot.

He'll be a great squad player though and the type of depth we need.

I agree he'll be great squad player.

[Blue Armour 4,439]

Didn't do enough to block crosses today...If he had blocked Milner's cross, the move which led to Yaya's goal wouldn't have happened. This season as RB, he's been giving his attacker far too much room to swing in crosses. Based on these performances alone, he deserves to lose his RB spot to Azpilicueta.

[Mufassir08 2,400]

I really dont know what has happened to brana this year except for a few solid performances at CB he has been extremely poor.

[Jase 43,479]

Said this many many times before, playing him at RB would likely to end in disaster. He always backs off opponents, allow crosses to come in and hardly ever tackle the opposition in his position. Play the physical game against him, he's fine. However, when you start to play the passing game around him, he gets found out. Can't deal with it and that in the end always invite pressure on the backline and forces us to drop back so deep!

[Peace. 4,352]

What did happen to him, seriously ? His level has gone south, really. He turns out to be a liability within the defence. As BluesMaster points out, he is way too much passive in his marking. He gives too much space, time and freedom to his opponents. For instance, what the fuck was he doing on the second goal today ?! He was sleeping, thus leaving a very good opportunity for Tevez to shoot — and with a striker of its caliber, such a lax is punished. Too many times he is found out of position ; too many times he stays standing still while gazing at the foe passing him by ; too many times he recklessly pass the ball.

And I'd like to point another thing out. At the very end of the first half, we had a throw-in near the box. What did you do ? Threw the ball directly in the box. That was a stupid thing to do. If my memories serve me right, there was only Ba there. And even if there were more players, that would be a stupid thing to do. Indeed, bar Ba, all of our players are more or less small and against Man.City's players they do not represents an aerial threat. I know that in itself it does not mean a lot — though, it is just another example which suggests us that his mind is not totally focussed on the game.

And what's with his divings ? Once again today he did it (when he was "touched" by Zabaletta, I think, on the sideline).

I've said it before and I'll say it again, his attitude has become too much casual. Ivanovic, you need to quit that behaviour, we're not thugs in the street.

[Blue Armour 4,439]

What did happen to him, seriously ? His level has gone south, really. He turns out to be a liability within the defence. As BluesMaster points out, he is way too much passive in his marking. He gives too much space, time and freedom to his opponents. For instance, what the fuck was he doing on the second goal today ?! He was sleeping, thus leaving a very good opportunity for Tevez to shoot — and with a striker of its caliber, such a lax is punished. Too many times he is found out of position ; too many times he stays standing still while gazing at the foe passing him by ; too many times he recklessly pass the ball.

And I'd like to point another thing out. At the very end of the first half, we had a throw-in near the box. What did you do ? Threw the ball directly in the box. That was a stupid thing to do. If my memories serve me right, there was only Ba there. And even if there were more players, that would be a stupid thing to do. Indeed, bar Ba, all of our players are more or less small and against Man.City's players they do not represents an aerial threat. I know that in itself it does not mean a lot — though, it is just another example which suggests us that his mind is not totally focussed on the game.

And what's with his divings ? Once again today he did it (when he was "touched" by Zabaletta, I think, on the sideline).

I've said it before and I'll say it again, his attitude has become too much casual. Ivanovic, you need to quit that behaviour, we're not thugs in the street.

I honestly think he needs to be dropped for a couple of games, to get the message across...

[Bosnian Blue 2,471]

He wasnt that bad today (i.e. pass that lead to our penalty was quite brilliant), compared to some other performances. But the fact is his stability and consistency has gone in the wrong direction: he's becoming consistently bad. Likewise our whole defence. I am not so much worried because I'm certain when the right manager comes in he will pick up and start producing again. A season to forget, simply.

[Jase 43,479]

In the 26 games under Benitez, Ivanovic has started in 25 of them. The one he missed? Sparta Prague at home last week.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Absolutely hate him at right-back. He must be allergic to the ball because he NEVER closes the cross down.

[xPetrCechx 13,571]

"We must be honest and admit that things are not going the way we expected. We do not play our football and it needs to change - quickly," said Ivanovic.

"Our time is running out, we need to find out more character and restore the fighting spirit we have lost."

Comparison to last season, When Chelsea finished with winning the Champions League, he said: "The team needs to do exactly the same, the task is not easy because every game is going to be hard than the last." On United, banished from Europe because of controversial judgment decision, Ivanovic said: "It is always disappointing to be eliminated at this stage and in this way. United will come with more motivation.

[Jase 43,479]

:lol:

[Jase 43,479]

Seriously, is there even any purpose in playing Ivanovic these days? He has become so passive and rubbish in his defending that it's ridiculous!

The first goal conceded today demonstrated that. Was clear that Southampton wanted to play the 1-2 and what did he do? Stepped out and caught ball watching Steven Davis on the ball. No pressure, no nothing and allowed Rodriguez to get into that space vacated behind him to score. Such a simple and pathetic goal to concede! Heck, there even a few incidents where he got turned over so easily by Rodriguez, Lambert etc later on. He's getting absolutely atrocious! At this rate, he should probably be one of the players that need to be sold come the summer!

[The Mak 4,459]

One word I used to describe Brana in the past was 'solid'. But now? Not a chance. Don't know what the hell is wrong with him to be honest.

I would say, he might be hanging around Luiz too much, but, if anything, Luiz is too rash, and today I saw no determination from Brana whatsoever. As BluesMaster said, it was an atrocious goal to give away, Brana was just static.

Luiz > Brana, for me right now, BY FAR.

[Mufassir08 2,400]

If ivanovic does not improve then i think we should sell him while he has some decent value.

[Amblève. 4,995]

Some short questions:

Did Ivanovic play an international game midweek?

Luiz played midweek, right? Or is he injured?

[Mufassir08 2,400]

Some short questions:

Did Ivanovic play an international game midweek?

Luiz played midweek, right? Or is he injured?

Brana played midweek as did luiz and luiz is not injured.

[Jase 43,479]

One word I used to describe Brana in the past was 'solid'. But now? Not a chance. Don't know what the hell is wrong with him to be honest.

I would say, he might be hanging around Luiz too much, but, if anything, Luiz is too rash, and today I saw no determination from Brana whatsoever. As BluesMaster said, it was an atrocious goal to give away, Brana was just static.

Luiz > Brana, for me right now, BY FAR.

Seems to me that most of the senior players here have took their foot off the pedal after winning the Champions League last season. You look at our defenders this season. Apart from Azpilicueta, a new signing this season, the rest of them have been rubbish most of the time or at some point during the season. It's like they don't even bother trying anymore because they have already won everything there is to win here, the PL, FA Cup, CL etc.