Branislav Ivanovic

[The Chels 2,502]

I've got a fellow Chelsea fan who claims we should support Ivanovic because of the 'fantastic' season he has had in 2014/15. But I remember him being at fault for many goals and getting away with a lot of mistakes as well. I remember some games like City at home and also Hull at the end of last season. Can somebody care to list all of his mistakes against specific players and also him being terrible in a match in general?

A non-exhaustive list:

• Everton (A) - (partly) responsible for 1-2 of goals conceded
• City (A) - switched off for Lampard equaliser
• Maribor (A) - when we went 3 at the back he switched off at the back post and gifted a sitter
• QPR (H) - Austin's goal (IIRC)
• Derby (A) - scuffed clearance that led to Derby goal
• Tottenham (A) - his flank exploited (e.g. Chadli goal), woeful performance
• City (H) - regularly lost possession in dangerous positions in first half
• Liverpool - both legs of COC (Moreno's chance especially comes to mind) but scored winner inevitably
• Everton (H) - switched off for Lukaku sitter
• Villa (A) - Okore's goal from corner
• PSG - his flank exploited, Luiz's header in return leg
• Southampton (H) - penalty conceded
• Hull (A) - his flank exploited, sloppy back-pass to Courtois
• United (H) - his flank exploited, terrorised by Shaw

There must be many more examples that I can't remember right now, especially ones where he was indirectly responsible for goals conceded (e.g. United (A) and Liverpool (H) where he gave away stupid free kicks).

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

What's more shocking is how some really sound pundits like Gary Neville picked him in their team of the season. I'll give it to Iva though, he has a great ability of convincing people, even ones like Gary, that he is some rock at defending.

I predict a 90th minute winner after 2 times being at fault for goals conceded against Everton, yet he will still get the praise. Smh.

But they also called him out after his abysmal performances next season. Even Ruud Gullit who is one of the worst pundits ever noticed him backing off all the time and had lika 2mins montage of him backing off from sako, bolasie etc on motd. was a pain to watch.

[robsblubot 3,595]

I think this is a tactical problem that goes beyond Ivanovic's incompetence. Unlike other top teams when we lose the ball and are out of shape defensively, too often the players in the immediate vicinity don't readily press the opponent with the ball.

Instead of trying to stop the attack at its source they just focus on trying to run back to position, even though this gives space and time to the opposition and leads to conceding dangerous counter attacks time after time.

however according to many here if jose drops Ivanovic we will stop conceding goals... That's the problem with hyperboles...

No, I'm not saying he's in playing well, but there are other players, like the beloved Hazard who are also playing like shit. So, picking on Ivanovic because he gets ripped by 2 on ones makes no sense to me.

Concerning him being a slow RB - originally a CB - that's not news is it? He's always been a slow RB and Jose seems to like it. Jose should and prob will drop him because of his dreadful form, but others also deserve a drop but won't.

@The Chels... he's got the OK to attack from the manager - watch his positioning and movement. Something is always gotta give and his defensive side does. Again, nothing new here.

[Stats 7,136]

Willian would.

10 people liking this post. Embarrassing

[Stats 7,136]

If Willian was a Spud player, you would have liked his post too.

He is one of my favourite players and judging by people's 'likes', you would think he was a Tottenham player. Some fans...

[Stats 7,136]

We made fun of Torres, Ivanovic, Cuadrado etc in the past though, not just Willian.

Willian can't shoot at all, hence the joke.

He made the point about Willian failing to beat a man. Not shooting. Willian has got the second best take ons in the squad and I would love for someone to show his successful take ons in the league. Would not be the highest but I am sure he would be higher than a lot of players.

[NishC300 1,865]

10 people liking this post. Embarrassing

11 now and I urge you join that list

Embarrassing for Willian. Not me!

[Stats 7,136]

Thank you. I've seen other fans elsewhere on the internet claim the same (and sounding like scousers with their history). Us winning the league does not simply paste over Ivanovic's deficiencies. He's always had them. I remember me and TorontoChelsea debating this back in 2013 in the Azpi Vs. Ivanovic thread (guess which side I was on).

His deficiencies are just accentuated at the moment because a lot of players are playing poorly and he's especially atrocious. We're also leaking goals at a rapid rate from his side in particular as a result of teams targeting our weakest link. Not to mention that he was never fast in the first place, he's now on the wrong side of 30, he runs like he has a fridge on his back and turns like a truck.

However, I expect him to eventually score a goal and for those types of fans to claim he's back 'in form' and that we should've never have doubted Ivanovic the 'tank'...(who dives)

Talking about TorontoChelsea, what happened to him? He has not been on here for ages. Was a very useful member. Shame he has not signed in for a long while now

[The Mak 4,459]

Talking about TorontoChelsea, what happened to him? He has not been on here for ages. Was a very useful member. Shame he has not signed in for a long while now

I don't know mate but a presence like that is sorely missed these days. Loved reading his posts even though we never always agreed.

[zolayes 14,489]

ivan poor form

FFS that is mega melt down ,,,dread to see the stats after 10 games

[zolayes 14,489]

Misleading stats considering we've played only 4 games this season. On top of that, better to present full stats rather than the average ones.

its a worrying trend which reinforces our subjective feelings .. btw less than 4 games was enough to finish KDB ..

[mccg 1,528]

Can't believe after all the seasons he has played so little games at CB(even tho he wouldnt be a great 1 the way he defends) but 3/4th choice,dosn't he play Cb for Serbia? , looking at the height in our squad , Jose liked Ivan at Rb i think but ffs enough is enough, Azpil deserves the spot now and will add loads more going forward,with Willian/Pedro dovetailing down the right.

[Fernando 6,585]

See I figured he would start.

This is why I no longer cared for the excuse people like tomo say about players like kdb not taking their chances.

I mean hello? Mourinho is always putting up with awful performance from Ivanovic but not able to do it for a player like kdb?

Here you see the reality what most people have been saying. Mourinho is not a good manager for youth or even long term.

This is why he should walk away after a couple of years if he can't gamble on youth!

[Vybz Kartel 1,613]

Wtf I actually hope he fucking gets injured that's the only way we will see him out of the team. Why could it not have been ivanovic not courtios with the knee injury???

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

Wtf I actually hope he fucked gets injured that's the only way we will see him out of the team. Why could it not have been ivanovic not courtios with knee injury???

This guy never get injured sorry that used to be a good thing until now...