Branislav Ivanovic

[BlueLyon 9,359]

Yeah he deserves proper send off. He might not be good anymore but no one can say he didnt live for club in his best years. 

[Beigl 1,387]

Meh. Wished that he stayed with us to lift his third Premier League title and to get a proper send off.

[Special Juan 27,439]

Great servant and a top defender at his height, but this is absolutely the right thing to do, and exactly the right time.

The players in his position have now surpassed him and the club is moving on. Slowly but surely we are getting rid of players that have done very well but it's time to cash in, and move on.

Delighted that Conte is really putting his mark on the side, if a certain JM was here Ivanovic would still be a regular starter and that was what was holding this club back....too much emphasis on holding onto players and sentiment.

[BoyBlue96 990]

Actually not reading much about him to Zenit anymore....is he staying?

[Special Juan 27,439]

SSN just broke news there that his move is expected to go through in the next 24hrs to Zenit, pending personal terms.

[BoyBlue96 990]

Just now, Special Juan said:

SSN just broke news there that his move is expected to go through in the next 24hrs to Zenit, pending personal terms.

Indeed:

 

 

[manpe 10,861]

So we are actually weakening this window rather than strengthening, great.

[BoyBlue96 990]

Just now, manpe said:

So we are actually weakening this window rather than strengthening, great.

Yeah... Iva would still be a good fringe player as (wing)back but we got Aké and Kenedy back for those positions so...

[Tomo 21,733]

1 minute ago, BoyBlue96 said:

Yeah... Iva would still be a good fringe player as (wing)back but we got Aké and Kenedy back for those positions so...

He's actually done all right coming off the bench to see games out (Spurs home game aside, N Koudou did give him a going over in that one), especially as teams often resort to desperate long ball when searching for a late equalize.

[manpe 10,861]

Just now, BoyBlue96 said:

Yeah... Iva would still be a good fringe player as (wing)back but we got Aké and Kenedy back for those positions so...

Both Ake and Kenedy are for the left side, doesn't really count. Kenedy doesn't fill me with confidence either, he was never a full-back and I don't believe he will make it here.

[lucio 5,418]

Very sad to see him go. I hope Mourinho and Hiddnk's isistence of playing him when he was past it, does not ruin his memory. For me one of our top 5 defenders without a doubt.

[xPetrCechx 13,563]

9 Years! 

[Sideshow Luiz 2,310]

 

[DYC. 7,542]

An actual legend of the club. He played a key role in many of Chelsea's successes and he can be very proud of himself. Went from a complete nobody when he first arrived to one of the first names on the team sheet. I remember wondering if he was even going to play before eventually being shipped off to who knows where.

An unorthodox fullback, definitely not my idea of a rightback, but he quickly grew on me and became one of my favourites. He was strangely effective in his unique way and he always gave his all. Of course he'll mostly be remembered for his big goals and rightly so. The man possessed ridiculous timing for the stuff of heroes.

It's too bad he declined in such a dramatic fashion but he's not the first in his position to experience such a fall from grace. But I choose to remember him for the good times. One of the best rightbacks of his generation. The best in Chelsea colours in modern football.

[Duppy Conqueror 1,494]

thank you for the memories Branislav..he leaves with quite a treasure chest of winners medals. a club legend.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

We all complained how terrible he became, and slow. In every match thread there were dozen of posts he is getting awful and we were all left frustrated many times.

BUT looking now and in years to come, we will remember only the best from him, how he scored 2 against Pool in CL and brought us to next round, how he scored the 4th goal vs Napoli in extra time, how he scored the winner against Benfica, and a bunch of other memories we will never forget.

During his time here, he went from someone we almost sold to undisputed legend, someone who always gave everything, someone who in big games absolutely never gave up. And while he wasnt the most skilled of players, he was devastatingly efficient.

Proper old school lad. The fact that he is serbian, gives me even bigger connection, because after all we were all brothers once.

Its never easy to let these players who you watched for ages go, but the time has come.

Brana, srećno

[Special Juan 27,439]

Just landed in Saint Petersburg apparently.

[Melanicus 5,208]

Thank you for everything Brana! So many good memories & so many trophies. Proper Chelsea legend.