Branislav Ivanovic

[Mufassir08 2,400]

Surprised no one mentioned this, but he was supposed to be marking Gouffran on the first goal but let him beat him by a couple of yards. And I could see from before the FK was even taken that the wrong side of him. Needs to do better.

Or make way for Azpi.........

[lucio 5,418]

great defender but seems to ruin every attack he gets involved in. frustrating

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Defended well, but his ability on the ball is just...

[Jase 43,479]

Just like what others have mentioned, as much as Ivanovic has done well defensively this season, it is the complete opposite with him going forward. His use of the ball is absolutely horrible and appalling and yesterday, he proved that. Every cross and pass in the attacking third looked more like a hit-and-hope ones than a proper committed and intentional cross and pass. It's no wonder why teams are happy to let him have the ball because they know he won't produce anything productive in the final third. Moreover, Azpi has shown that at RB if he can't cross and/or pass with his right foot, he is not afraid to do so with his left instead as last season's assist for Hazard against West Brom and Wigan, for instance, proved that and that is something Ivanovic just can't do. Really, if it wasn't because of his height and physicality, I doubt Ivanovic will be starting games at RB now.

[Stingray 9,441]

The going forward and passing/crossing was abysmal ....

I think this needs attention if this is our rb ...

[Special Juan 27,424]

I really don't know where I stand on Ivanovic. He's a big old unit and mostly proves difficult to play against but that's about where the line is drawn. I see him going forward consistently and do the same check inside body movement only for him to twist back, rinse and repeat. Massive menace from set-pieces but I really cannot put my finger on it why he looks distinctly average at most parts of his game.

Our wing backs of him and Cole have to be the worst crossers of a ball in the league.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Our wing backs of him and Cole have to be the worst crossers of a ball in the league.

I think I actually prefer Cole not even getting in a position to cross to Iva's horrid crossing.

[didierforever 7,349]

a defenders primary objective is to defend and iva has been a beast in that. he has been briliant and solid defensively. and we have to commend his work rate to keep running up and down the bloody pitch to get himself into good positions so many times.

his crossing does need a little work on it, but it still does not change the fact that he has been our best and 2nd best defender (after JT) this season.

[Jase 43,479]

a defenders primary objective is to defend and iva has been a beast in that. he has been briliant and solid defensively. and we have to commend his work rate to keep running up and down the bloody pitch to get himself into good positions so many times.

his crossing does need a little work on it, but it still does not change the fact that he has been our best and 2nd best defender (after JT) this season.

No one is faulting his defensive work but in a modern world where a FB's contribution offensively is getting important, you need the FB to provide at least some form of threat going forward as well. There is no point in Ivanovic's case to bomb up and down the flanks all day along if he can't even produce something decent in the final third.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

I hope mourinho trains him on his crossing. Schalke just marked all the other chelsea players and left him free. (It is beginning to look like a tactics for opposition since they know he's our worst technical player)

And he couldn't complete one pass in the final third. It was just bad.

[didierforever 7,349]

No one is faulting his defensive work but in a modern world where a FB's contribution offensively is getting important, you need the FB to provide at least some form of threat going forward as well. There is no point in Ivanovic's case to bomb up and down the flanks all day along if he can't even produce something decent in the final third.

that is a very poor view of iva's workrate. i admit his use of the ball is poor but his runs always stops the opposition from doubling on our RW. i mean look at AC and hazard situtation this season. AC simply is never able to take a defender along with him and give hazard the space he requires. specially the man city match. if u remember, how many times did iva pull off silva/nasri along with him just by his runs.

[Jase 43,479]

that is a very poor view of iva's workrate. i admit his use of the ball is poor but his runs always stops the opposition from doubling on our RW. i mean look at AC and hazard situtation this season. AC simply is never able to take a defender along with him and give hazard the space he requires. specially the man city match. if u remember, how many times did iva pull off silva/nasri along with him just by his runs.

Like I said, no one is faulting him on his defensive duties which you are highlighting above. I am just mentioning his extremely obvious deficiencies going forward like I did in the last post.

[didierforever 7,349]

Like I said, no one is faulting him on his defensive duties which you are highlighting above. I am just mentioning his extremely obvious deficiencies going forward like I did in the last post.

i was highlighting iva's attacking contribution in my last post. about how he helps our RW find space because of his continous runs up and down the field.

[The only place to be 11,313]

He's been fantastic this season and last season people were moaning about Azpi's crossing. I said then that the problem was a lack of decent targets in the area and that hasn't changed. He's also struggled from a lack of consistency in the right wing position, but now Willian seems to have earned a second successive start then maybe they can start to build a rapport.

His presence in set-pieces is also a powerful tool, as well as the tactic of pushing him on and using him to win first-phase ball from goal-kicks.

[Jase 43,479]

i was highlighting iva's attacking contribution in my last post. about how he helps our RW find space because of his continous runs up and down the field.

Oops. Sorry, was reading it with a sleepy eyes (brain!). :banghead:

What you pointed out there may be true but that is what, only 1 game? His off the ball work offensively may well be decent but ON it, he's extremely rubbish at it, which is what has been mentioned from the beginning.

[didierforever 7,349]

Oops. Sorry, was reading it with a sleepy eyes (brain!). :banghead:

What you pointed out there may be true but that is what, only 1 game? His off the ball work offensively may well be decent but ON it, he's extremely rubbish at it, which is what has been mentioned from the beginning.

why do i feel that both of us are saying the same thing. the only difference being, i am giving iva the benefit of doubt as he has been brilliant defensively, working really hard for the team and he gives an awesome tactical advantage to mou to go 3-4-3 when in need for a goal.

while u and others are , rightly, condemning him for his malfunctioning in the last 3rd.

[ChelseasMessiah 304]

Either bench him or tell him to not cross the halfway line.

[ChelseasMessiah 304]

Either bench him or tell him to not cross the halfway line.