Branislav Ivanovic

[edetarod 2,155]

i'm pretty sure he's sucking Mourinho off, can't see any other reason as to why he's played so much

he's been atrocious almost all season

[Sovieticus 743]

lol just fuck off. All I can say.

[The Skipper 20,593]

Don't blame him, again Mou shouldn't have picked him. Not the game for him at all.

[Sheva. 5,373]

Watching this mofo guy is not good for my health.

[Mufassir08 2,400]

As if watching brana attack on his favoured side wasn't worst enough,Jose played him on the left side as well.Dont know whether to laugh or to cry

[Milan 17,853]

He can't cross from his favourite right side, so yeah, let's try the other and try his left foot, while Ashley Cole is sitting on the bench. What a downhill for this man.

[Svita 10 186]

lol just fuck off. All I can say.

really quality opinion from somebody who has Jamal Blackman as favourite player

[yuvala 2,167]

People always bring up this crossing thing and I just wanted to say that even if Iva knew how to cross, who the hell would he cross to? our system doesn't use crosses, we never score from crosses.. Willian Hazard Oscar Eto'o - all can't head. And getting mid-low kind of crosses in is pretty hard.

We also almost never score from simple on the floor passes from the wide since we also dont really use overlapping with the defenders.

I think it really limits our options in attack.. I would love a striker who is good in the air and whom we could possibly cross to.

[Magic Lamps 11,653]

My concerns about Ivanovic actually being the weak link in the team aggravate with every game. I acknowledge, he is big and strong and a force in the air, but offensively he is inconsistent at best and not really a better defender than Azpiliceuta. I hope the imminent signing of another left back will free Azpilicueta to return to his preferred right side.

[Sovieticus 743]

People always bring up this crossing thing and I just wanted to say that even if Iva knew how to cross, who the hell would he cross to? our system doesn't use crosses, we never score from crosses.. Willian Hazard Oscar Eto'o - all can't head. And getting mid-low kind of crosses in is pretty hard.

We also almost never score from simple on the floor passes from the wide since we also dont really use overlapping with the defenders.

I think it really limits our options in attack.. I would love a striker who is good in the air and whom we could possibly cross to.

Well just look at his pace for a full-back, the link up play. Just out of this world.

[yuvala 2,167]

Well just look at his pace for a full-back, the link up play. Just out of this world.

Yea I agree.. I wasn't saying I disagree with the criticism towards him, just wanted to raise a point about our playing style.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Mention 2 players in the top half of the premier league that have worse technical ability than ivanovic. Even phil bardsley is a better crosser, better passer, better link up IQ. Horrible.

[robsblubot 3,502]

He's a defensive RB/CB - not a game for him today.

It was time for a very adventurous starting line up and we did not get one.

[Wolfe_21 21]

Exactly Robguima.

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

Don't blame him, again Mou shouldn't have picked him. Not the game for him at all.

I disagree really. Ivanovic is amazing in the air, and West Ham's major route of attack is set pieces and in the air in general. You shouldn't be relying on Ivanovic to be leading your attack anyway. He didn't play well, but he's become a scapegoat of ridiculous proportions on this team. We drew because we couldn't score on 39 shots. That's not down to Ivanovic.

[The Skipper 20,593]

I disagree really. Ivanovic is amazing in the air, and West Ham's major route of attack is set pieces and in the air in general. You shouldn't be relying on Ivanovic to be leading your attack anyway. He didn't play well, but he's become a scapegoat of ridiculous proportions on this team. We drew because we couldn't score on 39 shots. That's not down to Ivanovic.

It's about weighing the pros and cons though. West Ham had 1 shot in the whole game, I doubt we needed Ivanovic's aerial presence. Azpi is more than decent defensively at RB and is obviously far greater offensively.

I never said that we didn't win because purely Ivanovic started at RB. We would've had a greater chance to create more if he didn't though. He was one of the factors especially on why we didn't create enough clear cut chances, in combination with a too defensive pivot, and poor finishing. Him having a horrible game didn't help either.

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

It's about weighing the pros and cons though. West Ham had 1 shot in the whole game, I doubt we needed Ivanovic's aerial presence. Azpi is more than decent defensively at RB and is obviously far greater offensively.

I never said that we didn't win because purely Ivanovic started at RB. We would've had a greater chance to create more if he didn't though. He was one of the factors especially on why we didn't create enough clear cut chances, in combination with a too defensive pivot, and poor finishing. Him having a horrible game didn't help either.

First of all. Azpilicueta is not far better offensively. His offensive game is being massively overrated here. He's a better crosser, not great, just better, but this is the second year in a row where his passing percentage is actually lower than Ivanovic's. He also turns the ball over more than Ivanovic does (both this season and last) and unlike Ivanovic, offers nothing on set-pieces. People make it sound like he's an elite offensive player or something. Yes, West Ham only had one shot but that's the point. With teams like this who aren't going to get a lot of chances, you want to make sure you close down their set pieces.

And how could we create more? We had 39 damn shots!!!! Would we have had 45 with Azpilicueta? Ivanovic getting blamed because he fits the scapegoat criteria. He's older, has been at Chelsea for a while, and there's a younger player than can play in his position. It's just ludicrous that in a game where we draw 0-0 and take 39 shots, people are blaming the right back for us not winning.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Thought he was bad at RB.....up until I saw him at LB!