Branislav Ivanovic

[didierforever 7,349]

the only player in the world who cares more about throw ins than goals.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Nice crossing in the 2nd half. He's improving

[Barbara 15,149]

At the 24:00 mark he's made that face he's famous for - the one that says 'don't mess up with me otherwise I'll fuck (in all possible meanings of the word) you and your family' and said to someone (seemingly the referee given the position one sec before he says it, from a different camera angle) 'fuck off, man'.

We need that in a gif!!!!!!

tumblr never fails me

[Tomo 21,751]

Miss the 09-10 Ivanovic.

[Jase 43,479]

Nice crossing in the 2nd half. He's improving

One good cross like in 10 attempts hardly constitutes improving. Better to wait till he actually does so consistently.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

One good cross like in 10 attempts hardly constitutes improving. Better to wait till he actually does so consistently.

He had about 3 good crosses in the second half. I'm talking about the swerve on his crosses, before it was almost a hopeful lob into no one in the box but now it swerves into the striker.

Infact he created a goal for hazard against newcastle, he created a chance for eto against newcastle that they blocked. He has put in 3 good crosses in the last match too. This past 3 matches is more good crosses than he has done the whole season imo. That's why I said he's getting better, I can actually now remember a proper chance created by him after each game.

[Jase 43,479]

He had about 3 good crosses in the second half. I'm talking about the swerve on his crosses, before it was almost a hopeful lob into no one in the box but now it swerves into the striker.

Mind refreshing my memory please because I only remembered the one for Eto'o..?

Infact he created a goal for hazard against newcastle, he created a chance for eto against newcastle that they blocked. He has put in 3 good crosses in the last match too. This past 3 matches is more good crosses than he has done the whole season imo. That's why I said he's getting better, I can actually now remember a proper chance created by him after each game.

That assist for Hazard in the Newcastle was hardly a cross, more of a pass. And even if you considered it as a (low) cross, was a simple one with no Newcastle players obstructing his path to pick out Hazard.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Mind refreshing my memory please because I only remembered the one for Eto'o..?

That assist for Hazard in the Newcastle was hardly a cross, more of a pass. And even if you considered it as a (low) cross, was a simple one with no Newcastle players obstructing his path to pick out Hazard.

I meant his crossing was more dangerous, having more swerve on them instead of just hopeful punts into the crowd or sky like most of the season.

Let's be honest, ivanovic of early this season will never pass that ball on the floor on a platter to hazard against newcastle, he'll normally cross it above hazard knowing that he's not a tall dude.

So he seems to have gauged his crossing/final ball better imo

[Jase 43,479]

I meant his crossing was more dangerous, having more swerve on them instead of just hopeful punts into the crowd or sky like most of the season.

Let's be honest, ivanovic of early this season will never pass that ball on the floor on a platter to hazard against newcastle, he'll normally cross it above hazard knowing that he's not a tall dude.

So he seems to have gauged his crossing/final ball better imo

Still think it's too quick to judge it.

And while Ivanovic has his own flaws, one wouldn't expect him to be an idiot in that situation and cross, rather than pass, to Hazard. What he did was the 'common sense' approach if you like especially when I believe Hazard was calling for him to pass into his path and not cross into the box then. To use that as an example to praise for his supposed improvement is a no-no.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Still think it's too quick to judge it.

And while Ivanovic has his own flaws, one wouldn't expect him to be an idiot in that situation and cross, rather than pass, to Hazard. What he did was the 'common sense' approach if you like especially when I believe Hazard was calling for him to pass into his path and not cross into the box then. To use that as an example to praise for his supposed improvement is a no-no.

Yep, even his decision making has gotten better even with common instances like that. I rate him and ramires on the same level in decision making and ivanovic has gotten better at it so I'm just noting it. But your right, its not yet for a long period of time.

The fact that I can remember a dangerous attacking contribution from iva in different games is a sign of improvement.

His closing down of crosses still sucks though.

[TacticalBlues 2,817]

He doesnt care if Suarez bites him, but he goes crazy for a throw in. Thats our Serbinator. Happy bday Brana

[The only place to be 11,313]

One good cross like in 10 attempts hardly constitutes improving. Better to wait till he actually does so consistently.

He's has a very good season and went through a bit of a rough patch when people like you piled on him. The Ivanovic of Saturday has been the Ivanovic of much of this season and he's one of our most important players on the pitch, yet at the slightest blip in form certain people decided to single him out.

[Jusek 2,031]

Off the pitch he's soft-spoken dude but on the pitch he's one scary mofo.

[Jase 43,479]

He's has a very good season and went through a bit of a rough patch when people like you piled on him. The Ivanovic of Saturday has been the Ivanovic of much of this season and he's one of our most important players on the pitch, yet at the slightest blip in form certain people decided to single him out.

I was only talking about the consistency in his crossing and only that. Didn't even mention anything good or bad on his form or performance level!

[The only place to be 11,313]

I was only talking about the consistency in his crossing and only that. Didn't even mention anything good or bad on his form or performance level!

Give it all the you want but Ivanovic has been one of our best players and you always seem to be one of the first to pick up on any slight mistake he makes (the West Brom one was the latest one because apparently he didn't close down the crosser properly ).

He's been a cornerstone of much of our success this season - try supporting him.

[Jase 43,479]

Give it all the you want but Ivanovic has been one of our best players and you always seem to be one of the first to pick up on any slight mistake he makes (the West Brom one was the latest one because apparently he didn't close down the crosser properly ).

He's been a cornerstone of much of our success this season - try supporting him.

Aah. The same old reason that just because someone has been performing well, we can't criticize them for any mistakes there (or that we are not supporting him). Couldn't care any less. If one deserves a praise, then he gets it. If one deserves to be criticized, then he gets it either.

That incident against West Brom, if you don't think it's Ivanovic's mistake and it's others, then fine but it's your opinion. Doesn't make it right or wrong either. Looks as if you want to get all petty just because not everyone agreed on your view that Luiz was at fault for the goal conceded.

And it's quite funny that you said I always pick out the slightest mistake whenever Ivanovic make one (it's not even the case), been our cornerstone for success this season and should support him but yet the same could be said about your case with Cech.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Aah. The same old reason that just because someone has been performing well, we can't criticize them for any mistakes there (or that we are not supporting him). Couldn't care any less. If one deserves a praise, then he gets it. If one deserves to be criticized, then he gets it either.

You're a joke mate. Even when he starts putting in decent crosses consistently people like you will still look to moan rather than giving him the credit he deserves.

That incident against West Brom, if you don't think it's Ivanovic's mistake and it's others, then fine but it's your opinion. Doesn't make it right or wrong either. Looks as if you want to get all petty just because not everyone agreed on your view that Luiz was at fault for the goal conceded.

I have no problem with people disagreeing with me. I think Cech was at fault in small part too which was raised by others. You seem to want to look to Ivanovic and as I said at the time it was an imaginative view to take.

And it's quite funny that you said I always pick out the slightest mistake whenever Ivanovic make one (it's not even the case), been our cornerstone for success this season and should support him but yet the same could be said about your case with Cech.

Feel free to suggest that. In fact why not actually have the balls to take me to task on that comment rather than making snide little comments and retweeting any old shit you find on twitter like you normally do.

Cech hasn't been a cornerstone of our success this season. He's been in poor form compared to his normal standards, he's cost us goals and he's been dropped because of it. I have no problems making such a comment. The problem with this site is that you can't put mods or admins on ignore so just do me a favour and don't respond.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

He's has a very good season and went through a bit of a rough patch when people like you piled on him. The Ivanovic of Saturday has been the Ivanovic of much of this season and he's one of our most important players on the pitch, yet at the slightest blip in form certain people decided to single him out.

That's not a fact, that's just your opinion. I think in defense alone, all of Terry, Azpi, Cahill and even Petr have had better seasons than Brana.

I think he's had a decent season. Some great performances and a couple of big goals, but also some poor performances and some persisting issues such as crossing and closing down crosses. Overall average or slightly above that, imo. My belief that he's a CB and should play there has only been enhanced this season.

[The only place to be 11,313]

That's not a fact, that's just your opinion. I think in defense alone, all of Terry, Azpi, Cahill and even Petr have had better seasons than Brana.

As a unit they've been the foundation of everything good we've done this season. If you want to disagree then you're more than welcome to, but his goals alone have added at least 4 points to our total (against City and Villa). Azpi has been tremendous as well in recent months but he's not been any better than Ivanovic and has made 9 less starts. Cech has not had a better season. That's a ridiculous comment to make. He was dropped because of his poor form.

I think he's had a decent season. Some great performances and a couple of big goals, but also some poor performances and some persisting issues such as crossing and closing down crosses. Overall average or slightly above that, imo. My belief that he's a CB and should play there has only been enhanced this season.

Who should he be crossing the ball to? I know Drogba's in the banner but he doesn't play for us anymore so who exactly should he be crossing to? Oscar? Hazard?

He put in a ball on Saturday that was perfect. It was a cross that Beckham would be proud of, yet Eto'o simply couldn't get to it which sums up this whole 'he should cross better' argument. The targets for crosses don't exist.

And the FACT is that the same criticisms were levelled against Azpi all of last season. Feel free to check his thread - you'll notice the person defending him in EXACTLY the same way is me. Does that make him 'not a full-back'?

[Jase 43,479]

You're a joke mate. Even when he starts putting in decent crosses consistently people like you will still look to moan rather than giving him the credit he deserves.

I'm a joke? Ha. Pot calling the kettle black.

You think he may have started to put in crosses consistently but I don't think that is the case yet and needs to continue do so before properly praising him. For all we know, it could be just a streak. And mind you, I didn't even say his crosses were bad in the last few matches. All I said was I want to see more/better consistency from him before the praise comes in.

I have no problem with people disagreeing with me. I think Cech was at fault in small part too which was raised by others. You seem to want to look to Ivanovic and as I said at the time it was an imaginative view to take.

Luiz and Cech are questionable for the goal as well but I'm putting the blame more on Ivanovic. Is that even wrong? And imaginative view? If that was the first time from Ivanovic doing that, then one can excuse him but when he already has a track record not closing down crosses like he did and costing us goals, then he deserves to be criticized and even more so.

Feel free to suggest that. In fact why not actually have the balls to take me to task on that comment rather than making snide little comments and retweeting any old shit you find on twitter like you normally do.

Making snide little comments and RT old shit from Twitter?

Cech hasn't been a cornerstone of our success this season. He's been in poor form compared to his normal standards, he's cost us goals and he's been dropped because of it. I have no problems making such a comment. The problem with this site is that you can't put mods or admins on ignore so just do me a favour and don't respond.

Proving my point earlier about your case with Cech. Criticized him when he makes mistakes (fair enough) but only seem to focus on that and hardly any praise when he makes saves, especially the better ones, that keep us in matches.

Seriously, if you are going to get so pissed at things like this, then next time, don't even bother replying in the first place.