Branislav Ivanovic

[EskWeston 696]

i think we should give the kid a run out by the end of the season if not here maybe in the champs league

He was not put in the CL squad so he can't play in that!

I notice that he played last night for Serbia!!! So when are we going to see him play for us. The fact that Essien was deployed at Right back Sunday shows that position is still an issue so why are not giving him a chance to show what he can do?

[DavidEU 2,023]

What I don't understand is why we havent given him a run-out or two in the reserves.

He's been injured, and needs match fitness, and thats why Avram's probably worried about bringing him in at such a crucial stage of the season.

However, he played last night (according to Esk) so I'd like to see him either on the bench v Boro, or getting 90 mins in the reserves on Monday night.

[EskWeston 696]

He has aparently played in a couple of behind closed doors friendlies for us.

He came to us when his previous season had finished so was short of match fitness then have been told he picked up an injury. I read somewhere that he played last night (can't confirm at the moment, can't fins a site with the team news) so we would hopefully be expecting to see him sooner or later. We don't even know yet if he is going to be a right back or centre back...

[CFC-Lloydy 38]

He looked quite solid when he played centre back for the reserves against West Ham

Was impressed with him to be honest

Look forward to him playing for the first team sometime soon

[Tesp 0]

We've got three right-backs at this club and we played Essien there...

He was the best right-back in russian premiership, when he was playing in Lokomotiv. Its very starnge for me, that he didnt started his league career in Chelsea

Edited April 8, 2008 by Tesp

[igy_chelsea-serbia 0]

He is very good RB!He played for OFK BELGRADE in Serbia.Then he went to RUSSIA!!!He played over 15 games for Serbian National squad!!!!He is serbian best defender with Nemanja Vidic!

[T-R 0]

Russian Lokomotiv fans saddened that left Ivanovic, but are happy that he went to a good club.

[pablo814 1]

If so much wasn't on the line I'd say give him a shot and see what he can do in a match, but our D is stacked with proven performers, so why risk the game... Next year for him. I agree he will be good, and we need to develop more young talent, cuz the game isn't all about buying and then hoping the best will perform.

[EskWeston 696]

Well providing we hang on to everyone we will have Terry, Carvalho, Alex and Ivanovic as our 4 centre backs which to be honest is probably the best centre back group in a squad in the world!! Also Ivanovic can cover for right back if needed...................

He has looked good in reserve games, will do well for us i think

[Dan 1]

Completely forgot about this fella.

I know the Russian season starts at a different time to the Premiership so he probably wasn’t up to the fitness standard. So yeah, I agree he shouldn’t be risked until next season. Every game now is like a Cup Final for us…

[Luke 60]

dont we have an end of season friendly in asia??? more than likely see him then

[terry26 6]

debutant

[Fulham Broadway 17,305]

..and what a debut ! He oozed quality, and read the game superbly. lets hope he keeps it up, and is not a flash in the pan.

Makes Ben Haim look like the Chelsea Village idiot.

Which he was.

[Kez 2,727]

Agreed

[Chelserbia 0]

great player he scored lastnite against lithuania