Branislav Ivanovic

[yuvala 2,167]

Ivanovic defends really well, but he stinks whenever he has to attack!

Though sometimes he fails to make crucial blocks of crosses.

He is a good defender though, should be CB!

[Blue Armour 4,436]

Though sometimes he fails to make crucial blocks of crosses.

He is a good defender though, should be CB!

I don't think you would want that again...like Cahill, he also has a tendency to keep backing away from the strikers until its too late. He's better defending from a wide position

[robsblubot 3,595]

Ivanovic is a good CB and a good *defensive* RB. Expecting him to beat his marker and delivering a great cross is unrealistic to say the least. However, playing him should allow more freedom to someone like David Luiz and/or a winger in front of him.

Things aren't quite working atm though.

[Sidzeret 2,257]

Though sometimes he fails to make crucial blocks of crosses.

He is a good defender though, should be CB!

Especially against teams like West Ham where they rely on high crosses and physical attributes to topple over opponent's defence.

[Bosnian Blue 2,471]

The only player that gives us width, unfortunately there is absolutely no one to cross to.

Take a look at the 09/10 season when he got into the Team of the year at RB position. But remember, back then we had Drogba and Anelka who could actually win aerial duels and head the ball into the goal.

[Reddish-Blue 2,497]

The only player that gives us width, unfortunately there is absolutely no one to cross to.

Take a look at the 09/10 season when he got into the Team of the year at RB position. But remember, back then we had Drogba and Anelka who could actually win aerial duels and head the ball into the goal.

absolutely no one to cross to ? in recent times, all i've seen is Ivanovic try to run forward, lose the ball under little pressure..and then suddenly the opposition counter with Ramires, Willian tracking back

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

A bit harsh to expect a right back to be our creator of chances and who is there for him to cross to ? Drogba left a while ago ,our three AM's should be creating more for us Ivan is a very good defender,not an attacking defender. Crazy to expect him too create for us and I feel our AM's are escaping blame here they need to start opening up defences and scoring.

Once again we have 69% posession and our AM's should be doing a lot better with that against another low block packed defence like at Newcastle.

Every team will set up against us like that now untill we come up with the answers and that needs to be more creation from our AM's .

This is it. Ivanovic should not be such an important part of our attack. He is not a good crosser of the ball but neither really is Azplicueta who is only slightly better than Ivanovic in this regard. Also, unlike other teams, we don't have attackers who are great in the air so even good crosses are almost all won by defenders who are taller and stronger. There is also almost never anyone overlapping with him to create space or give him another outlet because whoever is on the right will always drift into the middle. We also don't have attackers making runs towards the goal. Instead, we have a whole bunch of players standing static in attacking areas waiting to be picked out by perfect passes. Spending about 250 million pounds on attackers in the last 3 years, and you're expecting the RB and central midfield to provide your offense?

[Jase 43,479]

The only player that gives us width, unfortunately there is absolutely no one to cross to.

Take a look at the 09/10 season when he got into the Team of the year at RB position. But remember, back then we had Drogba and Anelka who could actually win aerial duels and head the ball into the goal.

I wouldn't say Ivanovic is the only player that gives us width but rather, the only played that is allowed to provide us width. Whoever plays at LB for us, unless it's Bertrand, doesn't do it anyway and opposition usually make sure no time and space is given to our wide players and hence they are more than happy to give someone time and space knowing even with that, he can't cross or even pass to save his own life!

[The only place to be 11,313]

This is it. Ivanovic should not be such an important part of our attack. He is not a good crosser of the ball but neither really is Azplicueta who is only slightly better than Ivanovic in this regard. Also, unlike other teams, we don't have attackers who are great in the air so even good crosses are almost all won by defenders who are taller and stronger. There is also almost never anyone overlapping with him to create space or give him another outlet because whoever is on the right will always drift into the middle. We also don't have attackers making runs towards the goal. Instead, we have a whole bunch of players standing static in attacking areas waiting to be picked out by perfect passes. Spending about 250 million pounds on attackers in the last 3 years, and you're expecting the RB and central midfield to provide your offense?

Exactly. Whilst the attack is static and teams put 10 men behind the ball then maybe having an extra man in the box at set-pieces is a better bet than a marginally better crosser of the ball to aim for.....well no-one.

Ivanovic's hustle almost led to a goal on Saturday too. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if he has more attacking contributions in terms of goals and assists this season than most other fullbacks.

[Reddish-Blue 2,497]

This is it. Ivanovic should not be such an important part of our attack. He is not a good crosser of the ball but neither really is Azplicueta who is only slightly better than Ivanovic in this regard. Also, unlike other teams, we don't have attackers who are great in the air so even good crosses are almost all won by defenders who are taller and stronger. There is also almost never anyone overlapping with him to create space or give him another outlet because whoever is on the right will always drift into the middle. We also don't have attackers making runs towards the goal. Instead, we have a whole bunch of players standing static in attacking areas waiting to be picked out by perfect passes. Spending about 250 million pounds on attackers in the last 3 years, and you're expecting central midfield to provide your offense?

Azpi is a much better crosser of the ball than Ivanovic. He's also good at linking up with our AM's

Well if the central midfield can't provide the link between defence and attack, it doesn't matter how much you spend on attackers.

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

Azpi is a much better crosser of the ball than Ivanovic. He's also good at linking up with our AM's

Well if the central midfield can't provide the link between defence and attack, it doesn't matter how much you spend on attackers.

I am so sick of this simplistic and reductive nonsense. Blaming our deficiencies in attack entirely on the central midfield is absurd but people keep doing it. It's like people don't even watch the games they just have this belief and stick to it. Our attackers get the ball a lot and they get the ball in the attacking zone a lot. Against WBA, Our attacking players had literally hundreds of touches and aside from one Hazard move and shot, they practically did nothing with them. Yes, our central midfield could be a lot better at moving the ball but our attacking midfield and strikers have to shoulder most of the blame when our attack fails. One player can be isolated and unable to do anything, but four players? They have to be able to create space and chances without relying on the central midfield to dictate the offense. That's never going to happen. We need a player who can switch play up and pick out passes from the centre but even then, it will be up the attackers to score. Attackers have to create space and chances. (BTW, our central midfield has as many assists as our attacking midfield this season.). Watch a replay of the WBA game or any game where we struggle offensively and you can see what complete disarray our attack is in. Look how slowly the attackers move the ball (even slower than the central midfield in general). Look how they provide no width. How they stand around aimlessly waiting for god knows what. Look how they try to create things entirely on their own. I get it, we need to upgrade central midfield. We all know that, but it's gotten to the point where almost every chance against and every failed attack is blamed on the central midfield and it's completely divorced from reality.

[Belgiannutt 3,201]

This is it. Ivanovic should not be such an important part of our attack. He is not a good crosser of the ball but neither really is Azplicueta who is only slightly better than Ivanovic in this regard. Also, unlike other teams, we don't have attackers who are great in the air so even good crosses are almost all won by defenders who are taller and stronger. There is also almost never anyone overlapping with him to create space or give him another outlet because whoever is on the right will always drift into the middle. We also don't have attackers making runs towards the goal. Instead, we have a whole bunch of players standing static in attacking areas waiting to be picked out by perfect passes. Spending about 250 million pounds on attackers in the last 3 years, and you're expecting the RB and central midfield to provide your offense?

You do realize that there is more to an offensive back then crossing right ? I agree with being to static but this doesn't just aply to our AM's or our striker. The entire team is far to static and doesn't really seem to have a clue where to run or what to do.

Well i expect my RB and Central midfield to support the attack .

[Belgiannutt 3,201]

I am so sick of this simplistic and reductive nonsense. Blaming our deficiencies in attack entirely on the central midfield is absurd but people keep doing it. It's like people don't even watch the games they just have this belief and stick to it. Our attackers get the ball a lot and they get the ball in the attacking zone a lot. Against WBA, Our attacking players had literally hundreds of touches and aside from one Hazard move and shot, they practically did nothing with them. Yes, our central midfield could be a lot better at moving the ball but our attacking midfield and strikers have to shoulder most of the blame when our attack fails. One player can be isolated and unable to do anything, but four players? They have to be able to create space and chances without relying on the central midfield to dictate the offense. That's never going to happen. We need a player who can switch play up and pick out passes from the centre but even then, it will be up the attackers to score. Attackers have to create space and chances. (BTW, our central midfield has as many assists as our attacking midfield this season.). Watch a replay of the WBA game or any game where we struggle offensively and you can see what complete disarray our attack is in. Look how slowly the attackers move the ball (even slower than the central midfield in general). Look how they provide no width. How they stand around aimlessly waiting for god knows what. Look how they try to create things entirely on their own. I get it, we need to upgrade central midfield. We all know that, but it's gotten to the point where almost every chance against and every failed attack is blamed on the central midfield and it's completely divorced from reality.

Well that's because in the final third it's a lot more congested and more dificult to pass the ball.

I agree that they don't provide much width but we're playing with inside forwards not wingers. It's up to the right back and left back to exploit the space when the defenders go with the AM inside.

I agree with you that we shouldn't blame everything on our CM's and our LB and RB but blaming everything on our AM's isn't fair either.

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

You do realize that there is more to an offensive back then crossing right ? I agree with being to static but this doesn't just aply to our AM's or our striker. The entire team is far to static and doesn't really seem to have a clue where to run or what to do.

Well i expect my RB and Central midfield to support the attack .

They do support the attack. In fact, our RB and central midfield get more involved in the attack than most teams. When Ivanovic is attacking on the right, there should be someone overlapping him but there almost never is. There should be players making runs at the front post but there almost never is. When Lampard or Ramires get the ball, there should be players spread out all over the pitch, moving in different directions to give them options, not 4 attackers within 15 feet of each other standing still. No, it's not all our attackers' fault for not scoring more, but it is more their fault than anyone else's. They get the glory when they score and get the blame when they don't.

[Belgiannutt 3,201]

They do support the attack. In fact, our RB and central midfield get more involved in the attack than most teams. When Ivanovic is attacking on the right, there should be someone overlapping him but there almost never is. There should be players making runs at the front post but there almost never is. When Lampard or Ramires get the ball, there should be players spread out all over the pitch, moving in different directions to give them options, not 4 attackers within 15 feet of each other standing still. No, it's not all our attackers' fault for not scoring more, but it is more their fault than anyone else's. They get the glory when they score and get the blame when they don't.

Well most teams don't face teams who play with 10 behind the ball ,on their own half. When i mean support i mean efficiently support the attack. Ivanovic was making runs forward but can you honestly tell me that you were happy with the way he attacked ?

He was constantly checking his runs waiting for the ball to come to then cross it but he's crossing the ball from 25-30 yards out but he needs to make runs and continue his run untill he reaches the goalline. He needs to try and get in behind the defence.

Bolded part: Think you got that backwards, Ivanovic is supposed to overlap. When the AMR has the ball and moves inside that's when Ivanovic needs to make his run, that's when he needs to overlap. Then either 1 of the 2 players covering our AMR needs to pick up the run from Ivanovic which leaves our AMR 1 on 1 or if they don't pick up Ivanovic in time then Ivanovic can get the ball reach the goal line cross the ball in and actually cause some trouble.

About Lampard and Ramires well neither of them is very usefull against teams that park the bus. Both aren't really good at finding people in space. I'm really wondering what you think they are doing to support the attack ?

Only thing i see them doing is just sit back and pass the balls sideways.

I do expect more from our AM's but i also expect more from our LB, RB and CM's.