Ivanovic Staying put

[EskWeston 696]

The agent of Branislav Ivanovic says the player will staying at Chelsea despite reported interest in him from Italy. The Serbia international signed for The Blues last summer from Lokomotiv Moscow, but was linked with an early exit from Stamford Bridge in January with Milan and Fiorentina reportedly keen to acquire his services.

A series of impressive performances, however, in the Champions League and towards the tail end of last season have helped him cement his place in the Chelsea line-up.

And agent Vlado Borozan says new Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti is determined to keep hold of him, having previously tried to sign him during his time at the San Siro.

"Ivanovic will remain at Chelsea,” he told TMW. “He is on the list of players Ancelotti believes in. He wanted to sign him at Milan.”

Source: Setanta Sports

[chrismada9 1,948]

This is good news! I like Ivanovic as a player, he is very good in the air (as we saw at Anfield ) and he defends really well. The ideal replacement for Carvalho perhaps... behind Alex??

[Drogba11CFC 108]

He can also play at RB as well.

[EskWeston 696]

Ivanovic finally got to show his worth this season. He is still young and we should definately keep him on. Our defence is one of our strongest points for sure. How about this for next season?:

Right Back: Bosingwa/Johnson

Centre Backs: Terry/Alex/Ivanovic/Mancienne

Left Back: Cole/Bertrand

[Alee. 182]

Dont think Bertrand is ready to be the only cover for our LB position

[EskWeston 696]

Dont think Bertrand is ready to be the only cover for our LB position

Why not? Played more than enough league football now. Who will you convince to come and play second fiddle to the best left back in the world?

[Term-X 7,891]

Ivanovic finally got to show his worth this season. He is still young and we should definately keep him on. Our defence is one of our strongest points for sure. How about this for next season?:

Right Back: Bosingwa/Johnson

Centre Backs: Terry/Alex/Ivanovic/Mancienne

Left Back: Cole/Bertrand

i doubt we will bring back johnson, no need to take steps back.. and anyways portsmouth would ask too much for him, and theres always the chance he wont be as good for us.. also he's hardley going to be happy with being a sub on his return lmao

Edited June 5, 2009 by Terminator X

[warnie_666 1,081]

It would be a joke of a signing if we brin back Johnson. we sold him for 5-6 million and bring him back for 15-16 million? no Chance.

Plus the following defens would look good:

RB: Bosingwa/Mancienne/Ivanovic

CB: Terry, Alex, Ivanovic, Mancienne

LB: A.Cole, Zirkov

Sell Ferriera please......

[Kez 2,727]

Right Back: Johnson

:thumbsdown:

Good to see Ivanovic wants to stay, he's had a good season and will always be a hero because of Anfield

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Let's consider our cover at the moment;

Right back - Bosingwa is evidently first-choice, but Mancienne, Ferreira, Belletti and Ivanovic can all operate there, and Essien too in emergencies.

Centre-back - Terry and Alex are first-choice, with Carvalho with them - but injuries have limited him. However, we have cover in Ivanovic and Mancienne, and of course Essien who is so fucking awesome he can play anywhere.

Left-back - Ashley Cole is our first-choice LB, but we have both Ferreira and Bertrand as cover, and Bosingwa has proved he can play there as well.

So, we have Bosingwa - Alex - Terry - Cole as our first choice option. If Terry or Alex get injured, Carvalho or Ivanovic will most likely fill in. If Bosingwa becomes injured, Ivanovic may play there, or possibly Ferriera or Belletti is Ivanovic is already playing there. At left-back, if Cole becomes injured, we can put Bosingwa on the left and Ivanovic on the right, or simply just play Ferreira or Bertrand.

So, what I'm basically saying, is now Ivanovic is staying put, we DO NOT need any more defenders. Zhirkov may come as a LM and therefore offer cover at LB, but I really don't think we need to buy any more defenders. We have a really good mix of quality, experience and youth in every role.