Just to back up the comparison with the Ivanovic situation, who is clearly good enough and on the face of things was the right age/had the right physical qualities etc etc to succeed immediately in the premiership. This is from his wiki page On 15 January 2008, Chelsea confirmed that the club had agreed terms with Lokomotiv Moscow for Ivanović's transfer subject to the agreement of personal terms and the passing of a medical, having beaten competition from the likes of Milan, Ajax, Juventus and Internazionale for his signature.[3] Though the transfer fee was undisclosed, it was speculated to be in the £ 9 million range.[4] Lokomotiv Moscow announced the transfer fee for Ivanović was €13 million (£9.7 million). According to the club, the transfer was the largest in Russian football history.[5] Ivanović signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Chelsea the following day. He was given the number 2 shirt last worn by Glen Johnson.[6] [edit] 2007–08Despite the substantial price tag, Ivanović did not make a first team appearance for Chelsea FC during the 2007–08 Premier League season under manager Avram Grant. The reason given by the club was a lack of match fitness as a result of the Russian Premier League season's conclusion several months before his signing. However, he did play twice for the Chelsea reserve side. [edit] 2008–09 Ivanović playing for Chelsea against Arsenal in 2008Before the start of the 2008–09 season, Ivanović was linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge, most notably to Serie A clubs Milan and Juventus[citation needed]. However, new manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, said Ivanović featured in his plans for the coming season. Eight months after becoming a Chelsea player, Ivanović made his first appearance for the Chelsea's first team, getting a start against Portsmouth in the League Cup on 24 September. He soon went on to make his Premier League debut, starting against Aston Villa and playing the full ninety minutes at Stamford Bridge on 5 October, a match that Chelsea won 2–0. However, Ivanović was still far from securing a regular spot: he sat out the following five league matches, only getting a single substitute appearance in the 85th minute away at Hull City with the contest already decided 0–3 when Luiz Felipe Scolari sent him on for José Bosingwa. let's just relax and see how it pans out. I think he'll come good.
I appreciate that he could come good once he get's a game or two. But still think it was a bit of a strange decision to not get in a player that would have likely been ready to slot right in considering our defensive problems and League position, particularly in the first half of the season.
I think he will slot into the starting XI late this year or starting next. In large part because our CB's aren't very good so the competition isn't that stiff. If he isn't better than that would be a shocking mistake on the part of the scouts and the staff, and I just don't think they'd mess up that badly.
Wait and see is all very well, maybe he will turn out to be a brilliant signing, but we did kind of need a centre-half who was ready to step into the team. I know it's not easy to find players like that, but if we end up going down because we bought a prospect (who we will likely lose in the event we are relegated anyway) instead of a first-team player, we're going to look pretty silly.
