After the first few games of this season I was thinking he could be taking Lescot's place by now.

I almost feel embarrassed posting this but I must have seen something at the time. I just don't remember what after his most recent performances.

He doesn't have the main thing I look for which is for them to be unflappable. All the greats I can think of are defined by that attribute more than anything else and it's why I've always been a huge admirer of Kompany. I don't think it can be taught. I think you can improve but not by a great deal. I think you're almost born with it. He has everything else. He'll never be great for that reason in my opinion, although he could become very good and more than adequate backup in time. If he wants to go though I shan't be too fussed.

Better than he is given credit for IMO.

Been unlucky once or twice this year, that's all. Also been castigated for 'howlers' that weren't really, where his mistake was punished cruelly (and could have been mopped up by his team mates) while other more favoured players make the same mistakes but have got away with them.

Not been great by any means, but not as bad as people seem to want to make him out to be. I'd agree with the OP and say he has a future with us, but also wouldn't be surprised to see him go... I would certainly like him to succeed...

I think he is too lightweight to be a centre half(I know Puyol and Canvaro(sp?) ain't exactly giants but diffrent leagues and he doesn't read the game as good as them.I would risk a loan to someone like Norwich or Swansea, if it doesn't work out there.Sell.

As for will he ever be better than the dippers centre halfs No.

I will defend Savic for the games he filled in for Kompany. Lescott was shit with him Lescott never talked to him and they never worked as a partnership. While if Savic was playing alongside Kompany or Kolo Toure I would feel he would do a hell of a lot better than what he did with Lescott.

I would keep him on next season. We have seen the improvement of the defenders when they have come into the team under Mancini. Richards has seen a huge improvement same with Clichy we all knew he was good at going forward but he seems a better defender since he has come to the club. Mancini will sort him out and he will be a better player next season. Mancini is doing the right thing and taking him out of the team as his confidence was shot and when your going for the title those are the decisions you have to make. I feel Kolo will go at the end of the season and the 4 defenders will be Lescott , Kompany , Savic and maybe another top class defender or Boyata.

You should see how other clubs view him. They are so disappointed when he doesn't start, they think Savic is comical because he is so bad and costs us.

If he played for rags or dippers, everyone who says he has 'potential' would be laughing their arses off at him. He needs several loan moves before even making our squad. Ned and Boyata are both light years beyond him.

His starting appearances were as replacement for Kompany and he was expected to take his role as the dominant stopper. He's never looked strong enough for that role. He looks more suited to playing alongside Kompany rather than replacing him. He reminds me a bit of Carvalho. Clearly his confidence went so a season on loan might do him good.

Pretty much agree with all of this.

I like him, despite the errors he's made, and would be happy for him to continue his development with us.

By far and away the best passer of any defender on our books, and I personally think he has the technique to make a very decent defensive or deep-lying midfielder. He is a young lad and young centre halves will make mistakes. Look at Jones' laughably disastrous own goal for the rags at Newcastle, for example. Or Evans in the derby.
The difference is that too many blues are still stuck to a boo-boy mentality and are too quick to say 'get rid' if a lad is not putting in 8 out of 10 performances every single week.
Look at Bale's early record at Spurs. He wasn't on a wining side for his first 20 or so games for them and looked ready for a cut-price move to the championship, until luck and circumstance forced Rednapp to play him on the wing, rather than at left back.
They nearly lost what is nowa £20-30m player to Nottingham Forest for £2 million.
He might get more patience from the fans if he was Steve from Whalley Range rather than Stefan from Montenegro

I think he has good potential and can make it, don't forget bluemoon was inundated with posts last season that said jerome boateng was useless and he's played virtually every game for the champions league semi finalists. Toomany short term merchants who focus too much on the odd error rather than a players overall ability