Going by the games without him this season and his one game against Liverpool. It's almost as though he is the glue. When he is out there, we are that much better it's not funny.
Rafael da Silva | 2010-14 Performances
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Did we find out the reason why he wasn't included? He better have been injured otherwise it's a utterly shocking decision not to play him.
He and his brother should start more often at RB and LB
He sets a tempo for our play and makes others around him play better with his desire
The only reason the link back to Brazil started was that whoever wrote the rumour saw that he wasn't playing and thought it would be bright to say he wanted out, not knowing that he was actually injured.
He will stay for a long, long time and in my opinion,most likely go on to become a United great.
He will stay for a long, long time and in my opinion,most likely go on to become a United great.
I seriously love the twins. Hope they spend their entire careers here.
How has he only got 2 caps for Brazil? Sure they have got Dani Alves, but he can't play every game, can he?
He was blamed for an error in the Olympic final against Mexco that led to the winning goal and Brazil losing the game. He's not been selected since.
They even have Maicon ahead of him. Ludacris.
Raffle should be nailing down the RB position as soon as hes fit! Miss the lad, hes great entertainment value on the pitch.
I thought he was american
On that sky article there's people arguing that Johnson and (wait for it) Micah Richards are a class above Rafael. The retard is alive and kicking.
Only American RB better than Rafael, apparently.
Rafael, Zabaleta and Coleman are the best. Zabaleta on too with the others getting closer with each game.
Rafael, Zabaleta and Coleman are the best. Zabaleta on too with the others getting closer with each game.
Yep. Those three are well ahead off the rest but I wouldn't argue with Zabaleta getting the top spot at the moment.
If Zabaleta is the top RB in the league then that speaks volumes of the lack of quality available in that position.
Zabaleta is an outstanding fullback. Anyone who thinks otherwise hasn't got a clue.
He is. At this stage, probably better than Rafael, although Rafael is clearly the bigger talent. One can understand those who think that Zabaleta is a bit mundane though - he's not exactly the most exciting player to watch. The best fullbacks tend to be a bit flashy one way or the other - Zabaleta has no way that is flashy, or is it is in no way flashy... I'm tired. I'm going to bed.
Yes hes solid, but uninspiring. Ive said plenty of times that I think hes the best in the league in his position, but even then hes nothing special. Everyone else is just too mediocre.
There was nothing Flashy about Gary Neville either.
Yes, because one and a half season of solid performances is enough to get compared to one of the best defenders of the PL era.
I would say that he is a very inspiring player. Whenever we are on the back foot and not in the game, most often it is him who gives us that energy and drive. We are so much better balanced both in attack and defense when Rafael is at RB compared to Jones or Smalling.
Im talking about Zabaleta. Rafael is indeed a very inspiring player! Probably my favorite player to watch for many reasons.
I'd give Rafael the edge over him now. Sometimes Zabaleta's solidity is overrated because he's uninspiring going forwards. Similarly Rafael's defending gets overlooked because people think of him as an attacking player.
He also has this knack of contributing all over the defence, not just in his little 'sector', which Zabaleta doesn't. It's easy to miss but watch out for how often it is Rafael who appears to clear away a loose ball, or Rafael who flies in with a second header when the ball hasn't been pushed out of the area from a corner, or Rafael who steps in higher up the pitch with a shrewd little foul just when the opposition look like they might break. When he's playing well, he's absolutely everywhere. It's an effect Lahm has at Bayern.
When he's on form, Zabaleta's territory at the base of City's right wing is a brick wall to the opposition, and he's probably more conventionally solid there than Rafa. But overall I'd take Rafael on both defensive and attacking merit, if only very narrowly.
He also has this knack of contributing all over the defence, not just in his little 'sector', which Zabaleta doesn't. It's easy to miss but watch out for how often it is Rafael who appears to clear away a loose ball, or Rafael who flies in with a second header when the ball hasn't been pushed out of the area from a corner, or Rafael who steps in higher up the pitch with a shrewd little foul just when the opposition look like they might break. When he's playing well, he's absolutely everywhere. It's an effect Lahm has at Bayern.
When he's on form, Zabaleta's territory at the base of City's right wing is a brick wall to the opposition, and he's probably more conventionally solid there than Rafa. But overall I'd take Rafael on both defensive and attacking merit, if only very narrowly.
Very well said. Agree fully.
However, my man crush on Rafael is enough for me to put him over Zabaleta.
Zab's solidity is over rated but he is a brick wall to the opposition and more solid than Rafael?
Zabaleta is actually good going forward, I would say that that part of his game is under rated because he is not flashy.
I prefer Rafael; his commitment, his character and his full round game but totally understand the notion that Zab is better. It's a close one for sure.
Can you point them out? So we can laugh? Plus talking about the best full backs being flash Maldini, Thuram and even Danny McGrain don't fit that description and they were 3 of the best full backs I have seen.
Give him a life long contract. And start putting ideas in his minds that Barcelona are evil.
'Sometimes Zabaleta's solidity is overrated because he's uninspiring going forwards.' 'When he's on form, Zabaleta's territory at the base of City's right wing is a brick wall to the opposition'
Meaning that when he has a good game, he is indeed incredibly solid in his specific territory at RB, probably slightly moreso than Rafael. But because he's not flashy, people just assume that he's always solid, which isn't necessarily true - he has a fair few bad games where he loses his man too often, gets turned too easily etc.
Agree with the rest of your post. I wouldn't be able to argue too much with someone who rated Zabaleta higher, since they're so close.
Brrrrrap!
Really looking forward to him getting back to regular football. Such a better team going forward with him. Smalling has done well but he is a centre back, so much more balanced with Rafael.
God I hope he starts today, we are much more threatening with him at right back / right wing-back.
http://instagram.com/p/fr0PjStV-6/
His instagram page. For people who can't access it, he's put up a picture of himself on the pitch with a caption of 'United till I die'
His instagram page. For people who can't access it, he's put up a picture of himself on the pitch with a caption of 'United till I die'
I reckon I'd go gay for him. Absolutely love him and he already embodies everything that is great about United.
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