He needs to teach the other twin his pitch confidence. What a player.
Rafael da Silva | 2010-14 Performances
- Thread starter amolbhatia50k
- Start date
- Status
My favourite player at the club.
Same here. His attitude and effort is incredible. Love him.
Didn't see many picking him for the 3 in the MOTM thread but he was at the base of most of our best work and really helped Valencia take apart Luna while being strong defensively all game, including a very important interception early on.
That today is more the benchmark of what he provides.
Unlocked Valencia a treat today.
The difference of Smalling being there was plain for all to see, no disrespect to Smalling.
Unlocked Valencia a treat today.
The difference of Smalling being there was plain for all to see, no disrespect to Smalling.
Boggles the mind that he doesn't even get a sniff for Brazil.
Thought he was great today, some great touches in tight areas to create space and great energy up and down the pitch. Honestly I've head a few rumors of him not being rated by Moyes and I genuinely can't believe thats true. Really can see him as a captain in the future. Just a positive player.
I loved the challenge towards the end. He was never going to get the ball, but he slid and got right back up. It went out for an Aston Villa throw-in. 
Smalling is a very good CB and does a job at RB. But Rafael is one of the best fullbacks in the PL, there's just no competition.
Looked like the Rafa of last season today. Hopefully he picks up no more injuries from here.
Same old shite rumours that pop up every time a United player is injured, or misses a game. Remember when Rooney got that gash against Fulham last year?
"Never play for United again!"
Best crosser of a moving ball we've had since Beckham.
The difference he makes to our wide play is staggering. Valencia looks a much better player with Rafael overlapping, they give fullbacks such a hard time when they work together.
We should play his brother on the left when Evra is out and try and get the same thing going on that side too.
We should play his brother on the left when Evra is out and try and get the same thing going on that side too.
Massive difference to our wing play. No coincidence we were much better last year when he was injury free. Hopefully he can stay healthy because he is really an underrated part of the team. Without him we are much weaker.
Without him, we are relegation fodder. With him, that right side is the best in the league. If Jones isn't the future captain, I bet it will be this guy. As Carl said, his crosses are fecking excellent.
This pretty much!
He surprised me a bit when he matched Agbonlahor for pace also. He has absolutely everything in his locker for a fullback; bags of pace, great technique, very good tackling, great crosses and terrific link-up play. He's also a fairly good header, if not quite on Evra's level.
Defensively I think he's a better header than Evra.
Kidding me, right? Evra is terrific in the air, and I think there were some stats showing him as many times the defensive header compared to the like of Baines. Rafael is very good in the air, but Evra is still world class in that part of his play.
Rafael also wins most of his headers. Even if it is against bug players like Carroll.
He does, but Evra truly is a beast in the air, and I feel safer with Evra in the box also. His timing, precision and arguably jump seem just a tad better. No slight on Rafael - he's great in the air - I just think that's one part of Evra's game where he is truly outstanding. I can't think of any fullbacks who are better in the air than him.
Overall, Rafael has surpassed Evra though.
He has suprassed Evra last season IMO (when Rafael was clearly our best wing back) but he still hasn't reached the level of Evra's at his peak. In two-three years though, I think Rafael will become better than Evra ever was.
I am actually a bit surprised at the crossing aspect of his game. I never considered that to be one of his strong points and most of the good attacking stuff from him was down to his driving runs and one-two's with the wingers. He seemed to scuff plenty of crosses
Maybe, but at his very best, Evra truly was magnificent - arguably the best fullback I've seen. (I only remember Irwin in his later years when he wasn't all that).
He was better than Evra two season's ago, where Evra was at his worst. Last season Evra was pretty good, but I agree that Rafael is better these days.
Nah, I would say that for sure Cafu and Roberto Carlos have been better than him while Maicon, Lahm and possibly even Cole were better than him IMO.
Two years ago Rafael barely played but on the first half of 2010-2011 season he was better than Evra. Last year Rafael was one of our best and most important players. Evra was good but even last year he was a defensive liability, but somehow his goals masked that.
No one is on Evra's level
Seriously though, he really does have everything in his game. He is literally made of balls.Cafu was great, I'll grant you that. I never saw that much of Carlos, but he didn't strike me as a great defender by any stretch of the imagination. I think HIS goals have somehow masked his defensive liability.
I think Evra was better than Cole - no doubt for me. Faster, stronger, a better dribbler and better going forwards. At his peak, there wasn't much separating them in defense either.
Lahm's very good, but I haven't seen him that much, and the little I've seen of Maicon hasn't been close to his level. So as I said, from what I've seen, Evra is the best, or at least amongst the very best fullbacks, and I think Rafael has a little way left to be on that level - terrific player though, and I think he can get there.
No one is on Evra's level
He truly is. Zabaleta may be the better fullback at the moment, but it should be plain for everyone to see that Rafael's ceiling is so much higher. Zabaleta has found his level and plays consistently at it. Rafael's level is a bit undiscovered as of yet, but he has hit some true heights at times.
That run back towards our goal and whacking that ball away for a corner when Benteke had that chance just before we scored our first goal was absolutely crucial
He truly is. Zabaleta may be the better fullback at the moment, but it should be plain for everyone to see that Rafael's ceiling is so much higher. Zabaleta has found his level and plays consistently at it. Rafael's level is a bit undiscovered as of yet, but he has hit some true heights at times.
Exactly! Zabaleta has peaked and is playing for a side with a constant line up (especially the back 4). Rafael has been surrounded by tripe for a while now (Valencia the last 18 months & the changing centrebacks to his left, add to that a non existant midfield) & is not far behind. He can be the best full-back we've ever had, if he realizes his potential.
Not only that - it shows that he is made of the right stuff, that of being a winner! His pace is so important.
I love the fact that players ping return passes at him as he overlaps and he almost always seems to be able to take it under control without breaking stride.
rafael is terrific, we all knew that.
i know this is a rafael thread but i desperately want fabio to stay , just got a feeling that if he is given a chance, he can be the phil neville version of the da silvas. rafa as gaz, and fabio as phil.
i know this is a rafael thread but i desperately want fabio to stay
, just got a feeling that if he is given a chance, he can be the phil neville version of the da silvas. rafa as gaz, and fabio as phil.He also plays with Jones so bonus points.
rafael is terrific, we all knew that.
i know this is a rafael thread but i desperately want fabio to stay
I couldn't agree more. My hopes grew slightly as Fabio was on the bench today though. I really want him to stay at the club as I think he has massive potential. Evra needs more competition and more rest. Fabio should take the mantle, not Büttner.
The yellow card he received was ridiculous, great performance and understanding with Valencia.
Yeah, his first touch is really great, one of the best in our squad without a doubt.
Another great performance. When he plays well, we are a totally different team.
No more bullshit on the right, we're a different team when he plays.
Not only is he our best option at RB individually but he seems to bring something out of Valencia that no other right-side partner does.
- Status