Some guy here says he is better than Ivanovic
Dreamer...
Dreamer...
Rafael da Silva | 2010-14 Performances
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There isn't one. He had a couple of iffy games against Chelsea and Sunderland and that's about it. The fickle, less constructive criticism is just a product of the player-bashing nonsense that I can only conclude is a product of the morally-bound justification of our manager.
I've got no issues with Rafael, he's receiving more criticism than is sufficient due to his injury struggles this season, our defensive issues as a team and the lack of continuity in our backline. He has admittedly not been in imperious form of late - as the vast majority of our team haven't - but I don't expect that to lead to bigger issues down the line. He will remain a mainstay of the team for years to come.
Still, the praise of him has been excessive. Great promise, but I wouldn't say he is currently at the same level as Zabaleta, Sagna, Ivanovic or Coleman.
Still, the praise of him has been excessive. Great promise, but I wouldn't say he is currently at the same level as Zabaleta, Sagna, Ivanovic or Coleman.
Yes he has. This debating lark is easy.
Like I said above, two games. It's difficult to debate when people use hyperbole to emphasise what they're trying to say.
He hasn't been shite at all this season. He was largely really good, and we were all saying how good it is to have him back and only recently he lost some form (was good against Stoke though). On the whole of it, he's probably been one of our better players this season when he has played (because everyone else has been really bad apart from Rooney and Januzaj, and no, 1 month of good form amongst 6 months of shit doesn't count as a good season).
He's basically been the last one to be affected by the poor form, and that is mostly down to the shit tactics, the deep defending and the mess that the rest of our defence and midfield has been, offering no protection. He's also still been our main attacking source from the right.
If we sold him we'd only get worse because there wouldn't be anyone out there who can be a sufficient improvement on him that would be possible in any way to get. Probably the best young right back in the world still, despite his average form this year.
He's basically been the last one to be affected by the poor form, and that is mostly down to the shit tactics, the deep defending and the mess that the rest of our defence and midfield has been, offering no protection. He's also still been our main attacking source from the right.
If we sold him we'd only get worse because there wouldn't be anyone out there who can be a sufficient improvement on him that would be possible in any way to get. Probably the best young right back in the world still, despite his average form this year.
Where would you have ranked Rafael's performances as a right back last season?
By all accounts Coleman has been doing well during 13/14 however i woudnt' describe Zabaleta and Ivanovic as being entirely convincing.
Probably second to Zabaleta.
And I should have phrased that better, when I said 'currently' I meant on this seasons performances. But as I eluded to, Rafael hasn't had a stellar season due to a number of factors. In the grand scheme of things I would still have Zabaleta and Ivanovic above him however. Ivanovic for one is a very underrated player.
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Spare us more of this shite.
I'm a big fan and have been really disappointed with him this year. Admittedly I've seen less of him than most of you but it seems to me that he's revived many of his bad habits, habits which had largely disappeared last season. He's been rash, petulant at times, positionally naive. This season has been a step backwards after a majestic 2012/ 2013.
All well and good if you believe he's been good in the rest of the games. He hasn't been particularly. I haven't exactly gone over the top. He's a good player and a popular player so I don't expect it to be a popular opinion but he hasn't been up to the standard required. Possibly because of the stop start nature of his season.
Amazing how people go to both ends of the extreme. For me, he was the best right back in the league last season. Now that he has had a 'dip' in form (not at the heights of last season) he is suddenly a liability and because he isn't the best in the league, we have to do better.
He loves the club, fights for the club, is our best RB and is a huge part of our future. We need to get behind him because he is clearly showing his drive to get us out of this situation. When you are frustrated, yes it will lead to poor decisions but you only have to look at reactions on here after a misplaced pass to see that we are all human.
He loves the club, fights for the club, is our best RB and is a huge part of our future. We need to get behind him because he is clearly showing his drive to get us out of this situation. When you are frustrated, yes it will lead to poor decisions but you only have to look at reactions on here after a misplaced pass to see that we are all human.
Can w4e change the name of this thread? It's too rawkish.
I'm lost. I presume this was meant for one of the moyes threads?
Na, just change it to Rafael.
It would only be Rawkish if there was a few more names in between 'Rafael' and 'Da Silva'.
He's had two poor games all season. He's had a disappointing season not because of poor form, as he was solid throughout the first half when he played, but because of the injuries he's picked up. A couple of poor games at the start of 2014 don't change anything for me. He's still our best right back and one of the best right backs in the league. He's still got a couple of things to improve on of course, but you'd think he's an average right back with some of the posts written recently.
Spot on.
Although I'd like his final ball to improve and he should be getting more goals and assists because he is more than capable.
He just needs to become less prone to injuries. He can obviously improve but he is already performing at a very high level and I wouldn't mind if he stayed at that level as long as he becomes reliable in terms of availability.
He seems to still have issues with avoiding knocks and still a little rash, for quite a number of years I always thought we'd only ever have 2 substitutions available to us as 1 spot was always saved for the inevitable, taking off of him or his brother before the 70minute mark.
I'm not entirely convinced Moyes is 100% sold on him yet, I hope I'm wrong as he has all the intangibles to be a top player for us for many more years.
I'm not entirely convinced Moyes is 100% sold on him yet, I hope I'm wrong as he has all the intangibles to be a top player for us for many more years.
I think that last season he was better than Ivanovic ever was. This season Rafael has been very average but so has been the entire team.
I disagree, at their highest peaks to date, Ivanovic > Rafael, only a United fan will answer that differently. However, when you take into context Rafael is 23 and not that far behind Ivanovic, I think that's pretty exciting..
Maybe I am a bit biased, but I have never rated that much Ivanovic as a right back. He is solid but isn't that great against fast and good wingers, while he doesn't offer as much as Rafael going forward (well except from corners where he is brilliant). As a center back he is really good though.I disagree, at their highest peaks to date, Ivanovic > Rafael, only a United fan will answer that differently. However, when you take into context Rafael is 23 and not that far behind Ivanovic, I think that's pretty exciting..
Rafael last season was absolutely brilliant, in mnay games he was our best attacking player and contrary to myths, he was also fantastic when he defended. Easily our third best player of the season.
Has anybody actually said that he's a liability?
Many through this thread and other related threads (matchday and future lineups etc) still feel Rafael is too rash to be a United regular and that we can't rely on him.
That's not really an answer. Nobody's said he's a liability just that he needs to improve. You're making stuff up there I think.
If he can't be relied on, surely that's tantamount to being a liability?
Not that I hold that opinion, I just think you're splitting the hairs a bit too finely on this one.
I'm not really a fan of the "yeah, he's been crap, but so has everyone else" argument as a general rule so I'm not going to say he hasn't been disappointing this season, but he's had a pretty good couple of years so a run of poor form shouldn't be any reason for panic. He'll find his feet again without doubt.
I think some context should be used and maybe a touch of common sense. In my original post, I referred to the reactions of many on here, going to both extremes when judging a player. They are either fantastic or should be sold. That's the mind of a football fan, especially one of a fan whos team is struggling.
I made a point saying that some believe he is a liability. Whether they used that word, I'm not going to scroll through hundreds of matchday threads to find out but many do believe he is still too rash and still shows signs of immaturity. That points to their opinion that we can't rely on him. Whether they use the word liability or not, the stance they take is the same.
Is he a complete no chancer for the world cup? Or could he have earned himself the chance?
Just find it odd how bad he's been at times this season in a world cup year. Same with Carrick really...and by bad I mean by recent standards set by both players themselves, not that I hate them unnecessarily and feel the need to slate them for no apparent reason.
Just find it odd how bad he's been at times this season in a world cup year. Same with Carrick really...and by bad I mean by recent standards set by both players themselves, not that I hate them unnecessarily and feel the need to slate them for no apparent reason.
He's been out of the picture since he made that mistake in the final of the Olympics, I think.
I wish the mods would ban shite like this.
He was one our outstanding performers last season who really stepped up - in addition to the likes of Carrick, De Gea and RVP of course. Just wish he wasn't so injury prone, not sure how much more of Smalling at RB I can take
How many people have actually said that though? He's regressed a little. Not a big concern as long as it's only temporary which I hope it is. I wouldn't be overly surprised if Moyes was looking at right backs though.
Agree with the rest. They have been consistently good for a few years minus a blip from Sagna but Coleman has been very dodgy at times in the last few years and I remember some Everton not wanting him in the squad not too long ago. Granted, he has been fantastic this season but he's still suspect defensively compared to the others.
IMO Rafael is ahead of him although he hasn't picked up his proper form just yet. A RB who is very underrated is Clyne, not on the level of these 5 yet but if he keeps developing then he will be looked at by the bigger clubs, miles better than K.Walker and Johnson defensively yet doesn't get a look in for England.
Wanting him to improve his weaknesses isn't the same as thinking he's a liability. There's a massive middle ground you've jumped over there. Some may well think that but I don't think it's quite as bad as you're portraying.
On the contrary, Coleman's defensive side of his game has been impressive for nigh on two years now, he shares parallels with Rafael in that he still suffers from rash tendencies and clumsy challenges, but his positioning and tactical awareness is very impressive for a player only recently moulded into a fullback. They've both improved substantially over the past couple of years, but I would narrowly opt for Coleman over Rafael due to his attacking output. That however, may be a result of the management he is under and attacking freedom he is encouraged.
You are quite right about Walker and Johnson, both are very susceptible defensively. Walker in particular, who would be no exaggeration to suggest every aspect of his defensive game is flawed, besides maybe strength, but that's not even something he even uses intelligently. I have admittedly not seen much of Clyne, but what I have seen is fairly impressive and I can't imagine he's any worse than Walker.
He's always been a fullback, no? He had a short spell where they played him on the wing, but aside from that he's always been a right back unless i'm mistaken.
I thought he was a converted fullback from right wing? My mistake. Nonetheless, he's progressed at an impressive rate seeing as he has only been a regular right back since the start of last season.
Yeah, he's always been a talent but he's developed fantastically well in the last 18 months, looks an absolute beast now defending and attacking.
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