Rafael is just one of the many players at the moment who have very little confidence. We all know what he is capable of when full of confidence and burning up and down the touchline.
Rafael da Silva | 2010-14 Performances
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I never brought up the issue of wanting him to improve certain areas, you did. I agree that he still needs to improve, as does every player. I understand there is middle ground, however that was not the issue I was raising, I was making a point about the reaction of fans and the fact that they actually jump over that middle ground you make note of, they either think a player is world class or useless. I don't agree with that, of course not but when frustration is high, which it is now, many idiots think that way.
Potentially the best RB in the league, and potentially one of the best in world football ATM.
He needs to stop his brain farts though as he will never reach his peak with this flaw in his game. Down on form from the games I've watched and not performing close to Zabaleta, Sagna and Ivanovic this season, but those three are all hardened veterans who are at the top of their game. I suspect IF all goes accordingly Rafael would become a superior player to all three mentioned, but he's got some work to do to get there - definitely has the tools though.
He needs to stop his brain farts though as he will never reach his peak with this flaw in his game. Down on form from the games I've watched and not performing close to Zabaleta, Sagna and Ivanovic this season, but those three are all hardened veterans who are at the top of their game. I suspect IF all goes accordingly Rafael would become a superior player to all three mentioned, but he's got some work to do to get there - definitely has the tools though.
He hasn't been as good as he can be. He hasn't been crap, he just hasn't been incredible and it's magnified by Valencia's rubbishness.
Yeah he's not been that great has he, compared to last year? A lot of players' performances have been impacted by the results...and few actually improved during that winning run in December. Hopefully he can finally kick on and he can get a few goals before the end of the year.
Mark Lawrenson:
cnut.
cnut.
Haters will be haters. It's like he watches a players first few games and decides from there.
Azpilecueta should be in the discussion for best fullback. Players rarely get past him once Chelsea get a left back they will be set.
Rafael is somewhat of a loose cannon, even at his best. He's still got some improving to do but he is potentially a top quality fullback.
Rafael is somewhat of a loose cannon, even at his best. He's still got some improving to do but he is potentially a top quality fullback.
Did Lawro even watch us last season?
His confidence is shot. Clumsy as feck with the ball at his feet and his crossing is becoming a shambles. All he's fit to do now is pass the ball to whoevers standin beside him
Some good crosses, some bad. He's crippled by the system and lack of passing options.
Tell you what, though, he ran and ran and ran and ran. His attitude is incredible and is an embodiment of the club.
Tell you what, though, he ran and ran and ran and ran. His attitude is incredible and is an embodiment of the club.
He's just far more average than we ever hoped. When he first broke through he looked like he had the dribbling ability to be among the best at that from a fullback position and after a season or so he was putting in some crosses that Gary Neville would be proud of. Now that touch of ability on the ball is missing.
Hit and miss, he actually created our best chance other than the RvP goal.
Indeed.
Is there any point in blaming any player and I include the likes of Young and Valencia? We all know Rafael is a MUCH better player but like the entire team is bereft of any kind of confidence.
He was fine today.
I think his crossing was terrible
Moyes should be encouraging Rafael to roam rather than crossing anyway, either to open up more threatening passing opportunities or the occasional shot at goal.
The change seemed unnecessary at the time and Valencia rbough little extra in an attacking sense once on the pitch.
The change seemed unnecessary at the time and Valencia rbough little extra in an attacking sense once on the pitch.
He was basically playing right wing on his own. He wasn't overlapping and no one was overlapping him when he had the ball, it was simply lump the ball to him on the right touchline where no other United player is within 20 yards and hope he can pick out a red shirt with his cross. It's just shocking football, very occasionally we'd make an effort to try and work a good position to deliver the cross and I think that's where the RVP chance came from.
Thought he was great yesterday, then Moyes took him off. 
The important part is that Fulham were purposefully allowing him that space because they knew they could defend those attacks all night. Similar to how Valencia often gets space
Crossing was terrible, I'm sorry.
Not going to defend some of his crosses, as they were hit and miss. But the way we set up really does nullify the good parts of his game. Every single time when we push the ball out wide to him everyone just rushes deep into the box, generally towards the back post. Basically leaving him isolated so that his only real options are pay it back or lump a cross in. Not the most useful thing when the defence have got every man and his dog sitting back to defend those exact crosses. We saw the best from Rafael when players come out towards him, allowing him to play the one two and get in behind, or making the overlap. In those situations he looks far more dangerous, and I think this could be one of the reasons why he hasn't been as effective as previous seasons.
Why does the British media have it out for him? He is constantly accused of being weak positionally, defensively and on the ball.
Ignore the media. They think Walker is better than him.
Not to mention this campaign they have to get Coleman signed by United.
Thought he was great yesterday, then Moyes took him off.
I'd suggest you watch the game again then. After he sliced yet another cross straight out of play (about 50 minutes in) his confidence was shot and he was scared to do anything more wrong. Moyes not to blame for this particular decision
A lot of players are not their usual self and you wonder why. Rafael is a great little player but like most badly off form
Any word on his injury today? Was doing pretty well up until then I thought. Probably a minor concussion, next game is in 10 days so he should have time to recover, unless it was a neck injury or something.
He sprayed water onto his shoulder and upper arm if thats any help. We'll have to wait for the medical teams assessment to know the full damage really, no point speculating.
I fear for the worst.
Moyes said he's concussed. Which would lead me to angrily question why he played on. EPL standards for head injuries need to be looked at, and it needs to happen immediately. Even after he returned, you could still see him shaking his head as if to clear cobwebs, and grimacing in pain. At that point I thought to myself, well he must be concussed. But no, if he's concussed he wouldn't be out on the field.
That he was allowed back on the field is deeply disturbing.
That he was allowed back on the field is deeply disturbing.
He played on because he thinks hes too tough to stop. Same as when he hurt himself last time and did more damage by staying on. Only if he had taken another bump to the head it could have had severe consequences...
Most sports people would have a similar attitude. Sure, Brian O'Driscoll needs to be dragged off when he gets injured. Its the flaw of the determination it takes to get to the top level.
What a surprise, rafael injured.
Haven't seen what actually happened, but I'm guessing he probably convinced the medical team he was right to play on, or was to stubborn to come off/admit straight away that he was actually hurt to the point he had to come off. You see it all the time with some players, they will keep trying to play on until their bodies actually give out, while saying they are fine if asked.
Is he okay? That fall looked realy scary..
I was surprised he didn't come off immediately. I guess we took the gamble of leaving him on so Rio would get a longer warm-up. But Rafaul looked groggy when he went to take a throw in and when Arsenal got the ball back and attacked he couldn't run back to defend. If they'd scored Rafael would have been blamed.
I wonder if he's able to travel?
I wonder if he's able to travel?
He was fine defensively and has been most of the season but I just can't figure out what has happened to him going forward. His crossing has been absolutely embarrassing all season long.
You'd assume the medical staff (or Rafael) weren't able to determine that he was concussed at the time, so if they had you'd hope it'd have been taken out of his hands, and may well have been at HT.
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