If I remembered correctly, he claims Spurs has the better midfield, defence and goalkeepers too.
Rafael da Silva | 2010-14 Performances
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If I remembered correctly, he claims Spurs has the better midfield, defence and goalkeepers too.
Kyle Walker is, surprisingly, even faster than Rafael, which may lead to people finding him even more entertaining to watch. Ability wise and talentwise, I think Rafael has more in his locker.
Good interview with Rafael after the game. What a happy guy, so likeable
The thing about Rafael and Walker is that Rafael is playing with a winger who gives as much or more width than any other right winger in Valencia. Which makes it almost impossible to overlap. This means he'll find more space coming inside to support play instead and this is what leads to his goal. But I think without question its far easier for a fullback to overlap and cross the ball, especially one with the speed of Walker, than to come inside and find the space and ability to put the ball in the back of the net like Rafael did this weekend. I wonder if Walker would do so well playing with Valencia instead of Lennon, or sometimes with Bale coming inside from the right and giving him all the space in the world.
It's a tactic not to always overlap Valencia.
Fullbacks are aware Valencia is one footed, and cover that side. If Valencia finds it difficult to go around the defender Rafael becomes an easy outlet for a pass on his left if he not overlapping.
Hes doing wonders for my Fantasy team 
Already has 95 games for the First Team, would have played much more if not for injuries, feels like yesterday he came on against Arsenal and scored that volley and was arguably our best attacking threat even with Berbatov, Rooney and Ronaldo on the pitch.
One of my favourite players. Love him
This kid is class. Would cost us 20 mil if we signed him now.
Another SAF masterstroke...
Another SAF masterstroke...
He's been brilliant this season so far. That chin hair has to go though
Anyone know if he was fine after going over his ankle? No news, so I'm hopeful that means he is OK
I love him but, goodness again with just letting someone run behind him. Bale's run behind was so obvious, why the heck he let him make it and get a shot off so easily is .... ARRRRGGGHHHHH.
Everton and Bilbao last season (actually was one of those Fabio...?)
Getting caught out of position and not reading the game well is one of his biggest weaknesses.
Both are probably attributable to his youth though.
To be fair it was shoddy all around our defending, the switching of marking was poor today.
Bale's goal was never Rafael's fault. Rafael is a right back and no-one should expect that he will mark the left winger when he is on the other side. The run was obvious but Evans should take the blame. Anyway, it was a shoot that should easily be saved.
Huh ? Rio went out to the right side and Rafael came inside - even then he was still on the right edge of the box, Bale ran past him and he didn't track his run - maybe it was thinking that Defoe was going to get past Rio but, that wasn't the right choice at all. Bale being left to receive the ball the way he did with no one behind to cover was a mistake.He definitely was largely at fault for it - along with no one else coming back to clear any danger.
Was excellent last week, was poor today. Dragged Ferdinand out of position for the first goal, his touch wasn't as good, neither was his crossing.
Thought he was our only player that put it in for 90 minutes today. Bale tried to take him on a few times but he came out with the ball every time. Was immense in the air against him too.
The defence was not to blame for any of Spurs first 2 goals. It was the fault of the midfield entirely.
I don't think that Rafael should have marked Bale, is the kind of situation that fullback never tracks the player. Rafael is protecting the right part of the defense not the other one.
I think that he was the only player who played good in both halves. Bale couldn't past him.
But if someone needs to be a scapegoat let's make him.
I agree.
Jesus - its not about scape goating - he made a blunder. This isn't football at the local park where you stick to one part of the field and that's it. Bale was his to pick up at that point plain and simple and he didn't. You think it's okay for him to say well he isn't in my area so I'll just let him go ?
Am in the pro-Rafael court but, he clearly had a lapse in judgement for the 3rd.
I thought that Rio got caught massively flat footed for the second.
I thought Rafael played quite well today actually.
Rafael was brilliant yesterday. No point complaining about players running in behind him because that's the point of players running in behind, the defenders don't know about it and its the jobs of others to pick them up.
Anyone blaming Rafael should re watch the game. He was the only one who came to play from the start while the rest were just labouring around like it was a friendly.
Not been Rafa's biggest fan in the past but his performances this season are really starting to win me over.
Only saw the highlights but the midfield really let spurs run at the back four with tons of space to exploit. Can't blame Rafael at all and he had some nice runs/crosses that helped the attempted comeback
Vertonghen ran right past him for the first as well.
Now our BEST player.
Ok.
On form surely
Probably. Very good in our last 2 league games when all those around him were dog shit (Liverpool game in particular).
It would have been nice for Rio Ferdinand to attempt a tackle
Nah, tackling means you can't defend.
It would have been nice for Rio Ferdinand to attempt a tackle
Exactly.
Rafael has been great going forward this season for sure, but I think a lot of people are overlooking his defensive flaws.
The third goal we conceded yesterday and which killed us off was down to the fact that he was out of position, so Rio had to cover him, which dragged Ferdinand out of position. Then when the ball came inside, Rafael commited the sin of ball watching, and the pass was played right past him, which led directly to their goal. It was horrific in terms of positioning and man-marking.
I really hope he will be a great player for us, but he seriously needs to improve his defensive game. At the moment he is best suited to a wing back position, because he is neither a winger or a full back.
The third goal we conceded yesterday and which killed us off was down to the fact that he was out of position, so Rio had to cover him, which dragged Ferdinand out of position. Then when the ball came inside, Rafael commited the sin of ball watching, and the pass was played right past him, which led directly to their goal. It was horrific in terms of positioning and man-marking.
I really hope he will be a great player for us, but he seriously needs to improve his defensive game. At the moment he is best suited to a wing back position, because he is neither a winger or a full back.
It's tough for any defender to deal with forwards bombing at them all game with such little pressure.
The positioning and concentration will come with Rafael. One-on-one defending he is already feckin brilliant at.
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