He is better dealing with Crouch then Evans and Ferdinand.
Rafael da Silva | 2010-14 Performances
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Needs to sort that goatee out.
Maturing nicely. Although Crouch didnt drift off onto him often when he gave himself a decent run up he was very effective in the air.
played a lovely cross across the face of goal that Welbeck just missed.
played a lovely cross across the face of goal that Welbeck just missed.
Another game, another good performance. I'm glad this is now the norm with Rafael!
All those injuries to Jones and Smalling, and him staying fit meant he got a run of games..
Just what he needs
Just what he needs
His impressive start to the season continues
Even though Jones and Smalling are on their way back I dont want them anywhere near the RB spot.
Smalling should play CB and Jones can get some cup games at CB or defensive midfield.
Rafael is just too good.
Smalling should play CB and Jones can get some cup games at CB or defensive midfield.
Rafael is just too good.
Only games smalling or jones should play over rafael is against everton or stoke. Today he had no worries.
He's awesome. Showing signs of maturing now and putting in performances week in week out without doing something stupid.
He's only 22 but it seems he's been around for so long.
He's only 22 but it seems he's been around for so long.
He is just consistent this season. Hardly put any foot wrong at all.
Another good game from him. Not as much going forward today as normal, but was solid at the back
Clearer are Ferguson's current thoughts on Rafael da Silva, the first-choice right-back. "He was our best player Saturday. He is maturing, learning all the time," Ferguson said. "He is blessed with great enthusiasm, skill, speed. Maturity brings that together and bit by bit he has done that over the last two years. He was quite impulsive, committing himself, but he has been fantastic."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/oct/22/manchester-united-alex-ferguson-diamond-formation
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/oct/22/manchester-united-alex-ferguson-diamond-formation
Jones getting injured was the best thing that could happen to Rafael.
Luckily, Ferguson is not as knee jerk as some pillocks in this thread.
I agree with Ferguson. I think he has probably been our best player this season. Wonderful going forward, but also great at defending. Like Evra, he is fantastic in the air, and not just for a small guy, but period.
I've always wanted him first choice. I saw no point in having a right back with his potential and to keep playing centre backs out of position ahead of him. Even with his injury issues, there was plenty of times where he would be for and not get a game. It was blatantly obvious that he just needed to cement his place in the eleven and gain experience and know how. He is class, and well on his way to being one of the best full backs in the league.
I don't know if I agree that he's that good in the air. Evra for me has an uncanny ability in the air and I don't think Rafael has that.
He'll start getting dropped once Smalling and Jones are back around.
It's wrong, but it'll happen.
It's wrong, but it'll happen.
I sincerely doubt it, he's been really good so far this season, better than Jones or Smalling ever were at rb.
It's probably a bit of a blessing, it will help keep Jones from becoming a fullback!
It's probably a bit of a blessing, it will help keep Jones from becoming a fullback!
For me, Jones' best performances at United have come at right back and that's where I see him playing long term. What is clear is that, on this form, Jones will have to really impress to get a place.
Rafael will be a better RB than Jones for sure.
Can't see Jones taking Rafael's place in long term.
Its a bit confusing with Jones.
Doesn't seem to matter with SAF these days.
And I agree, he's been superb, but then I pretty much always think that about him and I've said it for years now.
But... SAF will find a way to start playing Jones and Smalling I reckon, in the same way he manages to fit in Scholes and Giggs in all our big games.
Maybe it's got to the stage where he's solid first choice and can be rotated for a rest every now and then?
..Just like he does with Evra?
..Just like he does with Evra?
There will certainly be games where we want extra height for defense from set pieces, like Stoke away, where we might see Smalling or Jones at rb, and of course Rafael will need a rest at some point, those two are at least defenders unlike Valencia.
I think SAF plays Jones in different positions much like he did for Fletcher, just to get him time on the pitch, to help advance his game. It worked well enough with Fletcher.
At some point he'll have to be rested but no doubt some idiots will think SAF benched him for a stupid reason
I think its getting close. Rafael sometimes wins headers against players he has no chance against. Its not all the time but its severely impressive all the same. Lets remember that Evra had a problem in the air when he first came over so this is really positive that Rafael is already much better in this respect than he was.
I agree that his best performances have come at RB but it was only a couple of months if that and he hasnt had many chances in his real position at CB. For the majority of the time he wasnt half as good as Rafael there
Consistency-wise I'd say he's been our best player this season, his game is looking strong in all departments and he seems to have gotten past his phase of picking up little knocks regularly.
Well he can't play every game can he? (or atleast he shouldn't)
I think barring an unfortunate sustained dip in form Rafael has made the RB spot his, however it's to be expected he'll be rotated, all our players are.
And sometimes it might be a better option tacticaly to play one of Jones/Smalling at RB purely because of their height.
The thing I love most about him is his aggressiveness. To my mind there aren't many of his calibre around, he's not the one to sit back and passively close players down, for better or worse, the gets stuck in immediately which is good to see as a supporter unless it is in the box.
He's been very good this season, consistently too. I just wonder, should we be happy with the way he progressed since appearing on the stage 4 years ago? Has he reached the expectations so far? For me he's starting to do just that.
It's a shame Fabio can't get a break with injuries, obviously the fact that Evra's played about 39 league games a season in twins' time here doesn't help as well. His performance against Barcelona in the final was very promising though.
I like their attitude, they haven't given up yet and try to improve every year. Still got time on their hands and Rafael is already reasonably established first teamer here.
I just hope both of them make it big time at Old Trafford.
It's a shame Fabio can't get a break with injuries, obviously the fact that Evra's played about 39 league games a season in twins' time here doesn't help as well. His performance against Barcelona in the final was very promising though.
I like their attitude, they haven't given up yet and try to improve every year. Still got time on their hands and Rafael is already reasonably established first teamer here.
I just hope both of them make it big time at Old Trafford.
It would be something else to have twin brothers as regular starters for Man United
I always knew he'd come good. In my mind he's been good enough for a couple of years now. He'll reach his peak in the next year or two and hopefully be our right-back til he's in his 30s.
I think he needs a full season at a consistent level before we can say he's "come good".
Indeed. His ability has never been in doubt. He just needed to stay fit.
He was in my mind always pretty world class at going forward and causing problems, and was always very athletic and aggressive at defending, but in the past year he seems to have matured mentally and knows when to stay and when to go, he works well with Valencia, as they cover each other and switch positions a few times. He has had valuable experience along with Jonny Evans in the past 3 or 4 years and it has paid off massively for the both of them.
Great fullback.
At this rate, he's going to be one of the best in his position in the near future.
At this rate, he's going to be one of the best in his position in the near future.
I keep thinking he is in his mid 20's because of some of the performances he puts in, but he's still only 22.
Big test for him against Hazard this weekend. Will need to be very disciplined as Hazards very good at tempting players in to foul.
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