Walker is probably a better athlete than Rafael from what I've seen. Rafael has a much higher ceiling though because he's much better on the ball and is a brilliant tackler IMO.
Rafael da Silva | 2010-14 Performances
- Thread starter amolbhatia50k
- Start date
- Status
A Liverpool mate of mine thinks Rafael is the best right back in the league.
I have chelsea and arsenal friends who both would take rafael in a heart beat. He just has something about him and the way he seems yo play with a chip on his shoulders makes him a firecracker on feild. Hes definitely on his way to becoming world class. Not there yet but close.
Play with a chip on his shoulder? Whats that supposed to mean.
He has fire in his belly. 
He suffers from being Brazilian (hence he can't defend) hairstyle and a bit of a nut character. Sounds weird I know but it's true.
You look at his tackles and interceptions' completion and suddenly he doesn't look erratic etc. Not that they will take the factually grounded arguments anyway.
Similar age to Eden Hazard, who is one of the most talented attackers in the league and did a great job on him. Did as well as could be expected.
Yeah I thought Hazard did as little as you could wishfully hope (still was a bit of a nuisance).
I liked that Rafael outpaced him on a couple of occasions, both in defense but also by accelerating past him.
The funny thing about Rafael is that he seems to be at his sharpest against the best opponents.
How is fabio any different physically from his brother. They have the same build as far as I can tell and Rafael does just fine.
definately relishes a big opponent and raises his game accordingly. Lovely to see it motivate him
Disappointed for him not getting picked for upcoming Brazil friendly but, I guess good for United.
Having the same build doesn't cover it how they can be different in terms of strength and resistance to muscular injuries.Fabio is clearly more fragile than Rafael
Probably still carrying the stigma of his shocking showing at the Olympics.
If that is the case it is pretty unfair. He played well at the Olympics, but I suppose all that will be remembered is the mistake in the final and getting blamed for the defeat when he wasn't the only player who didn't turn up in that game.
Yeah, he had a great Olympics, final aside, where the whole team were pretty shocking.
Yeah it was one moment in the game and Brazil being as good as they are should have been able to overcome it but, rest of the team didn't respond.
Anyway, if he keeps playing the way he has been, will be very silly of them to overlook him for much longer.
Anyway, if he keeps playing the way he has been, will be very silly of them to overlook him for much longer.
Who has been called up instead? Avles? Danilo?
Alves for sure - simply because they made a big deal about him and Kaka being back in the team. Danilio sounds familar in the list I read.
Nope, no Danilo according to Yahoo's site who reported Alves being back in the squad.
Defenders: Adriano (Barcelona), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), David Luiz (Chelsea), Fabio Santos (27-Corinthians), Leandro Castan (25-AS Roma), Rever (27-Atletico Mineiro), Thiago Silva (Paris Saint-Germain).
Very unusual squad that has been picked. I've never heard of the bolded players, and after a quick google search they're not even youthful players. Seems a very strange decision to not include Rafael, Danilo or any future defenders.
Defenders: Adriano (Barcelona), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), David Luiz (Chelsea), Fabio Santos (27-Corinthians), Leandro Castan (25-AS Roma), Rever (27-Atletico Mineiro), Thiago Silva (Paris Saint-Germain).
Very unusual squad that has been picked. I've never heard of the bolded players, and after a quick google search they're not even youthful players. Seems a very strange decision to not include Rafael, Danilo or any future defenders.
I have to say I am really starting to take to this guy. His energy is almost contageous. He compliments Tony very well down the right and provides a good attacking option down that side. I have to admit I still cringe sometimes when he defends, but he is ironing out those deficiencies that he has in that department very well and has become a good reliable defender as well as a fantastic attacking one.
I think he is in a situation similar to DDG, where as people saw DDG's first few games and made up thier mind he is shite, people who saw Rafael early in his career have decided he cannot defend and this is how it will always be in thier head, no matter how flawed thier thinking is.
I think he is in a situation similar to DDG, where as people saw DDG's first few games and made up thier mind he is shite, people who saw Rafael early in his career have decided he cannot defend and this is how it will always be in thier head, no matter how flawed thier thinking is.
First impressions do matter. It is important to remember that Rafael is only 22, similar age to Welbeck and de Gea (ok, he's a goalkeeper but point still stands), younger than Cleverley- only the ridiculous fans are writing these players off.
When Rafael first started at United he had almost no experience of competitive football at all, he was stopped from playing for almost 2 years after signing for United at 16 because his club didn't want him getting injured before he turned 18 and completed the transfer. His first few seasons he was getting by on talent, natural ability and coaching, when experience is every bit as important- especially for a defender.
Still don't see what they don't get GNev or Irwin down to Carrington for a few coaching sessions. We have two of the PL's best ever FB's on the staff and we should use them.
What's the point when we're the club that helped them become as good as they did and hence can provide the same coaching to Rafael ourselves?
So you wouldn't suggest Giggs or Scholes to teach our other young players, because the coaches that coached them can do so instead?
I'm not with that logic.
Thats bs, him and his brother got frozen out as united signed them both for minimal amount and fluminese(?) wanted them to stay there instead of signing contracts with united.
Specialist coaching from a specialist in that position.
Similar to when Cole and Ole have been used in the past to coach our strikers
Well, that isn't what I heard. What I saw at the time was that we agreed a fee of around £4-5m for both and they didn't want them getting injured, even letting them travel to Carrington fairly often- but whatever, the point still stands, both really lacked experience when they arrived at United.
That is my understanding too. They weren't going to be Flu players, so they did not want to do anything with them.
You're forgetting that Neville was still playing when Rafael and Fabio arrived. Their careers overlapped for a couple years.
Another 90 minutes for Rafael today. Hope he gets his rest in for Arsenal, he's the only one who's played every minute of the 2 Chelsea games.
feck, add another 30 minutes to his shift, then.
Looked cream crackered, another excellent shift, tried to defend all 4 positions at times.
I love him. You have a heart of stone if you don't.
Do you think he's still running?
He's fecking incredible.
He's fecking incredible.
Was just so so good tonight, love him. (feck off Arsenal)
What a player. Like Irwin he just looked equally as comfortable at left back.
Did well covering for some of Wooton numerous mistakes. Becoming one of the first names on the sheet.
I'd love to know how far he actually ran...
Had the aura of a key first-team player tonight.
- Status