Rafael da Silva | 2010-14 Performances

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rafa's confidence and form is mainly down to the long run his been given in that RB spot. He pretty much had most of last season to make the position his own because of injuries to Jones and Smalling. That has to be the key to bringing in youngsters by giving them a long run and not only a stint.
 
Most appearances (13) for United this season.

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On the bench for the first game of the season (a little break after the Olympics), rested against Newcastle in League Cup.

Hope Fergie doesn't feck this up when Smalling and/or Jones are back.
 
Another solid performance from Rafael and mistake free this time around. Still one of the quickest fullbacks around and he really is capable of creating something everytime he bombs forwards. Linking up really well with Valencia too.
 
Class again today. It's hardly surprising though is it, we always knew this is what he would be capable of given a run of games.

I expect there to be some degree of rotation when everyone is fit but hopefully not enough to ruin any kind of momentum.
 
Quite easily been United's best player this season along with RvP.
 
pocco said:
Did anyone ever doubt his talent or how good he could be?
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It's surprising but some people still don't actually rate him that highly from what I've seen. I mean, you'd have to have seen next to nothing of United this season or anything of Rafael before that whenever he got an extended run in the team, but these people exist! I was having my hair cut the other week and the guy was insisting that Ferdinand should be out the team and that Rafael wasn't all that. United fan, too.
 
It will take a while for opinion to catch up to reality, if you haven't seen him play a few games this season you might not realize he's taken a giant step up since last season.
 
I'm still not 100% convinced, for me, maybe not so much this season (so far) he is a red card waiting to happen.
 
Nate Dogg said:
I'm still not 100% convinced, for me, maybe not so much this season (so far) he is a red card waiting to happen.
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Well that just says something about your football paranoia more than the way Rafael plays.
 
Always considered him one of the most talented young players at this club. It's why I started this thread. He's a genuinely brilliant tackler and I love defenders like that. Glad to see him finding the right balance this season. Hope he carries on.
 
Nate Dogg said:
I'm still not 100% convinced, for me, maybe not so much this season (so far) he is a red card waiting to happen.
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He has really toned down his over-aggressiveness this season. He doesnt rush into his man any more and has stopped making those pointless freekick where the player is faced away from our area and isnt threatening. Its a huge improvement.
 
Time for a rest...let him recharge his batteries midweek. Lot of football already this season.

Evans had it easy against Arsenal. Evans can play midweek, Keane partner him in the middle and Smalling at RB.
 
pocco said:
Did anyone ever doubt his talent or how good he could be?
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Why should you be surprised he was very poor at times last season making very costly mistakes frequently mostly lapses in concentration. People can only judge him on his merits. This season we have seen massive improvements in this department and hopefully he keeps kicking on. As he is looking great at the moment.
 
Rafael can emulate Neville

Sir Alex believes Rafael can achieve the same legendary status as Gary Neville.

The Brazilian has once again earned praise for his development after emerging as one of the club's best performers this season. Critics may have pointed out flaws in his game as a youngster but, now 22, the right-back is looking a world-class talent.

"He's a Brazilian who trains like a beast," said Sir Alex. "He never misses training - the boy is just a football fanatic. When he goes home in the summer, he plays every day for his street team back in Brazil.

"Maybe he had rashness and the impetuosity of a young boy but somewhere along the line that maturity comes along and the rashness disappears. His form this season has been brilliant and the boy is really tough now."

Sir Alex was asked if he can see Rafael going on to enjoy a career similar to Gary Neville's distinguished stint. "Definitely," he replied. "There's no doubt about that.

http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-F...d-as-gary-neville-says-sir-alex-ferguson.aspx
 
He could even be better than Neville if he keeps improving. I thought Neville was fantastic, too - particularly around about the 2005 and 2006 period.
 
samabachan said:
Neville didn't really become consistently good until he was 27/28, I think a lot of people forget just how average he was even in his mid 20s. Rafa is just a beast :cool:
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Rafael is much quicker, better technical abilities, so imo he has a much greater talent, and I cannot remember Neville at his best being better than Rafael at his best now, and that is saying something as Rafael is still very young. To me, Neville was never as good as Evra was at his best, or Irwin for that matter.
 
samabachan said:
Neville didn't really become consistently good until he was 27/28, I think a lot of people forget just how average he was even in his mid 20s. Rafa is just a beast :cool:
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That's harsh on Red Nev. Average in his 20s? In what way. Gary was comfortably the best right back in the league from around 1998 to my eyes. Lee Dixon was good but lacked the versatility and beyond that who was there? Petrescu? I don't think there was ever a time in the last decade before the injury in '07 that Gary wasn't in the top 5 right backs in Europe. Which makes me very happy to see Rafa's progress because he really can become that good, probably better.
 
SATA said:
The scary thing is he can get even better as he plays on when he is already such a good player
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Definitely. Dribbling, in particular, is something that full-backs often peak in later than wingers. The likes of Evra and Marcelo make dribbling past players look so easy because they've learnt how to take advantage of the space they have to run at defenders at pace (which a winger rarely gets).

It's a shame Fabio hasn't had the same chances to develop. Who could resist the idea of two brilliant twin Brazilian full-backs bombing up the wings? :drool:
 
I still harbour hope for his brother. It must be great to see Rafael blossom like this. Shows what Fabio might achieve as well.
 
marjen said:
I still harbour hope for his brother. It must be great to see Rafael blossom like this. Shows what Fabio might achieve as well.
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Same as, I think Fabio just needs a prolonged run of games. Rafael is quickly becoming one of my favourite players.
 
Name Changed said:
Same as, I think Fabio just needs a prolonged run of games. Rafael is quickly becoming one of my favourite players.
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I agree. Fabio looked very good a couple of seasons back when he got that extended run at the end of the season.
 
Becoming one of my favourite players now - just brilliant in all aspects of the game and with his attitude, he will become one of the best
 
Believe it or not, a mate of mine still thinks Johnson and Enrique are a class above Rafael and would never swap the players....well ok then, I must've forgot they have the best XI in the league.
 
Of course I believe that. After all, the only reason Pool aren't top of the league is cause of those gosh-danged-blast-it officials!
 
Top said:
Sir Alex was asked if he can see Rafael going on to enjoy a career similar to Gary Neville's distinguished stint. "Definitely," he replied. "There's no doubt about that.
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:lol:

Just wanted to bump. Defenders never really get the praise for not fecking anything up. Despite spending 3 seasons trying really hard to give a penalty away in every game, it's always been evident how good he is.

I agree with Sults, best player with RVP this season.

All hail the Cabbage patch doll. Though I'm not completely convinced half of his performances haven't actually been Fabio.
 
Mockney said:
Just wanted to bump. Defends never really get the praise for not fecking anything up. Despite spending 3 seasons trying really hard to give a penalty away in every game, it's always been evident how good he is.

I agree with Sults. Best player with RVP this season.

All hail the Cabbage Patch Doll.
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:lol::lol:
 
Mockney said:
Bless him, he tried really hard.
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If only every player in our shirt showed his passion and commitment. That's not a slight on the rest of the lads, Rafael just seems to push that much more. As was said before its always been obvious he'd turn out to be a top class player.... only 22 still as well.
 
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