His first-touch for the Persie chance was amazing.
Rafael da Silva | 2010-14 Performances
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If there's one weakness, it's how he falls asleep on those rebounds.
This guy is going to captain us in the future. Excellent player, sums Manchester United up.
Aside from being slow to react, letting Sturridge nip in for their goal, his performance was pretty flawless. He really is a virtuosic tackler, and at a time when tackling is becoming harder and harder to do. Only Vidic has a better tackle in our squad.
Fantastic player and leader of our team. He really drives us on with his runs from deep and his ferocious tackling.
Love him to bits.
Love him to bits.
Love his energy, he's absolutely fantastic. He went to sleep with the goal though, but that's the sort of stuff he'll learn, all the other quality is there.
He's going to be the best right back in the world at some point in his career. He has all the tools.
I just love him. He gives it his all in every game. Plays with absolutely no fear whatsoever. Can't wait to see his brother in action for us again. They're like crazy hamsters on steroids with the proper touch of a brazilian.
As much as my gay side comes out when it comes to Rafael, I just have a feeling this "he'll grow out of these lapses" will come to pass. I just don't see how he is going to ever cut out those once in a blue moon lapses which end up costing a goal.
Everton and Bilbao last season. Today was a kind of one.
Too bad he stumbled before laying it to RVP, he probably would have scored himself if he hadn't. Would have been sweet considering him and RVP scored at Anfield.
Everton and Bilbao last season. Today was a kind of one.
Too bad he stumbled before laying it to RVP, he probably would have scored himself if he hadn't. Would have been sweet considering him and RVP scored at Anfield.
I think it's harsh to blame Rafael for that goal. I've been quite a vocal critic of the defensive side of his game in recent months but I really don't see how he could have done things differently.
Yes, he was slower to react than Sturridge but that's because the defender has to react to what the goalkeeper actually does whereas the striker can get away with taking a gamble on what might happen. Sturridge made the sort of striker's run you see players make dozens of times every match on the off chance that the 'keeper spills it - there's no way Rafael should have been making that run himself before he knew where the parry was going. It would have left a huge gap with no guarantee that the ball was even going to bounce into that region of the pitch.
Yes, he was slower to react than Sturridge but that's because the defender has to react to what the goalkeeper actually does whereas the striker can get away with taking a gamble on what might happen. Sturridge made the sort of striker's run you see players make dozens of times every match on the off chance that the 'keeper spills it - there's no way Rafael should have been making that run himself before he knew where the parry was going. It would have left a huge gap with no guarantee that the ball was even going to bounce into that region of the pitch.
I would say that Rafael should worry about guarding a man, and not guarding space. He's closest to Sturridge, and while I don't think you can say the goal is his fault, his lackadaisical reaction meant we had no chance to clear the ball after the save.
But he was good overall.
But he was good overall.
Continues to have a great season...but as has been mentioned, he and a couple of our other star performers this season(carrick & evans) have been caught ball watching at times this season after a shot has come in from the opposition.
He has added a ton of 'control' to his game - and very rarely looks out of position now. Hopefully he'll sit midweek, so he can be fresh for the challenge Bale will pose.
He has added a ton of 'control' to his game - and very rarely looks out of position now. Hopefully he'll sit midweek, so he can be fresh for the challenge Bale will pose.
There'll be quite a clash next week with both him and Bale down that side of the pitch.
For the first time this season i actually heard a non-United voice in the media put forward the question of Rafael being the best right back in the league yesterday. But if the rest still choose to see the player of a couple of years ago that works for us anyway.
For the first time this season i actually heard a non-United voice in the media put forward the question of Rafael being the best right back in the league yesterday. But if the rest still choose to see the player of a couple of years ago that works for us anyway.
Rafael tends to do really well against top wingers. It's against more mediocre opponents where he sometimes lets his concentration slip.
seems to be top wingers excel at dribbling and like to take on their defender where poorer wingers from poorer sides like to whip in crosses at any time and he can give up a lot of crosses. Half down to him and half down to our defensive system that likes our fullbacks to tuck in.
After RVP, I think Rafael has been our best player so far this season. Please let him stay fit!
He's so good already that even if his level of play was to never improve (something unlikely to happen), I'd be happy to have him as the starter RB for years
Was really good today. Plenty of times players tried to beat him only to lose the ball.
Should have done better in the Sturridge goal. Other than that he was brilliant, made a good chance for Van Persie (and I liked how he stayed on his feet, he could have easily drop and most likely we would had a penalty). Also he could have scored a goal if it wasn't for Welbeck bad concentration in the end.
After watching that, Rafael is the one at fault or the midfield for messing around with the ball instead of hoofing it upfield. De Gea's position was at the centre of the goal and there's no way he could have parried that to safety otherwise he would help the ball into the net with his fingertips.
You posted that in the DDG thread after posting the above post. Is their something wrong with you?
On watching that gif, that's very good play by Sturridge and I can't attach much if any blame on Rafael for that
Should've been closer to his man, shouldn't have been alseep but shit happens and it was probably his sole mistake.
Great player, pity Fabio hasn't developed as much as he has in the past couple of years.
Great player, pity Fabio hasn't developed as much as he has in the past couple of years.
ha ha.
Only just read this now, I like Rob Smyth too, good journo, excellent piece.
Glad to read a journo recognizing Rafa's improvement. Long overdue.
Wow. I love Rafa but he's clearly at fault there. Should be following the shot in. It's textbook stuff.
No surprise that Smyth rates Rafael. He is a Man Utd fan and watch every game of us and that's why has a genuine opinion over Rafael.
Martin Lipton, Daily Mirror's chief football writer just said two days ago that Rafael and Evans weren't good enough for Man Utd. and after that admitted that he hasn't seen us play that much this season and was judging by the game against Reading.
Martin Lipton, Daily Mirror's chief football writer just said two days ago that Rafael and Evans weren't good enough for Man Utd. and after that admitted that he hasn't seen us play that much this season and was judging by the game against Reading.
Rafa was actually aware of the situation, and had the ball fallen towards the centre of the goal he would have been first to the ball. Just so happens the ball fell perfectly for Sturridge from the save who was on his blind side.
Beast of a player, was the best of the pitch last night after Giggs. So much energy and passion, he's a delight to watch.
Smyth is normally a miserable piece of work, although good to see him recognising Rafael's progress this season i grant.
Sturridge had the run on him and Rafa lost sight when Sturridge made his run around the back of him.
Rafa was caught on his heels no doubt. He isn't even close to reaching it by the time Sturridge gets there.
He shut off for a split second and it cost him but thankfully didn't cost points.
Lapses in concentration are par for the course with young players though. It's not something I'm worried about. His positives outweigh any negatives this season by an absolute fecking mile.
I suppose blame can be assigned, then that can be the case for every goal to an extent. Anyway, Rafael, Smalling and Giggs were the few players showing any passion last night.
Becoming one of my favorite players I have to say. Huge fan.
Not just his obvious football talent, but his mental strength, passion, drive. He has the abilitiy to lift the other players and he bombs forwards many times and gives us that extra man upfront
Not just his obvious football talent, but his mental strength, passion, drive. He has the abilitiy to lift the other players and he bombs forwards many times and gives us that extra man upfront
isnt he starting to just look immense.
The more I see him I see he is developing into a fecking savage right back, he still makes the odd mistake but he has improved so much over the last 18 months.
We have a real quality full back in the mould of Irwin here.
I hope he gets even better.
The more I see him I see he is developing into a fecking savage right back, he still makes the odd mistake but he has improved so much over the last 18 months.
We have a real quality full back in the mould of Irwin here.
I hope he gets even better.
I really used to be one of those who were cautious to get too enthusiastic about him last season but in this one I'd be a fecking idiot to keep the same opinion.He has been great and consistent.So young too
Do people still question whether he has a football brain anymore?
ahhh, the famous redcafe "football brain", one of my favourites.
Wasn't that an exclusive Nani criterion ?
I thought it was developed for Rafael, and then Nani just ran away with it.
I just want to give him a big (man)hug.
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