Rafael da Silva | 2010-14 Performances

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Inigo Montoya said:
The most sensible assessment yet.It happens when players are tired.The workrate the defence put in was immense.

We need to stop looking for scapegoats when we in reality gained a point not lost 2
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I don't even think it was tiredness, infact the opposite. For the last 15 minutes we had no outball and were constantly on the back foot, Rafa tried to give us an outlet to relieve the pressure and unfortunately it backfired. Had he received the ball and managed to keep the ball in Spurs' half we'd be heralding his decision to "run away" as genius. It was unlucky.
 
Joemo said:
As Ekeke says, I thought he tried to press the ball then when the ball was available he ran off expecting a pass from Jones (I think it was) but they both left it for each other. It was just a breakdown in communication, hardly a mistake on Rafa's part.
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yep think thats reasonable without seeing a gif of it. He also was a touch slow in getting back but I think he expect one of Jones/Valencia to press the ball and they just backed off
 
Regardless of a lack of communication or whatever else I blame Rafael for the goal. I just think it was really poor play. He didn't get back quick enough to cover the cross either.
 
Swaters16 said:
Regardless of a lack of communication or whatever else I blame Rafael for the goal. I just think it was really poor play. He didn't get back quick enough to cover the cross either.
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I agree, I like Rafael a lot but at that late stage of the game when there were 2 defenders around him and Valencia he should not have left the ball and start running. He was playing like we're on a counter attack needing to score, he should have done the safe thing and cleared it.
 
As well as he is playing, very surprised he hasn't been called up to the Brazil squad. Feel for him but, guess glad for United.
 
Shimo said:
As well as he is playing, very surprised he hasn't been called up to the Brazil squad. Feel for him but, guess glad for United.
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Very surprised indeed. With the progress he is doing, he will probably be one of the best right backs in the world until WC next year, and he should have been called. Although, I would be surprised if he can make right back spot his own. Alves is still better.
 
By all accounts Alves is having a very mediocre season and the few times I've seen him play, haven't seen anything to refute those accounts.

Oh well, as I said feel for Rafael but, probably a good thing for us.
 
Revan said:
Very surprised indeed. With the progress he is doing, he will probably be one of the best right backs in the world until WC next year, and he should have been called. Although, I would be surprised if he can make right back spot his own. Alves is still better.
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It's not that surprising, he had some issues with the Brazil squad during the Olympics.
 
Shows reputations have a big influence on selections really. Rafael is easily good enough to be in the squad at the moment. Though him being left out is a good thing for us. Gives him a bit of a rest before our next game.
 
SharkyMcShark said:
Apparently still suffering the effects of a poor Olympics final (according to Fernando Duarte when the squad was announced).
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He implying that the Brasil management are still miffed at his showing or that Rafael has mental issues playing for Brasil after the final ?
 
Let them think what they want, Rafael has been superb for us this season and their loss is our gain.
 
SharkyMcShark said:
Apparently still suffering the effects of a poor Olympics final (according to Fernando Duarte when the squad was announced).
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I still don't get this. He had a poor game, but so did most of the team. And the incident with Juan(I think) wasn't completely his fault. Juan was acting a gobshite by sprinting past him, meaning Rafael had two options: a) try and find Juan with a pass that was never gonna come off, or b) tap it out of play for a throw in. Not great options, and looking back he probably should've went with 'b', but I wouldn't blame him hugely for that. Granted, the way he reacted to Juan telling him off wasn't great, but again, iirc, Juan ran over to him screaming in his face.
 
SharkyMcShark said:
Management still miffed (as opposed to him suffering mental issues)
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Then screw them - they still had almost 90 minutes as a team to fix the mistake. Best thing he can do is next week shut Ronnie down and show them - see this is what the hell you are missing.
 
We all know that Rafael certainly deserves a spot in the Brazil-squad based on his games with us this season, but I'm honestly a little bit happy about him getting some rest during Internationals.
 
Burrow said:
We all know that Rafael certainly deserves a spot in the Brazil-squad based on his games with us this season, but I'm honestly a little bit happy about him getting some rest during Internationals.
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Even though he seems to have put his injuries behind him, it's a relief in that regard too. I fail to believe that Rafa is prone to tiredness. He looks like one of those players that can run forever.
 
Better to be safe than sorry though. A weeks rest is probably all positives for him, and I'm sure he'll only try to do even better when being left out of the national side.
 
Brilliant so far again today. Great pass for the van Persie goal too.
 
What a season he's having. Such a complete footballer. He's got the lot.m
 
The best right back in the league by some distance.
 
Class. Explosive in everything he does.

I didn't think explosive defending was a thing, but it fecking is.
 
Opposition fans can be completely clueless at times when it comes to United players.
 
Marvellous player. I'm glad the United supporters are recognising his magnificent form this season as he never gets a mention in the media. Sagna, Johnson and Zabaleta all get the plaudits in the right-full position, but Rafael is the best of the lot in my view. He's matured beyond recognition in the past number of years. His dismissal against Bayern in 2009 made him a scapegoat for many, but how things have changed. This week against Madrid he'll be up against one of the best players in the world and I bet there's not a Manchester United fan in the world who wouldn't want him in that situation.
 
Excellent first half performance by Rafael, brilliant through ball for the second goal.
 
Zabaleta has been great this season, but Rafael has been much better. I don't think that is even close who is the best right back in the league.
 
What is important is how well he's developed this season. If this development continues, and nothing suggests it won't, he'll claim the RB spot in the Brazillian NT too.
 
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