I thought he did well today, he gives an attacking threat more so than our wingers at the minute. Can't really blame him too much for the goal it was just a quality strike. Passing was a problem for the whole team I think its hard playing with Valencia at the minute he takes so long to make his mind up and often just looses the ball leaving Rafeal to try and race back.
Rafael da Silva | 2010-14 Performances
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Look tired like a lot of players, uncharacteristically poor in possession.
Poorest game of the season. He'll come back stronger. Needs to sort out the panicky clearances. I'm surprised Pete isn't in here pulling him up for dribbling around our box!!!!
No, he wasn't that bad. That would be the Reading game where he was subbed off after half an hour.
Looked knackered to me.
Think the Madrid game took alot out of him. Some really lazy slap-dash clearances.
Think the Madrid game took alot out of him. Some really lazy slap-dash clearances.
He wasn't that poor against Reading. Yesterday, Rafael was all over the place. Against Reading, he got skinned a few times and was taken off because our whole defence was shite and we decided to put in Smalling for some height.
there were times where Rafael was on the left side of the pitch! Why? This is not real mate. It's feckin Chelsea. He ran himself ragged for no reason.
Looked liked he was struggling to use his brain today. Someone used the phrase 'emotionally and physically exhausted' - I think that applies to a lot of the lads today and certainly to someone like Rafael.
Hopefully we can get everyone fresh to ensure we achieve our primary objective this season...with added gloss.
Won't turn on Rafael and batter him for a poor display, he's had too good a season for anyone to give him unjust stick. On the day, it didn't work out for the majority of the team and I'm just glad in some capacity, we're still in the competition. With fresh minds and fresh legs we can win at the Bridge.
I'm sure Rafa is as eager as anyone to put it right.
Hopefully we can get everyone fresh to ensure we achieve our primary objective this season...with added gloss.
Won't turn on Rafael and batter him for a poor display, he's had too good a season for anyone to give him unjust stick. On the day, it didn't work out for the majority of the team and I'm just glad in some capacity, we're still in the competition. With fresh minds and fresh legs we can win at the Bridge.
I'm sure Rafa is as eager as anyone to put it right.
Tale of two halves with Rafael. First half I thought he was very good, was getting forward quickly and causing all sorts of problems down the wing with nani for chelsea. Got beaten a couple of times, but always got back and won the ball at the second attempt.
Second half we didn't see that anymore. From the looks of things we might have to give him a rest. Still didn't play badly in the second half I didn't think. Though we need to teach him to just switch the ball or run at the players himself instead of passing it forward to Valencia
Second half we didn't see that anymore. From the looks of things we might have to give him a rest. Still didn't play badly in the second half I didn't think. Though we need to teach him to just switch the ball or run at the players himself instead of passing it forward to Valencia
He is saved by his pace on a couple of occasions - outpaced Hazard a few times, but was fooled too easily in the second. Sometimes I wish he would just clear the ball. Looks like he's been watching Rio too much!
This after he was criticised by quite a few on here for, at worst, reacting half a second late for a goal scored by one of the best players of all time, criticised more than our other senior defenders who should actually know better than him.
Also, the goal wasn't his fault, but he did have a poor game. SAF probably should've known that a lot of our players were drained but he also probably wanted to give everyone an oppurtunity to 'bounce back'.
It seem he has been left out of the Brazil squad to play Italy and Russia.
Good news, means a two week rest for him after tomorrow.
Good news, means a two week rest for him after tomorrow.
They still haven't forgiven him for the Olympics, obviously. Who do Brazil have after Alves for the right back position?
Danilo from Porto has been playing recently, but have not seen the up to date squad. Probably a brazilian based player.
So it's safe to say Rafael is their best option after Alves. They'll come round, eventually.
They do play Luiz at CB so I wouldn't worry about a decision to leave Rafael out,
Rafael definitely deserves a call up, but in a selfish way I'm not too disappointed because already this season he's played much more football than in any of his previous seasons (despite still having 10 league games to go) so the two weeks rest for him will be a definite plus.
Strange decision to not include him in Brazil squad. Judging by only this season, he has been the best Brazilian RB.
Even though I'm glad he isn't picked, because he won't get injured during the break, I'm still slightly disappointed for him. I bet he'd love to be Brazil's #1 right back in this current team. With the way he's been playing, as said above, he totally deserves it.
Rafael is the number 1 RB at Manchester United, how he can't get a look in for Brazil is amazing. I don't know how well Alves has been playing and I think we can forget Maicon seeing that he doesn't even seem to be the best RB at city.
Whether Rafael should be starting for Brazil is another debate but he should definitely be in the squad and I'd be amazed if he isn't taken to the World Cup.
Whether Rafael should be starting for Brazil is another debate but he should definitely be in the squad and I'd be amazed if he isn't taken to the World Cup.
They definitely hold a grudge over the Olympics, there really is no other explanation.
I dont know if people outside of utd fans, still think he is a dumb young kid who is rash in tackles and is a liability?, He has been solid this year.
Scolari won't pick him so the argument about whether Rafael is good enough is moot.
Brazil was getting very nervous about their chances of winning on homesoil next year, and so panicked and sacked a manager who had introduced youth into the squad.
Scolari will look for experience.
Brazil was getting very nervous about their chances of winning on homesoil next year, and so panicked and sacked a manager who had introduced youth into the squad.
Scolari will look for experience.
Yeah it's absolutely ridiculous. One day they'll realise, but it's not as if he's starting RB for Wigan athletic, Manchester United ffs.
Once you get an image...
I work in a sports department in an Israel newspaper and during the game in Madrid a colleague - the head of world soccer desk, no less, someone who does understand football and is actually a Brazil fan - twits that 'Rafael will never become the player Ferguson thought he would'. I told him he was one of our best players this season and is having a terrific year. He struggled to accept it.
This, Amir is completely right.
How long did it take Carrick to shake his image of being average?
People are so blind and once they get something in their head they don't let it go. It's the same with all the talk of De Gea etc.
It's ridiculous and these so called experts need to open their eyes and see what's in front of them. Rafael is not yet 23 and is Manchester United's number one right back, fact.
Do these people think they know better than Fergie?
Unfortunately, this is so with many players. Rio is still not where he was 3-4 years ago according to the "experts" on Norwegian TV, but whereas we who watch him play every match would probably say he has not had a better season for a very long time - almost faultless. They still go on an on about DDG and actually seem surprised when he pulls out a match winning save, only to negate it by saying that unfortunately he does lack presence in the box.
Rafael suffers from some mistakes in his youth, and those who do not watch us every game think that he still suffers from this - perhaps in the same way we still think Johnson is shit for Liverpool?
On the other hand, all other supporters think that Rooney is amazing because his stats are good and his reputation is still high. Had they watch him play they would agree that Rafael and Carrick have both been more influential, better and more important to our game this season - but they don't!
You sure he understands football? I work at a sports TV station and am on the same floor as sports journalists and I don't hear these kind of hyperboles and one of them is a massive massive Liverpool fan.
Unfortunately, this is so with many players. Rio is still not where he was 3-4 years ago according to the "experts" on Norwegian TV, but whereas we who watch him play every match would probably say he has not had a better season for a very long time - almost faultless. They still go on an on about DDG and actually seem surprised when he pulls out a match winning save, only to negate it by saying that unfortunately he does lack presence in the box.
Rafael suffers from some mistakes in his youth, and those who do not watch us every game think that he still suffers from this - perhaps in the same way we still think Johnson is shit for Liverpool?
On the other hand, all other supporters think that Rooney is amazing because his stats are good and his reputation is still high. Had they watch him play they would agree that Rafael and Carrick have both been more influential, better and more important to our game this season - but they don't!
I remember John Giles, RTE's 'senior pundit', talking about Ronaldo in 2008 as if he was the same stepover merchant he'd been three years before. It was obvious he didn't watch United games unless he was paid to do so.
Commentators can't watch every game, but they do tend to jump on the bandwagon of old ideas and prejudices.
I have a mate who supports Madrid and he rates him very highly. Would love to have him in their team instead of Arbeloa.
Congratulate him for having his head screwed on.
Rafael is a new breed of fullback which i think is the problem.
Too many old pundits see fullbacks as "defenders first, a second centre back", that can help start attacks off and mark the wingers.
The game has changed now, and fullbacks need to be better attackers than defenders half the time.
People remember him for having a few rash tackles in the start, but when was the last time he actually looked dodgy? the madrid game perhaps but Zabaleta looked even worse IMO.
Against reading it showed how badly we missed Rafael, its no coincidence that he is 1 of our highest passers on the team, he is a major offensive outlet and he is very good at doing that job.
I struggle to see how the Brazil team would benefit from a player of his calibre?.
I don't think it has anything to do with being a new breed of fullback, Brazil have a long line of fullbacks better going forward than they are at defending - the likes of Marinho back in the 70s through to Junior in the 80s and Roberto Carlos in the 90s. There have been fullbacks like that since at least the 70s across South America and Europe, the likes of Facchetti, Carlos Alberto, Krol, Amoros, Demyanenko, Cafu and Zanetti still have long-lasting legacies now because they clearly excelled going forward but they were still very good defensively. That's the standard modern fullback's have to aim for, this idea that because they're great going forward they can be forgiven for being poor defensively is all wrong IMO. Zanetti in many games is still Inter's best attacker but he's rock-solid at the back - that's a top-class fullback. Marcelo's a more influential attacking player than Zanetti but overall he contributes less to the team because the goals he sets up have to be balanced up against the goals conceded he contributes to, and when it's weight up like that Zanetti still comes out on top.
Anyone knows why he was taken off? Injury or tactical? 32 minutes only on the field.
Had to be an injury, wouldn't have thought anything bad though, he didn't seem in any discomfort.
He was behind Fergie on the bench. Don't know if that's important...
Injury from the sounds of things. Commentators were talking about his groin. Hopefully it just felt a bit tight and he came of as a precaution.
Fergie's said we've picked up 2/3 injuries so I imagine Rafael is one of them.
Groin injury won't play on Monday.
Edit: ah feck it.
Very bad for us.
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