[surf]

Rafael's injury record is why a new right back who can go straight into the team is the number 1 priority, in my opinion, in the transfer market.

 

[ryan_forlan]

I really hope he can play the Southampton and Pool game at his 100%

 

[charleysurf]

Rafael's injury record is why a new right back who can go straight into the team is the number 1 priority, in my opinion, in the transfer market.

Definitely. Going forward we have to think about cover for Shaw also though.

 

[Brightonian]

That reason is big enough. If he would be the only injury-prone player in the squad then it's maybe a different situation. But we have far too many of them and some of them must go.

I love Rafael to bits and think he's worth keeping for the games he can play as I don't think its potential anymore. He's just a top class right back.

That being said, if he can only play 6 in 10 matches, does that not make him 40% less effective than he should be?

Oh, I agree 100%, if he can't become more reliable fitness-wise then we need someone else of equal quality. I just don't like it when people use his absence as an excuse to start underrating his actual ability (which I don't think Sean was doing, but plenty in the Caf do.)

 

[Sam]

orafa2
2 days ago
Very good match well done boys . Back training normal tomorrow ready to help. Very happy @manchesterunited

 

[mazhar13]

Will he get the same treatment as Saha in the end? Or will van Gaal be more patient with him given his quality?

There are lots of good attacking full backs coming up, but few of them are actually good enough defensively. Given this, should we tolerate Rafael's injury-proneness as he's one of the few defensively good full backs, or should we weaken our right side, defensively, whilst getting a more constant figure there?

For me, I'd rather keep a defensively solid full back than not. Besides, it's not as if Rafael's as injury-prone as Saha or Hargreaves.

 

[Revan]

Will he get the same treatment as Saha in the end? Or will van Gaal be more patient with him given his quality?

There are lots of good attacking full backs coming up, but few of them are actually good enough defensively. Given this, should we tolerate Rafael's injury-proneness as he's one of the few defensively good full backs, or should we weaken our right side, defensively, whilst getting a more constant figure there?

For me, I'd rather keep a defensively solid full back than not. Besides, it's not as if Rafael's as injury-prone as Saha or Hargreaves.

I think that we should stick with him this year and see what happens. If he continues getting injured, then in the summer, we should probably go for Coleman. Rafael is my favorite player, but if he isn't fit for half of the matches, then we should probably look for someone else.

 

[Sam]

I'm wondering if the way Rafa has worded that tweet means anything, he says back to training normal, so maybe that means he's been back in training (which he mentioned a couple of weeks ago iirc) but that was to build his fitness up, and now he's back with the first team.

It would fit in with the way LVG seems to like it done. I.e two weeks of training after an injury before being ready for selection.

 

[Sean_RedDevil]

Oh, I agree 100%, if he can't become more reliable fitness-wise then we need someone else of equal quality. I just don't like it when people use his absence as an excuse to start underrating his actual ability (which I don't think Sean was doing, but plenty in the Caf do.)

He has few fantastic qualities in his game and to be honest i can see him stay for a long time at Old Trafford* (even if one day Barca or Real Madrid would be interested in him)

His character is also perfect for a United player. Dirty bastard...we don't have many of them in the squad and he gives always 100%.

But i'm far from happy with his head......the Leicester penalty situation or his stupid early yellow card against Chelsea.....he must really improve that

*I really rate Rafael and love him but like said many times it's now the time that he stays fit in the next months or he'll have no chance to be our starting RB next season

 

[Sied]

I'm wondering if the way Rafa has worded that tweet means anything, he says back to training normal, so maybe that means he's been back in training (which he mentioned a couple of weeks ago iirc) but that was to build his fitness up, and now he's back with the first team.

It would fit in with the way LVG seems to like it done. I.e two weeks of training after an injury before being ready for selection.

As he also seems to like bringing players back to fitness via the U21's, I wonder if his exclusion from tonight's game means anything. However Falcao skipped that step, so perhaps it's only used for players who've had longer absences like Evans.

 

[Gannicus]

I'd really like to see Varela given a chance to show his stuff in the English prem next season. As a point of interest, Varela was included in Real's CL squad for 14/15, so one has to conclude he has some ability.

 

[ricky-romeo]

shame injuries kept on disturbing him. he is class.

kind of agree we need a good back up. i'll take a phil neville kind of a player now. someone who is a good option at RB and LB. valencia has been doing well as a back up although van gaal might have second thoughts about starting him there against the big sides.

 

[Eric'sCollar]

kind of agree we need a good back up. i'll take a phil neville kind of a player now. someone who is a good option at RB and LB.

If only he had a twin or something.

 

[ivaldo]

He has few fantastic qualities in his game and to be honest i can see him stay for a long time at Old Trafford* (even if one day Barca or Real Madrid would be interested in him)

His character is also perfect for a United player. Dirty bastard...we don't have many of them in the squad and he gives always 100%.

But i'm far from happy with his head......the Leicester penalty situation or his stupid early yellow card against Chelsea.....he must really improve that

*I really rate Rafael and love him but like said many times it's now the time that he stays fit in the next months or he'll have no chance to be our starting RB next season

I find it incredible that people are still blaming him for the Leicester penalty! Its beggars belief! He's fouled, then DOESNT commit a foul and that's his fault, explain to me in what world that makes any sense. If you are judging him on things he hasn't done then I can't see why you want him out.

 

[Pexbo]

I find it incredible that people are still blaming him for the Leicester penalty! Its beggars belief! He's fouled, then DOESNT commit a foul and that's his fault, explain to me in what world that makes any sense. If you are judging him on things he hasn't done then I can't see why you want him out.

I want to punch people in the back of the head and kick them in the pancreas any time they suggest that was Rafael's fault.

 

[slir32]

I want to punch people in the back of the head and kick them in the pancreas any time they suggest that was Rafael's fault.

Imagine the abuse Rafael would have received if he didn't get up and attempt to close down the diver form Leicester.

 

[Sultan]

*I really rate Rafael and love him but like said many times it's now the time that he stays fit in the next months or he'll have no chance to be our starting RB next season

Being injured is hardly a choice. I'm sure he'd love to stay fit.

 

[sullydnl]

I find it incredible that people are still blaming him for the Leicester penalty! Its beggars belief! He's fouled, then DOESNT commit a foul and that's his fault, explain to me in what world that makes any sense. If you are judging him on things he hasn't done then I can't see why you want him out.

Isn't that the one LvG said Rafael could do better on?

 

[Smores]

We just need another young prospect surely rather than a full on replacement.
Its incredible that for 3 seasons now we've not had a young backup to Rafael who could use these injuries to gain experience

 

[NotoriousISSY]

Isn't that the one LvG said Rafael could do better on?

He could've done slightly better from a defensive point of view, but it doesn't justify the award of a penalty...because it wasn't a penalty.

 

[Loublaze]

I'd really like to see Varela given a chance to show his stuff in the English prem next season. As a point of interest, Varela was included in Real's CL squad for 14/15, so one has to conclude he has some ability.

Stupid decision to let him go IMO.

 

[Sean_RedDevil]

I find it incredible that people are still blaming him for the Leicester penalty! Its beggars belief! He's fouled, then DOESNT commit a foul and that's his fault, explain to me in what world that makes any sense. If you are judging him on things he hasn't done then I can't see why you want him out.

Yes of course he was fouled by the Leicester player (Vardy???) in the corner.....but as soon there was no foul given, he was back on his feet and runs back in the box to attack the Leicester player again......i could see Leicester will get a penalty......foul or no foul by Rafael.......Clattenburg thought he wants revenge

Of course it was actually Clattenburg's fault.....i just wanna say it wasn't a clever move by Rafael.....we had enough bodies in the box to stop the Leicester player

 

[Orton]

Yes of course he was fouled by the Leicester player (Vardy???) in the corner.....but as soon there was no foul given, he was back on his feet and runs back in the box to attack the Leicester player again......i could see Leicester will get a penalty......foul or no foul by Rafael.......Clattenburg thought he wants revenge

Of course it was actually Clattenburg's fault.....i just wanna say it wasn't a clever move by Rafael.....we had enough bodies in the box to stop the Leicester player

And if Rafael stays on the ground he gets shot down on for not getting on with it. Sorry but he can't win in that situation. Clattenburg was awful, end of.

 

[ivaldo]

Yes of course he was fouled by the Leicester player (Vardy???) in the corner.....but as soon there was no foul given, he was back on his feet and runs back in the box to attack the Leicester player again......i could see Leicester will get a penalty......foul or no foul by Rafael.......Clattenburg thought he wants revenge

Of course it was actually Clattenburg's fault.....i just wanna say it wasn't a clever move by Rafael.....we had enough bodies in the box to stop the Leicester player

What would've been the preferable action? Not to challenge him at all? Then he'd be berated for giving up. He didn't go in aggressively, he didn't even put a foot out, he did quite literally nothing wrong and yet still gets blamed for it?

 

[hundred_trillion]

I'm genuinely at a loss as to how this is still a conversation that people are having.

Rafael's only mistake was expecting Clattenburg to possess eyes, a brain and functional optic nerves.

 

[Kostur]

Any news on when he might possibly be back?

We need to fish for a new first choice right back in the market really.

 

[Borys]

Any news on when he might possibly be back?

We need to fish for a new first choice right back in the market really.

Absolutely. There are no sensible reasons to think he will suddenly stop getting injured.

 

[sullydnl]

I'm genuinely at a loss as to how this is still a conversation that people are having.

Rafael's only mistake was expecting Clattenburg to possess eyes, a brain and functional optic nerves.

If that was Rafael's only mistake then why did LvG say he should have done better?

He was obviously fouled beforehand and the ref was poor but it still wasn't good defending on Rafael's part, in the same way it isn't good defending when a player clumsily throws their leg out for an attacker to deliberately fall over.

 

[hundred_trillion]

If that was Rafael's only mistake then why did LvG say he should have done better?

He was obviously fouled beforehand and the ref was poor but it still wasn't good defending on Rafael's part, in the same way it isn't good defending when a player clumsily throws their leg out for an attacker to deliberately fall over.

Not one excuse has come out of van Gaal's mouth all season, he's never going to blame the referee there. I don't think it was transcendental defending but I don't think that he did anything wrong or that he made any kind of mistake, in the same way that the WBA guy that Ramires flung himself into last season didn't do anything wrong or make a mistake. Either way I have already exhausted my interest in this topic. At the end of the day it was two clear mistakes from Clattenburg and I think most can agree on that.

Absolutely. There are no sensible reasons to think he will suddenly stop getting injured.

Very sad, very true.

 

[wiz4231]

What would've been the preferable action? Not to challenge him at all? Then he'd be berated for giving up. He didn't go in aggressively, he didn't even put a foot out, he did quite literally nothing wrong and yet still gets blamed for it?

Exactly, I don't understand people views on this situation, what was Rafa supposed to do? It wasn't like the ball was going out off play or Vardy was cornered with no passing options. Vardy was free, in the box with options for a pass, Rafa did the right thing, he closed down his man and put pressure on him, what's wrong with that?
The only thing wrong is Vardy going down like a sack of potatoes and clatternburg calling a clanger

 

[KiD MoYeS]

I'd like to continue with Valencia at right-back for now, he's played well there. And God knows when Rafael actually returns from injury.

 

[Sir A1ex]

I'm genuinely at a loss as to how this is still a conversation that people are having.

Amazing, isn't it?

 

[Chaky_Best]

Or probably buy a first choice RB this January or this summer.

We're all tired with Rafa's injuries and dips in form. I think that it's really time to settle a back four and since we can't rely on him too much we should go for a solid RB

 

[Nighteyes]

Or probably buy a first choice RB this January or this summer.

We're all tired with Rafa's injuries and dips in form. I think that it's really time to settle a back four and since we can't rely on him too much we should go for a solid RB

No doubt.

It's time to admit that he'll never lose his injury proneness and that '12-13 was the exception.

 

[Speak]

We'll be having these same conversations this time next year, no doubt.
Unless we sign a new right back.

 

[Chaky_Best]

We all love him when he’s playing well but too inconsistent. He can have a wonderful game like against Chelsea and his very good job on Hazard, but being so poor like a WBA a week later.

Do you think that Coleman is the right solution? Or maybe Clyne ?

 

[Sammyjunn]

Has someone followed Danilo? Always seemed like a proper prospect.

 

[Spielmacher]

Has someone followed Danilo? Always seemed like a proper prospect.

Got torn apart by world-class Stoke City winger Marko Arnautovic when Brazil played Austria last month.

Clyne or Coleman are the best shouts at the moment, should Rafa not make it.

 

[Crackers]

If we do dip into the market for a RB, I hope it's for a defensively solid one. Improve their attack, but being able to defend inline with the "philosophy" would be priority, for me.
Attacking fullbacks are great, but I'd want one equally good at both, and attacking is easier to get better at.

 

[Sammyjunn]

Got torn apart by world-class Stoke City winger Marko Arnautovic when Brazil played Austria last month.

Aah, but I'm not surprised by that, Arnautovic is the most unpredictable player in the world imo, he can be very poor at times, but when he has his matches, he's unstoppable. In terms of pure ability, he was by far the best in Eredivisie I remember.