Being that half the team will be new, then I think this "experiment" may work out once everyone gets in.
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nobody knows. Shouldnt he be fit 2 weeks ago? Just ridiculous speculation on my part but what if LvG said to him that he doesnt feature in his plans and should be looking for a new club.
But that's ridiculous, with him on one side and Shaw on the other, we'd be so much better, surely.nobody knows. Shouldnt he be fit 2 weeks ago? Just ridiculous speculation on my part but what if LvG said to him that he doesnt feature in his plans and should be looking for a new club.
We would be much better but Rafael needs to stay fit. I believe this will be his last year to prove he can play week in week out if not another RB needs to come in with Rafael as backup.
Was it SAF's last season, or the season before, when he was fit for a large part of the season, was one of the best right backs in the league and scored a number of goals? I remember having him in my FF team and him getting me loads of points.
That's the Rafael we need back.
It would be more than ridiculous it would be idiotic. Just like when glancing through this thread and in among the praise for prob the best rb in the league you read these clowns slating him for being injured.
We saw Mata drifting wide centrally on the right a lot against Burnley <or whover else weve played sadly>only to lay the ball to the ineffective Valencia to do what he does best for 3 years,feck all.
Rafael,and Shaw on the otherside,are absolutely essential,when going forward,to supply that extra runner to compensate for the lack of pace our front 3,more vanP and Mata rather tha Rooney,offer.
I dont see a problem with vanP,Rooney and Mata in the same team,they will work,and with players like Herrera/Carrick/Blind who are possession orientated,if we are going to try and pass teams to death we need that to have those few players that can burst and explode with movement and do away with our zombie nation passing.
Raf/Shaw/diMaria in theory offer the change this team has been crying out for.
Think we will see a change to a 4-1-1-2-1-1<really a 442> after the break to suit the panel.2 cbs,rb,lb,dm,cm,ram,lam,ss,striker.
--------------dave-------------
-------Jones-------Rojo--------
Raf-------------------------Shaw
------------------Blind----------
---------Herrera-----------------
Mata--------------------diMaria
---------Rooney-----------------
------------------VanP-----------
We can split to a 3 at the back when we having a go,move into a diamond, or drop diMaria into a 3 in midfield and Rooney when covering or under pressure.
We definitely need an alternative to him on the right that isn't called Valencia. He is just injured too often to not have a quality backup in his position.
If only we could transfer Valencia's durability into Rafael
Was SAF's last season when he was at his best. Stayed fit for most part and showed how well he would improve playing weak in weak out. He has actually improved with every season he has been here with the exception of last season. Then again, nearly the whole squad regressed last season and Rafa was no way the worst player in the squad.
When we get him back, we will see a difference as he is willing to run with the ball and take on people and also If Rafael starts, Valencia won't in the formation LVG plays. So just needs to stay fit, it is his only flaw nowadays.
That's right he was arguably the beast RB in the league that season. But he needs to stay injury free i can't see LVG having the patience with constantly injured players.
so will he be ready for QPR, anybody knows?
He was supposedly ready for Sunderland. Not sure what happened since then.
Had a knock right before the game I think. Said he was close to training a week ago.
Can't not wait to be on the pitch and enjoy a football. #veryclosed #training #love
I think one of the biggest problems of this apparent 3-5-2 if the lack of a wing back. If we played Young and Valencia with RVP up top and they did exactly the same we'd be calling it a 4-3-3. Therefore by definition we're playing a 3-3-4 (look at when Januzaj played as "wing back"), which is obviously too offensive.
With Shaw and Rafael it would be a far more versatile formation where you are solid and hard to break down when you don't have the ball (5-3-2) but attacking and incisive when you do.
With Shaw and Rafael it would be a far more versatile formation where you are solid and hard to break down when you don't have the ball (5-3-2) but attacking and incisive when you do.
My life feels more complete with Rafael fit and starting every game.
Do or die season for him. If he can't prove he can stay fit and reliable for a season we need to bring in a new right back.
Unless Van Gaal considers Valencia capable as a right back, we should bring in a new right back regardless of Rafael's fitness.
It's the only position we don't have cover for (or at least decent cover), strange knowing Rafael's past (injuries).
By far my favourite player, but there should be more competition at RB.
I'm a huge fan of Rafael but I do worry about his inability to stay fit, if only he had Evra's constitution. Personally I want to see an end to 3-5-2 and Rafael and Shaw playing as fullbacks.
It's funny but during the transfer window it was said LvG didn't like South American players because he felt they were mercenaries, yet 3 of the 4 he brought in are South American, so maybe it's just Brazilian's he doesn't like, or more to the point the ones that prefer partying to professionalism which has been a character flaw of many Brazilian talents over the years. Rafael doesn't have that flaw, his only problem is he's injury prone.
Its not just trying to take players on. But its about that space and if they have the balls to go up, try to attack and cross instead of just sitting back and trying to defend all the time. And the thing is they wont be isolated. If they are on the wing, then it sort of creates this 'M' or 'W' formation and that helps the attack. Picture something like the one below. If thats the case and Shaw does drag two defenders with him, Herrera pushes up and creates this formation. This is so much better than the one we are playing right now with the wing backs stuck at the half way line and central midfielders are too deep and they try to make something happen by playing long balls over the top.
Shaw-----------Rooney-----------Falcao
---------Herrera----------Mata------
-------------------Blind
From what I saw at the WC, Netherlands were playing a high defensive line and pushed up the field when they didn't have the ball. And the defensive mid stays behind to tidy up in case we lose the ball and in this case Blind/Carrick will have to play that role.
Do you think Kuyt and Blind took on two players at the same time at the WC? The answer is no because its not their job primarily to play as a winger but to be an option as an outlet when our attack needs one. Just running up the pitch might create space because that run drags a defender with them. This in turn creates a bit of space for others to run into or put in a cross.
Young and Valencia don't do attacking nor defending very well. They are stuck midway not knowing when to attack. If they don't push up when we have the ball, then we become way too narrow and expect the strikers to provide width and there are a couple of problems with this. One is they aren't exactly great at it because they like to play through the middle and two if they do go across and provide width, there is no one to cross the ball into the box to.
So he's expected to start against QPR then?
Hope so, actually think he'll be quality as a wing back. Willing to take risks too unlike turn back Tony.
Hoping so. He will make such a difference, either as a wingback or in a flat back four.
I think I'll be more excited to see him start that Falcao but, that's because I've got an unnatural desire to huggle him. What I wouldn't give to see LVG start him and Shaw with just 2 CB.
Young and skinny!Still think Valencia will be first choice right wing-back.
Rafael is better at going forward and better defending. The only thing going for Valencia is Rafael's injuries.
Remember his debut? Came on against Arsenal and scored a left footed volley only to immediately get the ball because we were down 2 to 1.
Besides improved fitness he needs to score and assist more because he has the ability.
Can't fecking wait to see him back.
Besides improved fitness he needs to score and assist more because he has the ability.
Can't fecking wait to see him back.
Wasn't his debut, was it?His debut was against Newcastle at OT on the first day of that season.
Fell in love with him that match at Arsenal. It was such a disappointing day, not often Arsenal out fought us but on that day they did. They wanted it far more than us but when Rafael came on, it all changed, he was driving the team forward, making tackles and well the goal was fantastic.
I still remember the tackle on Denilson I think it was, I shouted at the TV, give him the fecking armband.
I still remember the tackle on Denilson I think it was, I shouted at the TV, give him the fecking armband.
Will he be back this week?
Seems like he is available but going by van Gaal's want for fitness, I think he will be on the bench.
If the likes of Anderson and Cleverely can get so many years at this club despite being shite, Rafael can get more time given the fact that he has proven to be a solid right back and the last title winning year he was fit most of the season.
The difference is that there is a new manager now so times have changed. We have no idea how he will rate Rafael.
Anticipating his return to action just as much as most of our debutantes. His dynamism on the right is sorely missing when we have to witness Valencia predictably drill crosses at fullbacks shins week-in, week-out.
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Looking forward to seeing his name on the teem sheet and i pray he can stay fit for a few months straight,
Seconded. He'll make a big, big difference to our attacking play.
It would be brilliant if he got back to his 12/13 form. Was brilliant that season, level with zabaleta IMO. His main problem has always been injuries, lets hope he can get over them.
Even before the goal he was already urging the team on - he has such an infectious way of playing the game, in a good way that is. Definitely could use more of his ilk in the team.
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