For me, he's surpassed Evra as our best fullback. Evra has had a very poor 2010.
Rafael
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik @Rood and Imran @Annihilate Now! start with the good news by celebrating Manchester United Women's emphatic FA Cup win over Spurs at Wembley and the future of manager Marc Skinner.
Then it's the bad news and the ever worsening form of our Men with losses to Arsenal and Palace.
Finally the main debate - ETH Out now or keep him until the end of the season - if not longer. Are you Team Nik or Team Imran?
Blasphemy.
He was incredible. Pretty much everytime someone tried to take him on he came away with the ball. So slick and dynamic going forward also. He and Nani in tandem are going to make a lot of teams look silly this season.
Ridiculous.
Comparatively poor is I think what he means. He did look a bit down at times last season.
Whatever...one more big performance to come, do well against the threat Chelsea will offer, and we can then really start the bandwagon rolling for him being potentially named in the PL team of the season.
He put in a top shift today. He's a good lad who has visibly risen to the challenge since the Bayern game last year.
He suggested Rafael is now our best full back, which is an over statement to say the least.
Evra hasn't been exceptional this season, he's been very consistently good for a long period since he's been at the club. A great asset and one of the best in his position.
Rafael is still young but showing promising signs. He made a few major mistakes which cost us last season, most noticeably getting sent off against Bayern. I have no doubt he'll turn into a great player, but by no means is he better than Evra.
Evra hasn't been exceptional this season, he's been very consistently good for a long period since he's been at the club. A great asset and one of the best in his position.
Rafael is still young but showing promising signs. He made a few major mistakes which cost us last season, most noticeably getting sent off against Bayern. I have no doubt he'll turn into a great player, but by no means is he better than Evra.
I still don't blame him for the Bayern thing. The referee was absolutely fecking shocking in that game.
On current form i'd say he is better than Evra tbh. He's made some excellent last ditch tackles/headers to deny certain goals in a number of games through October and November.
He seems to raise the bar after each performance. Just keeps improving.
He seems to raise the bar after each performance. Just keeps improving.
His second yellow was a bit soft. His first one though was stupid and unnecessary.
Correct.
The lad is becoming an absolute beast of a player. He's a big game footballer, and he's got that lovely, rare combination of being both a highly combative and yet highly creative (for his position) player.
I rate him very highly, I must say.
That goes without saying.
Evra's lapse of concentration allowed Olic to score the winner for Bayern in the first leg.
His defensive play has been alarmingly bad compared to what it was in 2008 and 2009.
I think Rafael offers just as much, if not more than Evra going forward and Rafael's defensive game is improving with each passing game.
His first one was pure frustration at a shite referee who should have blown up for the foul on him. It was daft and pointless of him to retaliate but with a better ref it would never have happened in the first place.
The second yellow was one of the softest you'll ever see, I would have booked Ribery instead for being a total cnut.
So good at this age. And so many full backs really reach their peaks only when they are older, far older, closer to 30.
With every passing game that Rafael excels in, Gary Neville gets closer and closer to retirement sadly.
what a game he had tonight! absolutely amazing, was talking about him to my friend on the way to the game, and he didn't disappoint!
Another brilliant performance against a tricky offensive combination of Clichy an Arshavin. His stock rises with very passing game.
Love his attitude in our "bigger" games. Sign of a good player
You know whats fecking depressing?
He's a month older than me. I'm a liability on my 5 a side team.
He's a month older than me. I'm a liability on my 5 a side team.
I don't blame him because two goals we conceded were because of very poor intelligence showed by the players on the pitch.
He's miles ahead in the pecking order as the RB. I really don't feel nearly as comfortable in defense when those 4 aren't playing.
Rafael has been magnificent. Has made the RB position his now.
Reminds me of Gary Neville in those days the way he goes forward. And he has improved his defensive qualities by leaps.
I have similarly been impressed with Fabio but he does not get as many games because of Evra or his injuries.
Reminds me of Gary Neville in those days the way he goes forward. And he has improved his defensive qualities by leaps.
I have similarly been impressed with Fabio but he does not get as many games because of Evra or his injuries.
he's very good but... what?
johnmufc, you must be high on something...
I honestly think we now have the best defensive back four in the premiership. Vidic and Rio are unbeatable on their day and the attacking flair of our fullbacks is brilliant. Both Rafael and Evra give us so much impetus going forward and Rafael's improving with every game defensively.
Honestly hope that -
Rafael - Rio - Vidic - Evra
is our lineup for years and years to come.
Honestly hope that -
Rafael - Rio - Vidic - Evra
is our lineup for years and years to come.
What a beast!
Quality player. Only RB i've watched this year who could keep Bale quiet.
The #1 RB is now his to lose.
The #1 RB is now his to lose.
There were quite a couple of RB's who have kept Bale quiet or you can say Bale just didn't perform well...
Nothing on young Rafa, but he did get Bale skinned twice imo. but with his overall form this season, if he keeps this up it will be between him and Ivanovic fighting for the best RB in the league with Sagna close by.
Zabaleta has also improved this season and has scored a few screamers.
Not to mention D.Simpson who is improving with every game in Newcastle.
In summary of that, I've watched most RB's and I've got to say, Rafael looks the most elegant and the most confident RB on the ball and we are very lucky to have him.
( Hutton has also been great from Spurs, good recovery from a very bad injury )
To be fair someone on this forum implied Smalling was better than Rio.
He's the only one who didn't think Anderson played great against Valencia. A bit of a spazzer basically.
Rafael was brilliant last night. I hope we lock this boy up long term - he'll be one of the best full backs in the world in 2 or 3 years.
I've noticed that he wants to win every tackle, header and you can see his desire to make sure that no one gets past him too.
If he stays injury free he could become an outstanding fullback for us.
If he stays injury free he could become an outstanding fullback for us.
It's hilarious how much better than Wiltshire he is.
Better clear that up.
Lil Jack is talked up massively as the future of English football, but Rafael has been doing his job all year without any massive plaudits. He's probably the best RB in the Prem, yet you never hear him talked up as one of the best young players when you get players like JW who've done nothing yet hyped massively.
Lil Jack is talked up massively as the future of English football, but Rafael has been doing his job all year without any massive plaudits. He's probably the best RB in the Prem, yet you never hear him talked up as one of the best young players when you get players like JW who've done nothing yet hyped massively.
Better this way than having to play the old guard all the time because there is no young player to take over
Rafael was fecking outstanding last night.
there was a thread at the start of the season where posters outlined their wishes for the season ahead, most posters hoped that rafael would get a regular run and by the end of the season be 1st choice - we've all got our wish as he's managed to nail the spot down within a couple of months
Rafa is a fantastic prospect who's easliy the best young player at the club and is indeed only going to get better and better. I'm chuffed for him as he seems a good honest lad too
Rafa is a fantastic prospect who's easliy the best young player at the club and is indeed only going to get better and better. I'm chuffed for him as he seems a good honest lad too
He was quality last night. He seems to have bulked up a bit as well which has obviously helped him.
Hes going to be a top top player in 3 or 4 years time.
Hes going to be a top top player in 3 or 4 years time.