Because he hasn't been injured for months. He's just been frozen out. The thing with his jaw wouldn't have kept him out if LVG really wanted him to play.
Rafael and Pereira join the U21s for a trip
- Thread starter Sean_RedDevil
- Start date
We had to badger Louis into playing Herrera, which I don't think anyone would now disagree was the obviously right move. Now we have to badger Louis into playing our only experienced and best right fullback, Rafael da Silva. Keep it up, amigos!
Unless, of course, Rafael does in fact suffer from some kind of chronic "muscle malfunction".
Unless, of course, Rafael does in fact suffer from some kind of chronic "muscle malfunction".
This was last week when Rafael was training with the u21s in preparation for Tuesdays game but dont let that get in the way of the over reactions
Have Barcelona bid for him yet ?
Runs away
Runs away
Well no as a right back Valencia has regularly been caught napping or gone wondering, I don't particularly blame him for it either because its not his natural position. Rafael's rashness has been vastly over exaggerated, it was the case when he was younger but he is no more rash than the likes of Zabeleta or Piszczek, its part of the package of a modern fullback to be aggressive, gone are the days of Neville style fullbacks. He's also far better in attack, he knows when to overlap and our pace quickens when he's on the ball.
Injuries are of course a massive concern with Rafael but the point still stands that he is our best right and should play whenever fit. We can look to replacement him next season with someone of the same talent but less injury prone, there's no point dislodge him for an inferior player.
Joe Rothwell, the lad in the red hoodie.
I'd be well relaxed and going with the flow if I were Rafa. He's on the same wage in the U21s and visiting hospital patients as he is playing week in/out as first team RB.
I don't think Rafael is capable of the run Valencia made in the run up to van Persie's penalty at Anfield in 2012/13.
Speed is the only thing Valencia has over Rafael in terms of playing RB.
I think Valencia would offer more of a physical presence also.
As I said, how do you know?
You're speculating as far as I can see. His injury record & how LVG needs players to get rythym back prior to returning, would be pointers to the issue LVG may or may not have with him. Plays 3 or 4 games & injured, so being him back slowly, may be the method the club are using. Seems that injuries are being far better managed now than for the last several seasons. Him not being injured for about 6 weeks means nothing.
If you believe that, you've no idea how LVG works. Herrera earned his place & took his chances. Van Gaal does not listen to the fans, he's very much his own man & believes his philosophy is the correct method.
Maybe statistically rafael has a higher error rate per game than valencia? Maybe LvG likes more speed and physicality than Rafael provides. Maybe Valencia is a less risky player to have have you already have a really shaky defence. Maybe Rafael is less able to play the way LVG wants his defensive players to play.
Herrera had already earned his place before he got dropped without justification.
Louis has succumbed to fan pressure already by abandoning the woeful 352, reinstating Herrera and dropping Falcao. It's possible that he would have done all these things without fan pressure, but he took these actions soon after the fans made their views known.
Louis is under tremendous pressure to produce a top four finish. Had he persevered with the 352, benching Herrera and playing Falcao and capped things off by falling out of the top four everyone here as well as Louis knows he wouldn't have survived to see next season. As it stands now, by abandoning the 352, reinstating Herrera (whose only crime was breaking his rib) and dropping Falcao he's shown a willingness -- at least to some degree -- to listen to the fans. Even if we drop down to fifth he may have bought himself just enough faith from the fans by not being stubborn fool he was at risk of being.
Yes, Louis does believe in himself. But Louis is fully aware that football is ultimately a business and that customers cannot be ignored. Had we been cruising along atop the table he could do whatever he wanted, but being at risk of becoming the next Moyes he had to listen to the fans. That doesn't be necessarily mean he'll ever play Rafael again, but there's no question he heard the fans loud and clear on his tactics and choice of certain key players.
This thread is a car crash.
This always bug me. How does LvG/manager know what the fans want? Through the media? reading the Caf? or else?
The fans chanted 442 at a match once and van Gaal clearly shit his pants.
That's utter crap. He's a good defender
that's where that itchy feeling came from.No he's decent at one on ones but when teams attack down the left I'm fed up seeing him switch off at the back post. Good defender no way not in a million years but a real competitor yes that's fair to say.
Just to summaries Rafael is brilliant at going forward and a good defender also! Makes you wonder why we have not seen this over the last 7 seasons. The more this guy doesn't play the better he becomes, once we get a quality right back we won't look back on Rafael so fondly imo.
You spout some right shit don't you?
Can only give you my opinion Ivaldo sorry you don't agree but rather than just give abuse you want to say where the shite is?
We've discussed it already, its a massive exaggeration based on a young Rafael. Its sad when a player gets tagged with something like this and no matter what they do, especially if its isn't statistical like goals scored. The same crap will continually be spouted.
Eh?
Summarising the thoughts of fan boys of Rafael!
It's what we are seeing time and again when he plays. He switches off he's not a good defender imo.
Nice to see the official U21 players getting a little run out at the end of today's match.
Will be gone in the summer & never play for the club again as LvG hates him oh er.... LvG putting him in the shop window....