Rafael

He's going to be the best Brazillian fullback since Cafu in my opinion, superstar in the making.
 
is anyone really suprised? He might make a mistake but his tackling is very clean alot of the time. Everyone can make a mistake. This kids golden if he keeps maturing.
 
His energy often makes up for his little mistakes. He is quick enough and energetic enough to get on the back side of his man more often than not.

Going to be a great player for us. As opposed to other latin players I actually think he could stay here for a very long while as well. But maybe that's just because he looks innocent.
 
Another very good performance today. He's certainly making a case for that RB spot his.

very good tonight. Couple of sloppy passes at the start of the second but really gave arshavin nothing and then swatted Nasri out aswell.

really growing into the roll and you can see the understanding between him and Rio/Vidic. Great defensive header at the far post too.
 
He's first choice by default.

Neville is virtually retired, Brown is injured and injury prone while O Shea offers little offensively so not much competition for him.
 
He's first choice by default.

Neville is virtually retired, Brown is injured and injury prone while O Shea offers little offensively so not much competition for him.

Not one of them are close to him atm, even if they were fit, and very likely never again.

He is one of the best full backs out there already.
 
He's first choice by default.

Neville is virtually retired, Brown is injured and injury prone while O Shea offers little offensively so not much competition for him.

True, but if he wasn't up for it, then we'd be seeing O'Shea every week and United would be shopping for a fullback.
 
I agree with all praise. I'm still worried Fergie might not be certain on the starting rb yet.
 
I agree with all praise. I'm still worried Fergie might not be certain on the starting rb yet.
I would think Fergie is pretty certain on who's the best RB. However with a large squad they all need playing time to keep match fit, cover for injury and give other players periods of rest. Rafael won't always play for those reasons, but he will play against the better teams, or those with tricky wingers.
 
As far as im concerned, the future is now.

Rafael IS our RB. We've tested him against all levels of opposition and the boy has handled them all with room to spare. It's remarkable how much he's improved the defensive side of his game under our tutelage. I could see how opponents would find him very annoying to play against. His tackling is relentless and he's on them so tight that they have no space to work in.
 
The way he has improved over the last 12 months is incredible. And to think that he is only 20 yet plays so consistent and mature.

He seems to be a great professional and I love his spirit and determination on the pitch. Will become a fans favourite for sure
 
Bayern has been the making of the lad for me, he's come back a big big player for us and has taken on board what's happened in the past and learned from it. I'm wanting to look for negatives to prevent myself getting carried away with how good he can become but they just aren't there at the minute.

He's more than just a great fullback though, his youthful exuberance rubs off on the rest of the team and we miss that when he's not there.
 
Fabio IMO will have hell of a battle to make it here because Patrice is still one of the best LB in the world. Rafael got his chance and took it but, with all due respect to Nev, Brown, O'Shea - at the time they weren't at the same level of Evra.

Fabio has been quite good in the few games he has got but, to get any consistent playing time -he'd have to jump from young and learnin to God's God. Hopefully he'll continue to be patient and when the time comes - he'll be ready to grab his chance the same way cuddly wuddly Rafael did.

Wonder what the chances would be for him at the end of the season to be YPotY. Wilshere may get that though - has the he is English and the next great hope for Ingerlund going for him.
 
Another excellent performance under his belt, defensively he has improved immensely in the last 9 months and I love it when he uses Nani as a decoy and drives inwards.

To think he is only 20 and already this good, I hope he is a lifer here because there is much more to come.
 
Staggering to think that when they first signed, Fabio was hailed as the better prospect.

To be fair to Fabio, he was never really going to get a chance in the first team against superhuman Evra who plays pretty much every game.
Rafael's had it easier competing against O'Shea, Brown and an ageing Gary Neville, all of whom are injury prone.

Having said that, when they've both played in league cup games Rafael does look better and more controlled, but he has had more experience in the team.