Rafael Da Silva Must Think Christmas Has Come Early

Rafael da Silva (one of the two in the picture, left, I hope Fergie can tell them apart) must think Christmas has come early for him !! He could be about to get an extended run in the Manchester United team after Wes Brown underwent surgery on an ankle injury. Add to this the injury to Gary Neville and the fact that he has made an immediate impact with Sir Alex, then the future looks rosy for Rafael.

Joining Wes Brown on the sidelines is Dimitar Berbatov, who strained his thigh in Bulgaria's recent 6-2 drubbing at the hands of Nemanja Vidic's Serbia. It looks like Berba will be out for 10 days missing three games so it's not too bad.

Also on the list of absentees are Paul Scholes, Owen Hargreaves and Gary Neville......
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Rafael Da Silva Is A Problem Admits Fergie

For a long time Manchester United fans showed concern that we were a bit weak in the right back position once Gary Neville had been injured 2 years ago and was out for 14 months. We had Wes Brown, John O'Shea could step in if needed and Owen Hargreaves can play there too, injury permitting, but all of these were 'dubious' replacements for the captain.

Now, Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admits Rafael da Silva has handed him a new selection headache.

He said: "In football, when a guy turns the corner you cannot do anything about it, Rafael is a great talent and his performances are telling me I have another problem at right-back. Wes (Brown) himself came in at 18, played against Hasselbaink in his first game against Leeds and he was superb. It is a learning process playing against that power and experience. Premier League football is not easy. I didn't realise how big Brunt was and what a nice left foot he had, so that presented a challenge for Rafael. For periods in the game he was finding his way and it was only when I was going to take him off that he started to play the way we know he can. He was excellent. The positions he took up and the penetration from deep positions was absolutely superb. It gives me a selection problem that is good for the club."

So it seems Manchester United still have a problem at right back, but now the problem is a good one.....Back To Home Page

Rafael Gives Fergie A Selection Headache

Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed Brazilian teenager Rafael Da Silva is now an integral part of his Manchester United first-team squad.

The 18-year-old has been handed starts against Aalborg and West Brom in recent weeks and Ferguson now accepts he has another selection dilemma on his hands at right-back with club captain Gary Neville and Wes Brown also vying for the position.

"In football, when a guy turns the corner you cannot do anything about it," he said. "Rafael is a great talent and his performances are telling me I have another problem at right-back."

At Champions League level, Aalborg did not offer much of a threat, leaving Rafael to attack down the right flank at will. Saturday's clash with West Brom was somewhat different. While the result was eventually quite one-sided, the Baggies gave a decent account of themselves during the first half. The pace and power of West Brom winger Chris Brunt provided Rafael with a tough examination of his talent, which is just what Ferguson wanted to see; a reminder of the task a similarly-aged Brown faced against Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink when he encountered Leeds a decade ago.

"Wes himself came in at 18, played against Hasselbaink in his first game against Leeds and he was superb," said Ferguson. It is a learning process playing against that power and experience. Premier League football is not easy. I didn't realise how big Brunt was and what a nice left foot he had, so that presented a challenge for Rafael. For periods in the game he was finding his way and it was only when I was going to take him off that he started to play the way we know he can." .....Back To Home Page

Rafael To Bring Down The Curtain On Wes And Nev's United Careers

There was a veiled plea to Fabio Capello from Sir Alex Ferguson yesterday to spare Wayne Rooney too many exertions in the international break ahead. But it is one of the England manager's defenders, Wes Brown, who may have most cause for concern as he faces being eclipsed at Old Trafford by Manchester United's new star.

Ferguson's appraisal of the performance in Denmark on Tuesday of right-back Rafael da Silva – one of the Brazilian twins from Fluminese – was justifiably full of praise. "The boy has an understanding of the game and a talent, that's the reason," Ferguson said, when asked why Rafael had been selected ahead of Wes Brown (who struggled at Anfield and was dropped at Stamford Bridge). "We know Wes can do it, he has been here for 14 years. But it was there for all to see in Rafael. He's an attacking player, positive with great belief."

Fergie resisted playing Rafael in the heat of a local derby at Blackburn. With Gary Neville struggling again that might mean another chance for Brown to prove something. But the Brazilian's speed and several speculative efforts in Aalborg gives United on the right flank what Patrice Evra has delivered so well on the left.

Just as the arguments were still raging on as to whether Wes or Nev should get the right back postion now Nev was fit again, we have the rather spectacular entrance of Rafael to add to the argument and in my opinion, by this time next year Rafael will be one of the first names pencilled onto the team sheet for each match. Wes and Nev have 30 years service between them at United but there comes a time when it has to end - and Rafael looks like he might bring down the curtain on these two guys !