Raph

[Monaco_Totty]

Rapha is choking performance wise, for sure - 2 reasons for it maybe are/were distraction off the pitch & Bielsas strict tactical guidelines wanted from him.

Recall hearing Nicolas Anelka talking about football Agents daily distracting him over his financial affairs & how his Agents rammed home to him how important it was to compound every money avenue offered to him as football was such a short career.
His self-motivational natural drive suffered as a result of such off-pitch distractions.
That mental distraction caused physical repercussions to his performance & confidence ultimately resulting in poor decision making in all areas of his life.

Put simply - the 'Challenge-Mindset' of elite footballers like Rapha on the pitch are when they view a competitive situation as an opportunity to increase their set of skill resources which he regularly contributed last season.
But a 'Threat-Mindset' is when any situation on the pitch is viewed only as an opportunity, which a player then fears he may lose some of his existing skill resources and as such quickly loses confidence in doing what is required at that moment in time as we've seen this season.

Honestly think his natural enthusiasm to play had been 'harnessed in' by MB & hopefully under JM he'll be given more individual freedom to fully express his natural game flair.

Distracted mind-sets will always override confidence until positive focus is regained.
Takes real self-discipline to stay focused & confident particularly when reliant on a decision support system & the quality of it on & off the pitch, in my view.

[Billyni]

Are you suggesting that MB wasn't using raph correctly or getting the best out of him??😮😮

[Monaco_Totty]

Are you suggesting that MB wasn't using raph correctly or getting the best out of him??😮😮

Rapha's Agent Deco [http://www.d20sports.com/en/] at end of Oct21 was insisting that the player was happy at his current club, though while he is not “in a hurry,” he admitted Raphinha “has ambitions to play at a higher level.”

“Raphinha is happy at Leeds and for sure the time will come to take the biggest leap in his career, to take a step forward,” he explained.

“He has a three-year contract, but it is not the contract that defines the length of stay or prevents transfers.

“Leeds are aware. They will want to make an important sale, and Raphinha will end up growing in his career.

“Raphinha has a market and Leeds have high expectations, it was never a project in a hurry.

“He has ambitions to play at a higher level despite Leeds being in the Premier League but this is not the time, things will happen naturally.”

Let's face it Leeds got him with 'conditions attached' & maybe signing James was for a reason. Leeds have been watching many wingers throughout this season also, again for a reason. Whether we can utilise our asset in Crysencio Summerville remains to be seen by JM now.
Whatever wingers require a forward target in the box to hit crosses to & with JM hopefully 2 up front will become the norm instead of the current 1 that we've tactically adhered to since the Chris Wood days.

Yes, I do think Rapha's exuberant flair & maverick style was technically shackled unlike his roles at Rennes & I've commented on that point many times as I work alongside many Rennes supporters in the Brittany region I live in who knew his full potential.