The Mail Bag

Bily speaks out

Comments (27)

Seems like some of our players are beginning to get sick of our style of play now. You don't often read about players speaking out under Moyes, so not sure how Davy will take this one, but it suggests all is not well in the dressing room.

This from the Daily Mail


Diniyar Bilyaletdinov has hit out at Everton's crude playing style and questioned his team-mates' psychological strength amid a run of six Premier League games without a win.

David Moyes takes Everton to Sunderland on Boxing Day with his injury-hit side sitting 15th in the table, just two points above the relegation zone.

But Bilyaletdinov, 24, said: 'Our team are very good at playing passing football but we rarely do this. We create chances mainly by lobbing the ball forward and putting teams under pressure.'

His early goal against Birmingham on Sunday was cancelled out by Sebastian Larsson to ensure a third straight draw and the Russian is critical of his team for not holding on for a much-needed win.

'Crisis or coincidence?' he said. 'Call it what you like. The point is that for the umpteenth time we took the lead but could not hold on to it. It seems our problem is psychological.'

Bilyaletdinov revealed his manager had been quizzing him on out-of-favour Chelsea wide man Yuri Zhirkov, who can play at left back or on the wing.
Ian McDowell, Liverpool     Posted 24/12/2009 at 05:56:15

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Sean McKenna
1   Posted 24/12/2009 at 08:14:33

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At last, somone from the football club has complained about the style of our play, Bily says that Everton can play the passing game but rarely do this, he goes on to say that we lump the ball up the feild and put pressure on opponents to create chances....

Thank you, Bily, at last sombody has questioned Moyes's fucking useless tactics!! We all know we can pass the ball, so let them fucking do it Moyes! Does this mean there is a split in the camp?

Chris Keightley
2   Posted 24/12/2009 at 07:29:12

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I never thought I would say this about an Everton team, but feel it's time to say that the team no longer has leaders to drag us away from the drop. As recently as yesterday, Bily has decided to spout his two pennies worth, and i feel others will follow.

He states a lack of will and determination, and keeping the game simple, for our downslide; he mentions long balls, hoping for scraps, as our main weapon; he states that he is in a passing side but is failing to see this side of our game.

This worries me a lot as Bily is a player who would like to pass on the deck as the lovely game should be played, keep it simple, and break teams down... Things are bad but losing our ball players would return us rapidly to the Walter Smith days, a time that made me wonder if it would have been easier to follow Liverpool, like the rest of my family.

Everton this season are no longer a side a playmaker would want to come too... 22-1 for the drop in Corals last night seems worth a punt. How quickly things change in the PL but change you must do and we have let a chance to do this go begging.

My mates laughed when I said we could get relegated, but lose too Sunderland, and fail to win against Burnley and that 22-1 seems very tasty. I would like to end on a positive though: we may make Round Four of the cup then who knows... we may do a Middlesbrough!!

Alex Kociuba
3   Posted 24/12/2009 at 14:53:56

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This is probably where Bily has mysterious injuries, absences from the squad without clear reasons (AvdM). Its a shame Moyes is so arrogant and petty and will hopefully take Bily’s comments as constructive criticism.
Gavin Ramejkis
4   Posted 24/12/2009 at 15:10:28

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I’d love to know the exact stat but during the game against Birmingham there was one point were Everton must have passed the ball about forty times without losing it.

Last season, we saw glimpses of passing and moving that were sublime and a joy to watch... yet in the same game we are also inflicted with hoofball and watching a long midfield passing lump come straight back at the defence as opposition sides sit back, mop up what they know is coming, and counter-attack. It’s this predictable shite that is putting the defence under such pressure and defending deep for long spells will inevitably see you concede at least one goal.

For once, can we not see Everton literally tear an opposing sides to pieces and pass them off the park? Don’t fucking give me injuries as they did it against Birmingham.

Martin Cutler
5   Posted 24/12/2009 at 15:29:08

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Following on from Gavin’s post above... I did watch the Brum game (on the box) and I’m still shocked we didn’t win that game. We blew it. However, there were moments in that game (quite a few actually) where what I was watching was just incredible stuff... really, really impressed! So why the fuck we didn’t win I don’t know.

Given Brum’s recent form, a tie wasn’t a terrible result but we should have won, no question... and the goal incorrectly disallowed didn’t help either!

So I’m actually glad that Bily has spoken up and hopefully this will cause both the players and DM to think... Let's get back to 90 minutes worth of "incredible stuff" and start going back up the table.

John Gee
6   Posted 24/12/2009 at 15:43:34

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Don’t pay any attention to what is in the Daily Mail, they have had a downer on us for years.

Who interviewed Bily? Was it in Russian or English? Does the Russian language have the equivalent word for "umpteenth"?

I would guess that Bily gave an interview to someone in Russian, that was translated then the parts that suit the Mail’s opinion of us were picked out and pushed together to give a false representation of Bily’s interview.

Check out their reporting on us for yourselves over the next few week, if you like. But one thing is certain, the way they downgrade our successes (albeit few this season) and highlight our failings only shows that they are biased against us.

Andrew Flanagan
7   Posted 24/12/2009 at 15:55:21

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This is complete bollocks and made up. Do you think Russians use the word ’umpteenth’??? And the thing about Zhirkov — why would we be interested in him? Chelsea paid £15 million for him in the summer. Made up or badly lost in translation.
Jay Harris
8   Posted 24/12/2009 at 16:27:51

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Landon Donovan has actually stated that Howard said great things about Moyes and he was very impressed with his knowledge of the game and very honest in his various discussions. Who do we want to believe, a rag that can't even translate Russian honestly or straight from the horse's mouth?

In the last 4 games Moyes seems to have got his motivation going again after sulking in the early part of the season. Maybe that is a result of DK going tits up and maybe the purse strings may be loosened a little.

All I know is I have seen a vast improvement in spirit and football in the last few games.bAll we need now is the rub of the green.

BTW anyone who sits near the dugout must hear Moyes telling the players to pass and go. He does NOT encourage hoofball at all. Hoofball only comes out when there is a lack of confidence and nobody wants the ball.

Let's hope we get Manny and a couple of others in early January and see where we go from there.
Dennis Stevens
9   Posted 24/12/2009 at 16:50:44

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Anything in the press has to be taken with a large dollop of salt &, although there is a valid point buried in there, I just find myself thinking "did he really say ’lobbing’ & ’umpteenth’?"!
Brian Noble
10   Posted 24/12/2009 at 16:58:27

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Scoff, if you must but how many times have we heard Moyes himself trot out the mantra ’we’ll keep it tight and hope to pinch one?’

That’s all bloody well if you’ve got defenders who can defend — and no confidence in the rest of the side — but I think it’s wearing a bit thin — and not only with us species! Well said, Bily Boy!

David McKenna
11   Posted 24/12/2009 at 17:02:19

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I'm glad to see that its not just the fans who are sick to death of our style of play and the fact that, once we take the lead, our tactics revert to dropping deep and hanging on for a 1-0 win.

And I'm glad that someone has actually had the balls to express their frustration, especially a new player like Bily, well done to him.

Seriously, if Championship teams can do the basics of knocking the ball around and playing a few passes, and not panicking when they get the lead, then surely a Premier League team like Everton can do the same.

It was acceptable when we were a relegation team with poor players but, now that we are a top 6 side with quality players all over the sqaud, it's nothing short of FUCKING EMBARRASSING!!!

if we ever want to break the top 4 again, something drastic needs to change cos any Champions League team would roll us over with our negative style and our non-existent tactics... just look at what Benfica did to us.

Well said, Bily.
Kieran Fitzgerald
12   Posted 24/12/2009 at 17:16:55

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Jay: You make an interesting point about the purse strings being loosened. Sheer assumption on my part here but it could explain why Moyes suddenly has the urge to break with tradition and dip into the January transfer window.

He may not have the cash for permanent transfers but the cost of wages for potentially two or three players for half a Premier League season would still add up to a couple of million.

Alan Clarke
13   Posted 24/12/2009 at 18:22:10

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I knew people would start saying this is bollox or lost in translation. The fact is this is spot on. We do play hoofball, we always have under Moyes apart from a handful of games.

I’d love more players to come out and say what utter shite it is playing under Moyes, perhaps he’d fuck off then.
Michael Kenrick
Editorial Team
14   Posted 24/12/2009 at 18:34:08

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I thought it was widely reported when Bily signed for us that he could speak pretty good English.

But if you don’t like the message, then get out the gun and fire off a few rounds at the messenger.

Brian Waring
15   Posted 24/12/2009 at 19:57:35

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What Bily is saying is old news, most of us on here have known from day one that we play hoofball.

Allan, would you expect any less of the apologists to come on here and start shooting it down?
John Keating
16   Posted 24/12/2009 at 19:58:44

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Bily may be right in what he says, however, I don’t think he’s exactly set the heather on fire since his arrival. Possibly he’ll get better after a good rest in the close season and a decent pre-season under his belt.

Some of his distribution when the ball is on the ground has been poor to say the least. His covering of the full back when on the defensive has been poor to put it mildly. His appetite for the fight is questionable.

So IF what he is reported to have said is correct then I reckon he should look at his own game first before commenting in general.

Tony Marsh
17   Posted 24/12/2009 at 20:08:01

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Oh dear... there were some only yesterday calling me an Idiot, a knobnead, a moron etc for saying Moyes has lost the Dressing Room. Can't say now I didnt warn you.

This outburst from Bily is only the tip of the Iceberg. Many more players feel the same way but, hey, Moyes knows best. After all we are sweeping away all comers this season aren't we?

Dave Wilson
18   Posted 24/12/2009 at 22:04:37

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So

One player - the one Marshy hopes he never see’s again - says he doesnt like the way we play our football ?

Moyse has somehow manage to convince his players to run through brick walls for him for eight years, but dont worry the guy who’s been here eight weeks has spoken out and now the dressing room is splintered ? . . .

You people who think this is good news are living in cuckoo land, Bily will soon feel a draught that’ll make the nights he spent in Moscow seem hot n sweaty

The only way to stop this hoofball is to boo like fuck every time one of our team puts his foot through the ball, silence is acceptance, dont look for a guy who’s frightened of his own shadow to change it for you, it wont happen.

And Michael if the messenger is one that has brought you nothing but misleading information for years, it doesnt really matter how accurate his latest message is, its still ok to shoot the bastard.

Peace and Goodwill to you all
Lee Kidd
19   Posted 24/12/2009 at 22:40:51

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Absolutely pissing myself at "umpteenth"!

He probably didn’t say it, but if he did, he’s totally right.
Dick Fearon
20   Posted 24/12/2009 at 23:47:53

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Should Dave Wilson’s advice to boo every hoofball be followed that kind of rubbish would be dead overnight.
I offered similar advice on these pages two years ago. Had been taken then we might not have suffered those years of rubbish.

I do not often agree with Marshy but in this case he is right. You get the kind of football you deserve.

David Hallwood
21   Posted 24/12/2009 at 23:59:17

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The paradox of us playing hoofball, is that DM obviously doesn’t set out to play like that otherwise his transfer policy would be totally different. To play the long ball game you need a Fashanu or a Chapman or a Niall Quinn or a Duncan Ferguson, and a goal poacher to pick up the flick-ons that the CF wins like Aldridge did in the Irish team, and combatant midfielders to win the 2nd ball. Now whether you like Fellani, Jo, Bily, they wouldn’t fit in to a Wimbledon-like side.
Dermot Ryan
22   Posted 25/12/2009 at 05:49:45

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If (and thats a big if) Bily said something close to this, I see it as totally unproductive for him and for the team for him to make this kind of public statement. How does this help him form working relationships with his veteran players on and off the pitch? What kind of message does this send to the manager who decides whether to play him or not? I think he sounds like a whining princess. Blaming everybody else for our lack of success. I really want this guy to succeed, but this kind of public outburst (especially after you have just arrived and have played pretty crap in your Premier League games) isn’t helping our team one bit.
Gavin Ramejkis
23   Posted 25/12/2009 at 09:27:27

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Isn’t Bily our second-top scorer this season, only second behind Saha, and also has at least 5 assists? Kieran, I think DM looking in the January transfer window isn’t down to release of funds as he would be buying not borrowing players and is more down to us being deep in the shit and losing even more of our squad to the AFCON.
Shane Corcoran
24   Posted 25/12/2009 at 10:46:24

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Dermot, I was surprised I had to read as far as your post for someone to state that Bily is out of order. If he has something to say then let him say it to Moyes and not some rag. Of course this could all be bullshit but coming out crying to the press ain’t the way to deal with it, even if he is right.
James Stewart
25   Posted 25/12/2009 at 14:32:45

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I really wouldn’t believe anything you read in the Daily Mail. Not worth the paper it is printed on. Complete Gutterpress.
Seamus McCrudden
26   Posted 26/12/2009 at 14:45:09

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maybe it is a load of rubbish, but coming from a player who drifts badly out of games especially second half this seems interesting indeed....
Matt Traynor
27   Posted 27/12/2009 at 04:08:34

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I find this quite interesting. Maybe it does begin to question whether Moyes sends the team out with the instruction to play hoofball... It opens up another question: if he doesn’t, then why isn’t he kicking their arses at some of the displays we put on?

Personally I think it’s bollocks. All of these players were signed by Moyes, and he would’ve done his homework and known exactly what he was getting.

Bily is knackered — played a full season in Russia and straight into an Everton team hampered by injuries. Fortunately, with Russia not qualified for the World Cup, he’ll get a summer’s rest — and I think we’ll see his true abilities on the pitch for 2010-11.

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