ToffeeWeb - Season 2009-10

The Mail Bag

Bilyaletdinov granted permit

The OS is reporting Bilyaletdinov has been granted his work permit and is in the squad for the Wigan game, along with Distin — and both are likely to get their debut's.

Which is excellent news — both may well start I would wager, given that Neville was only filling in and Bilyaletdinov is match-fit from the Russian season.

The question is, if they do, who gets dropped?... for me, I would drop Cahill (who appears to be woefully out of form so far this season). I think Hibbert should also be dropped, and Neville should be filling in at right back to allow us a 4-4-2. Something like:

Howard
Neville Yobo Distin Baines
Bilyaletdinov Fellaini Rodwell Pienaar
Yakabu Saha

Although probably Moyes will be more conservative and Bilyaletdinov will make an appearance from the bench, replacing Osman at some point....
Jeremy Benson, Costwolds Posted 29/08/2009 at 13:05:18

back Return to the Mail Bag

Comments

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer

Anthony Jaras
1 Posted 29/08/2009 at 16:49:23

I think you have got your wingers the wrong way round their Jeremy, Bily would be on the left and Piennar on the right pal!

Dave Williams
2 Posted 29/08/2009 at 16:54:49

You know it’ll be the usual suspects that start tomorrow...

Howard
Hibbert, Yobo, Distin, Baines
Osman Cahill, Pienaar
Fellaini
Saha

If we're two goals ahead in the last 15 minutes, then we might see Bilya........

Justin Widdop
3 Posted 29/08/2009 at 16:58:22

There is no way that Moyes will start with Bilyaletdinov. He might well come on for 20 minutes or so.

Distin is guaranteed to start but reading Moyes mind his team team will be:

Howard
Hibbert, Yobo, Distin, Baines
Osman, Pip, Cahill, Fellaini, Pienaar
Saha

Personally I would far more prefer...

Howard
Pip, Yobo, Distin, Baines
Pienaar, Rodwell, Fellaini, Bilyaletdinov
Jo, Saha

Strong bench of Cahill, Osman, Hibbert, Yak and so on.

Colin Ryan
4 Posted 29/08/2009 at 17:00:58

Not a hope of the Yak starting, Jeremy. I can see Moyes going with:

Howard
Neville, Yobo, Distin, Baines
Pienaar, Rodwell, Fellaini, Bilyaletdinov
Cahill
Saha

Not a bad team and should improve greatly in a few weeks with one or two more signings/new guys settling in and the return of a fit Yakubu and Arteta.

Tony Marsh
5 Posted 29/08/2009 at 17:35:07

Regardless of team selection we need to win. Anyone who thinks Moyes will drop Osman is deluded. We are in a relegation battle after only 3 weeks and all those pre season predictions about Spurs and Man City being crap look very silly now.

We are no longer a top 6 side but more of a mid-table unit and the current trend in the league only proves this. We will be very hard pressed to get in to the top 10 this season after the awfull start.

The new signings are baffeling to say the least. I mean a left winger signed when we need right-sided players and a 32-year-old centre-back — hardly the boost we needed is it? I mean why now and not last month? It's all a bit too late I am sorry to say. Our main competitors have shot way ahead of us and a grim struggle to get out of the bottom 3 awaits.

Franny Porter
6 Posted 29/08/2009 at 17:58:47

Tony, we all know your never happy and you have been quiet lately, but for fuck sake you need to get a grip. You're turning into a bit of a cliche now, the never happy, constantly disgruntled fan.

The left winger, full Russian international, club captain at his last place can at best free Pienaar to play right-mid and at worst provide excellent backup should we lose Pienaar at any point.

Sylvain Distin, proven Premier League quality, courted by a host of clubs including the red shite, who brilliantly, couldn't afford him. Centre-halfs can play till there late 30s if they are good enough so I reckon he will prove good value.

Also looks like Heitinga is coming in now as well. Things are looking up mate and if you can get your head out of the sand/your arse you will be able to see it.

Oh and for the record, Distin is 31, dont exaggerate to try and get your points across. Leave that to the Echo.

A bad start I agree, but let's kick on starting tomorrow!

David Barks
7 Posted 29/08/2009 at 18:07:11

Well I think it is official, Tony Marsh is a piss taker. "A grim struggle to get out of the bottom 3". Nobody speaking honestly could possibly believe this after two matches. I mean really, that is quite possibly the most ridiculous thing to have been said. 36 games left, with three of our best players to come back into the side from injury, with additions being brought in, we have the entire season to play yet. A relegation battle, good God.

Anthony Jaras
8 Posted 29/08/2009 at 18:07:17

Come on Tony, it’s more than obvious we have needed a left footed winger for a good while now, tis will allow Peanuts to flourish on the right hand side now without having to keep cutting back onto his right.

Distin is a good signing in terms of his speed, strength, experience, price and left foot. It bring the balance back to the defence that we had when Klingon was with Jags.

He has got a few years left in him, pls Moyes is already in the process of signing another centre half said to be Heitinga, which would be a great coup.

These are good signings Tony.

You should be happy that Bily has signed as he will be the first choice left winger meaning that Peanuts will be first choice right winger so no more Osman for you.

Hopefully when Mikel is back it will be Rodwell, Arteta, Bily and Peanuts in midfield meaning that Pip can oust Hibbert, double bonus!

Michael Lynch
9 Posted 29/08/2009 at 18:15:04

Tony, I must admit I tend to agree with you on a lot of your posts. But you have got to be taking the mick with your last one. We've only played two games. Were not in the greatest shape at the moment but surely you don't believe we will be involved in a relegation battle? Get some perspective.

Stewart Littler
10 Posted 29/08/2009 at 18:18:39

I would go:

Howard
Neville Yobo Distin Baines
Osman Rodwell Fellaini Bilyaletdinov
Pienaar
Saha

Subs: Nash, Hibbert, Gosling, Cahill, Jo, Yakubu, Vaughan

Tony, I find your comments laughable. Yes, you got it right when you said we’d get stuffed by Arsenal (and disappointingly seemed to take some pleasure in that), and it has been a bad start to the season.
"We are in a relegation battle after only 3 weeks and all those pre-season predictions about Spurs and Man City being crap look very silly now".

We have lost the same number of games as our Premier League chasing neighbours, and Spurs have won 4 games, against 2 teams who will scrap it out at the bottom, a mid-table, and a poor looking Shite team.

"Anyone who thinks Moyes will drop Osman is deluded." — Well, he did get MoM in most papers for Thurs night, and set up the goal, let’s be fair.

"We are no longer a top 6 side but more of a mid-table unit and the current trend in the league only proves this. We will be very hard pressed to get in to the top 10 this season after the awful start" — Never knew a trend could exist after 2 games. We took 8 points from 8 last season and finished 5th. Bollocks statement.

"The new signings are baffling to say the least." — A left-footed centre-half to replace a left-footed centre-half, and a winger? How is that baffling?

"Our main competitors have shot way ahead of us and a grim struggle to get out of the bottom 3 awaits."— If we beat Wigan, we’re out of the bottom 3. Hardly a ’grim struggle’!

The only point of note you make is that we have waited so long to make the transfers. It frustrates us all. But I will look forward to seeing our latest new boys tomorrow, and hope for a win and a jump start for our season, whilst you no doubt will take a degree of pleasure if we draw or get beat as it will back up what you say. Sad.

Jeremy Benson
11 Posted 29/08/2009 at 18:51:10

Colin,

Yak will definitely start. If there is one thing I have learned/understood over the Moyes years, is that he always places faith first and foremost in those that HE has signed and splashed cash on, almost in cost order (look at the infallibility of Cahill, Fellaini, Neville, Lescott etc — they play at times even when they should be dropped).

Yak to start, for sure. The two new guys might only get a sub run-out, but definitely, in future games they will be starters, regardless of form.

Tony Marsh
12 Posted 29/08/2009 at 18:53:20

Micheal, we might not end up in the bottom 3 at the end of the season but make no mistake — we are in there right now on merit. We play awful football and if we don't start winning soon it will be a struggle.

The teams many of our fans shrugged off as also-rans before the season started (Spurs, Man City ) are flying. Top 6 is already gone for us as far as I am concerned and all that's left is slugging it out in mid-table.

If anyone disagrees, go out and put a lump on Everton qualifing for Europe this season. The odds are massive.

Neil Pearse
13 Posted 29/08/2009 at 19:19:45

Behave, Tony. Spurs and Man City are "flying"? Spurs scraped a last minute win past Birmingham today, and the BBC said they were "very lucky". Man City have scraped through two wins against moderate opposition. So that’s rubbish for starters.

We’ve lost twice, yes. Twice!! (Not much of a trend....) Distin is rated by most observers as a better left sided defender than Lescott. Let’s wait and see on Diniyar. He’s been picked over and again for the national team by Gullit (so he might just be a decent player, no?).

And if we do get Heitinga and maybe even Banega, I’m really looking forward to your explanation on how this shows we are on the way to hell and damnation. It’s very frustrating we have started slowly yet again, but get a grip Tony.

Neil Pearse
14 Posted 29/08/2009 at 19:30:59

Doh! Obviously it’s Hiddink who’s been picking Bilyaletdinov. Guus, Gullit.... all Dutch to me.

Joe McMahon
15 Posted 29/08/2009 at 19:37:45

There is more chance of Hell freezing over than Moyes dropping Hibbert and Osman.

Also Tony M has a point, those of you who think we are going to finish above Spurs & City are way off the mark.

Keith Glazzard
16 Posted 29/08/2009 at 19:29:40

Jeremy - I think you’ll find that Moyes has already said that the Yak isn’t ready for the PL yet. There might not even be room for him on the bench tomorrow - Billy will almost certainly be there.

As we all know, Distin will start to the left of JoYo, and we wish him all the best. Baines should take a bit of time out to look after him for a while.

Where will he play Neville (which he will)? It will possibly depend on whether he wants to try to lift Tony Hibbert. Rodwell will probably go to the bench.

When Billy comes on (tomorrow or eventually), Pienaar will go to the right, or even better, to the middle. That should mean Osman makes way. Or possibly Fellaini, even Cahill, depending on the circumstances.

Saha will start tomorrow. Vaughan won’t be on the bench. Wallace will be. And I think that given the chance, he will put Billy on.

Moyes more than anyone else knows we need points and he will go his own way about trying to get them.

Jackie Barry
17 Posted 29/08/2009 at 19:36:01

They have been playing in Russia for quite some time I think, so Bilyaletdinov should ready and raring to go! Distin should shore up our defence a bit more and Hibbert should end up on the bench. I know Moyes probably wont but I would start like this:-

Howard
Neville Yobo Distin Baines
Fellaini
Bilyaletdinov Rodwell Pienaar
Cahill
Saha

Jackie Barry
18 Posted 29/08/2009 at 19:45:35

Sorry swap Bily and Pienaar around, or possibly play him in the middle. Doesn’t Pienaar play for South Africa in the middle?

Neil Pearse
19 Posted 29/08/2009 at 19:44:14

Joe - you are probably one of those who thought we had no chance of finishing above Villa last year. Sure, Man City and Spurs after all their spending SHOULD easily finish above us, but after just two games, let’s see, shall we?

If we have lost Lescott, VdM, and Valente for Distin, Bilyaletdinov, and hopefully Banega and Heitinga - to my mind we have strengthened our squad (especially with young players like Rodwell, Fellaini and Gosling all being a year further on). We have also got three of our four best players still to come back.

It’s really sad to see supporters writing off our season before we have even got into September.

Mark Hill
20 Posted 29/08/2009 at 19:53:51

So Tony Marsh, are we in a relegation battle... or mid table side...? Your arguments may carry some weight, no problem... but you seem to criticise yourself here....

Osman isn’t good enough neither is Hibbert, and they need to be replaced.

i don’t think Moyes has been good enough either, but you need to come up with a better argument. Who will do a better job... Who will do something more with what we have and the money we have? I am not interest in falling out with folk but I do want opinion... proper opinion.

Alan Clarke
21 Posted 29/08/2009 at 20:11:23

Do you remember in the olden days when you had to either look in the paper or on teletext to see the table? They didn’t used to print the table until about 5 games in. I wish they still did that to stop hysterical posts like TM’s.

I’ll agree that we’re in the bottom 3 on merit at the moment but we’ve only played 2 league games! We were woefully underprepared for the start of the season which seems to be a trait of Moyes’s now. I think our 4 games so far will have acted as our actual pre-season. A win against Wigan will put us back on track. I’m not worried about a relegation fight though, we’re in no way as bad as all of the usual bottom half teams.

The big thing this year is neither Spurs nor City are in Europe. And now Villa are out of it too. That is what will affect our top 6 chances this season.

Andy Crooks
22 Posted 29/08/2009 at 20:16:53

Mark, Glen Hoddle.

Gerry Western
23 Posted 29/08/2009 at 20:13:43

Have to agree I’d be surprised if Bilyaletdinov gets a start tomorrow he’s more likely to come off the bench I suspect. Moyes does seem to want to stick with the hapless Osman. Cahill would be terrific behind Saha but Moyes has stated he’s been carrying an injury in recent games which might explain why he’s been below power in his recent performances. Baines I suspect will be a different player now that he’s got a recognized centre halve to play alongside of him tomorrow. I’d like to see Neville play at right back in a game we simply must win before losing becomes a habit.

Chad Schofield
24 Posted 29/08/2009 at 21:10:16

I just can’t see Bilyaletdinov starting either... perhaps a slight cameo if he’s lucky.

Well, well OTT in my opinion Tony Marsh.

If we do wrap up the transfers mentioned, then Moyes will have done well. Of course this should have been sorted out well in advance, but well, that’s been debated to death!

Iain Love
25 Posted 29/08/2009 at 21:20:46

Distin will come in against Wigan, Bily might come off the bench otherwise it will be the same as usual with Rodwell dropped for Pip. Going forward I can see Bily on the left Ossie on the right and Peanuts in the middle until Arteta gets back, then Ossie dropped and Peanuts going right side.

Heitinga is interesting though, is he in for Hibbert or is he the defensive centre-mid we need ?

Matty Dawkins
26 Posted 29/08/2009 at 22:50:19

Tony M, You are fast becoming a parody of yourself, so 32 is too old for a centre half now eh?. Richard Gough was 39 when he played for us and so was Waggy, both were immense.
Get hold of yourself man.

Nick Entwistle
27 Posted 29/08/2009 at 23:27:14

Tony was saying the same crap this time last season.
We’re CL potentilas still.

Ernie Baywood
28 Posted 30/08/2009 at 00:04:14

Howard
Hibbert Yobo Distin Baines
Osman Fellaini Neville Cahill Pienaar
Saha

is the answer. You don’t sign players and drop your regulars straight away. Especially not if your name is David Moyes.

Rodwell ’gets a rest’. Hibbert will be out for Europa so will get his ’rest’ then. Give it a month before the new side takes shape.

And Tony Marsh. That’s ridiculous even for you.

Sean McNally
29 Posted 30/08/2009 at 01:24:13

Id go for

Neville Yobo Distin Baines
Piennar Osman Rodwell Billy
Cahill
Saha

I’m no fan of leons but he is a CM - NOT a right mid. Plus I dont believe he has been any worse than Fellaini or Cahill so far this season

Tony Anetts
30 Posted 30/08/2009 at 03:53:23

I think that Moyes should not break up the Baines-Pienaar patnership at this time, particularly as the team has not had time to train with Billy. The left side is our creative side and we cannot afford to undo this when we really need to win.

I would like to see the following:

Howard
Neville, Yobo, Distin, Baines
Rodwell
Billy, Osman, Pienaar
Fellaini/Cahill (one of)
Saha

This way the midfielders play narrow by coming inside and thereby creating numbers and options centrally and the full-backs are required to overlap to create the width and link up with the halves (which Baines has done so well with Pienaar).

Mike Green
31 Posted 30/08/2009 at 10:54:22

Tony Marsh - I’ve just logged onto Oddschecker and the only bookies across the market offering odds on a top 6 finish are Betfair and Betdaq - both of whom are offering 11/5 for Everton.

£10 says I dont get a response as to where you got you "massive" odds from and what they were.

Easy money.

David Shaw
32 Posted 30/08/2009 at 11:45:41

I got 16/1 at Paddy Power on Everton finshing 5th, so I stuck £10 each way (so includes 6th at 1/3 odds).

I thought it was too good to miss, we’ll come good and stay the course, as we have doen for the last 2 seasons, might miss 5th if Man City can keep it going but it’s not out of the question.

Mike Green
33 Posted 30/08/2009 at 12:17:39

Dave - nice one.

I’ve stuck £20 e/w on it - and a tenner on Saha scoring two or more goals today at 11-1.

Its like buying money.....

Add Your Comments

In order to post a comment to the MailBag, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.

Log in now

Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and MailBag submissions across the site.