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New position for Bily?

Yes, yet another article about Bilyaletdinov, but this is slightly different to the others, where I'm thinking about the future.

I see him succeeding Tim Cahill basically... simple as, really. I think he's too slow to be a winger, especially in the Premier League, and he has attributes that would help him fulfill the role. He has a knack for goals, has excellent technique and is even decent in the air. Obviously he has not got the movement, positional sense, aggression of Tim Cahill etc, but Bily adds something different, and this is why I believe he will be a master stroke by Moyes in about 2 years.

I don't think he has the mental and physical attributes yet, but that will come in time as he gets more experience. I mean he was captain for Lokomotiv before he came here — surely that shows he is strong mentally, though he hasn't shown it yet.

I see him more of Frank Lampard type attacking midfielder. Timmy is one of a kind, and proved yesterday, still has an important role in the club.
Ben Jones, Anglesey Posted 15/04/2010 at 17:39:27

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James Stewart
1 Posted 16/04/2010 at 14:08:14

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I heard this suggested before and I'm afraid I just can't see it. Bily would be even more anonymous in this position than he is already. I would also be very surprised if he is still at the club in 2 years to be honest.

Gavin Ramejkis
2 Posted 16/04/2010 at 13:50:27

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Tricky one to call, Bily appears to be an inside right, an odd position given DM's love of 4-5-1 where he would be competing for Cahill's role but I don't see him as much of a threat in the air as Cahill. For that matter Cahill's record for scoring goals with his head in the EPL shows that no one else really does that job anywhere.

I like Bily and his similarity to Dunc Mackenzie and he does have a cracking shot on him too but he isn't a winger which is what we need and when we had Donovan we showed some lovely football down that side.

An attacking midfielder with a penchant for his right foot so right sided but not a winger.

Dave Wilson
3 Posted 16/04/2010 at 14:51:08

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Hes been here for a year, so by your reckoning he will start to pay off his fee THREE YEARS after we signed him. !

good job money isnt tight

Ian McDowell
4 Posted 16/04/2010 at 15:31:32

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with the yak still looking out of sorts and saha unable to play 90 mins every week i'd try Cahill upfront on his own which he's done before and billy maybe just off him cos he's certainly got a shot on him then we could play 4 in the midfield and maybe get our defence sorted.

Ciarán McGlone
5 Posted 16/04/2010 at 16:10:10

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Been sayin this since he arrived...a no brainer in my opinion.

John Daley
6 Posted 16/04/2010 at 16:09:34

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I think Bilyaletdinov has been a passenger for the majority of the season. True, he has scored a few goals, has good technique, and a good strike on him, but i don't think he has the attitude, aggression or energy levels to succeed in this Everton team. His poor pace is obviously a problem when he is asked to perform out wide, but equally i think his apparant lack of desire / work ethic would prohibit him being given a more central attacking role. I hope he comes back next season and proves me wrong, but i can't see him ever being more than a bit part player for us.

Ben Jones
7 Posted 16/04/2010 at 18:38:23

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I think work ethic and desire will come through after more experience in the prem John. His lack of pace and perhaps desire to take people makes him more of an attacking midfielder rather than a winger. But his attributes already - good passing, good technique and knack for goals makes him a good attacking midfielder.

But I think his quality in the air is under estimated. He of course scored a headed goal the other day, and he won a few headed challenges. I can remember a few times against Villa where he won a few headers from goal kicks and corners.

Dave and James, that's just plain pessimism in my opinion. I respect your opinion though yeah he hasn't performed at his price tag this season, but neither did Fellaini but now I think he is our best player. Think Drogba, think Henry... neither did as expected in their first season but obviously gone on to be one of the best.

I'm not saying Billy will be an Henry or a Drogba, but I think he'll be a key player for us.

Andy Crooks
8 Posted 16/04/2010 at 19:05:19

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Playing Bily out wide is wrong.Next season he will be a revelation playing behind the striker/strikers.H e does not have to be the same player as Tim Cahill to play the same role.

David Hallwood
9 Posted 16/04/2010 at 20:14:26

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It was less than a year ago that Joe Royal stated that Fellani divides Evertonians like no other player he's seen, and the general consensus on TW was that he was a panic buy and/or a total waste of money. Where are they now? probably saying the same thing about Bily, FFS cut the man some slack he's got to get use to a different country, different football etc, I agree with the poster in the he's a good old fashioned inside right, and if he's still drifting in and out of games this time next year, then it maybe time to look at his long term future.

Ian Kearney
10 Posted 16/04/2010 at 20:24:33

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I agree Ben, I was very suprised at the amount of headers he has won, and with more experience in the Prem could become very useful in the air, I also think his set piece taking ability has potential ans should be given an opportunity.

I will always back technical ability to come good, its why so many of us were convinced Fellaini would come good, when he was the whipping boy.

James Stewart
11 Posted 16/04/2010 at 21:21:10

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That is a fair comment Ben. I am happy to be proved wrong on him. A just fail to see the potential in him that Fellaini etc showed even in his first season.

I think he will end up nothing more than a costly mistake.

James Stewart
12 Posted 16/04/2010 at 21:23:45

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I would argue the new Cahill will be Rodwell.

In an advanced midfield role similar to how Gerrard operates.

Nick Entwistle
13 Posted 17/04/2010 at 01:59:52

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I think its Football Manager stuff to say he'll be a new Lampard.

The guy is obviously super talented, though in my opinion needs a rest and to get over the misqualification (is that a word?) for the World Cup, which is when he turned mediocre.

I do though think as stated by Ben Jones he will become a key player on the same level as Pienaar, The Big Hair, Jagielka etc. Not Arteta's class, but who is?

He'll come good, though maybe a good player when we're playing well, and a disappearing act when we're not. Though Moyes is not of the belief that we are not... we shall wait and see.

What is more though, he is one player who will make the fans gap at his brilliance, whether it be often or few and far between.

Eric Myles
14 Posted 17/04/2010 at 18:49:50

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Bily will be Pienaar's replacement.

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