Billy's future

[Roztitute]

I trade for McGeady would be great. However, like most other rumours, I can't see it happening. He only joined Spartak in August 2010 and he signed a 4 and 1/2 year deal. But we can hope!!

 

[forefccc]

McGeady woul be a great signing but spartak would want at least 6 mill + billy.

 

[LTblue]

there's some kind of deal to be done here methinks

 

[ravaro]

I was gutted when we didn't sign him last year. Let's hope a swap would suit all parties.

 

[Cookachoo]

Not to mention Bily going from one Moscow club to another, wouldn't go down well !

 

[formerly manx toffee]

...send him to the salt mines ffs.

*I'm a bit tetchy this morning

 

[Dom1878]

Shock horror, he was good in the centre where speed isnt everything, and he can take his time to pick out a pass on either side of the pitch...hope it continutes!

 

[Sona]

Shock horror, he was good in the centre where speed isnt everything, and he can take his time to pick out a pass on either side of the pitch...hope it continutes!

Dammit, I knew people would jump on this bandwagon. Let's actually analyse the situation.

OK, he played one outstanding through ball from deep for Beckford, had some great touches and looked tidy in possession.

HOWEVER, the reason that Moyes won't play him in the middle (and rightly so) is how little he contributed defensively. We looked as though we were a man short in midfield when Bury had the ball, even before Beckford went off. He had no presence whatsoever in there.

Also, don't forget that playing Bury in a preseason friendly is somewhat different to playing a high tempo Premier League match in the middle. He'd get eaten alive in my opinion.

Finally, the options we have in the middle are ALL better than the option of playing Bily there- Osman (who I though was superb tonight), Fellaini, Rodwell, Heitinga, Arteta, Neville and not to mention we've got Barkley coming through. That's 6/7 players that are better suited to the position.

I think it's a real shame that things aren't working out for Bily but he just doesn't seem to suit our style of play. I think the only option would be to play him as a AML in a 4-2-3-1 rather than out n out winger, and we don't seem to be adept at playing that formation.

 

[Neiler]

No doubts Billy has technical quality, the big question is can he bring that to bear in the PL - consistently. A preseason at Bury isnt going to tell us that.

 

[toffeetower]

I watched Bily closely in that second half, and although you make some good points about him not being defensively aware enough to hold down a place in centre mid, in theory it would work very well with two holding players behind him, such as Fellaini and Rodwell.

 

[billycopper]

I switched between watching the game and posting on here. I can only really recall Osman's name being mentioned when he scored. My ears did prick up a few times when Bily tried things though. I agree that he couldn't play in a midfield pair. It's a tricky one because he offers so much more than Cahill generally, but Tim gives you goals, consistency and work rate. I'm pleased that Moyes tried him in the middle though. I can't remember a time when he's done that in the past.

 

[james2805]

Only position he might fit in at is the 'cahill role', playing behind the striker. Instead of playing 2 upfront.

But for me, I would rather see Saha behind Beckford.

Yakubu scored, but looked lazy and a bit **** the rest of the game.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

I switched between watching the game and posting on here. I can only really recall Osman's name being mentioned when he scored. My ears did prick up a few times when Bily tried things though. I agree that he couldn't play in a midfield pair. It's a tricky one because he offers so much more than Cahill generally, but Tim gives you goals, consistency and work rate. I'm pleased that Moyes tried him in the middle though. I can't remember a time when he's done that in the past.

Did you really watch the game? Osman was constantly involved, all over the pitch. He probably got on the ball more than anyone during the game. Definitely the best replacement for Arteta if he moves to the left on a consistent basis. They where interchanging aswell, which was nice to see. When Arteta drifted into the centre, Osman went to the left.

Bilyaletdinov did really well though. It's the first time in a long time he looked like a proper creative player. Good range of passing and some nice close control in tight spaces. It's very early days, and he will come across much tougher challenges, but it was interesting to see him in that role.

 

[billycopper]

Did you really watch the game? Osman was constantly involved, all over the pitch. He probably got on the ball more than anyone during the game. Definitely the best replacement for Arteta if he moves to the left on a consistent basis. They where interchanging aswell, which was nice to see. When Arteta drifted into the centre, Osman went to the left.

Bilyaletdinov did really well though. It's the first time in a long time he looked like a proper creative player. Good range of passing and some nice close control in tight spaces. It's very early days, and he will come across much tougher challenges, but it was interesting to see him in that role.

I am warming to Ossie. I have concerns that he's too small to be in the middle of the park and that his goalscoring rate doesn't match up with other people's (Anichebe aside). He has certainly been one of our form players though and he's earned a place in the side. I'm just not sure how we could get the best out of him and everyone else.

I don't mind too much that Bily can hit a pinpoint 30 yard pass and then fluff a simple ball to the man next to him. He has the ability, we just need to work on his concentration and application. He really could be a dynamite player. I didn't think that Moyes would ever use him in the middle, so I'm pleasantly surprised that he did.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

I am warming to Ossie. I have concerns that he's too small to be in the middle of the park and that his goalscoring rate doesn't match up with other people's (Anichebe aside). He has certainly been one of our form players though and he's earned a place in the side. I'm just not sure how we could get the best out of him and everyone else.

I don't mind too much that Bily can hit a pinpoint 30 yard pass and then fluff a simple ball to the man next to him. He has the ability, we just need to work on his concentration and application. He really could be a dynamite player. I didn't think that Moyes would ever use him in the middle, so I'm pleasantly surprised that he did.

The likes of Luka Modric and Jack Wilshere are very similar in terms of stature and style of play. Osman's had two runs in that position before and has done well on both occasions. That 13 game unbeaten run during the 07-08 season and a spell towards the end of the 09-10 season. We beat the likes of Manchester Utd, Chelsea and Sporting Lisbon during that period.

As for Bilyaletdinov, I'm still unconvinced, but it was definitely a promising performance, and that's all he can do really. If he did things like that everyweek I'd have no problem with him. For the first time he did actually look like a Beckham esque player in a central position. Interesting...