Yves Erick Bile is a 19-year-old striker playing for Žilina in the Slovakian Niké Liga, the top football division in Slovakia. The Ivory Coast native is a graduate of Žilina’s African academy. This is his second season with the first team, and he’s been performing exceptionally well. In the first half of the season in the fall, he scored 7 goals and provided 5 assists in 18 games.
Bile has a mesomorphic body build with a solid amount of muscle, particularly in his arms and legs. His shot power is impressive, as he can strike the ball with good power. However, despite his physical strength, his performance in duels could be better. He doesn’t always use his body effectively and can commit fouls during the ground duels as he uses his arms often. The same goes for aerial duels. Although his height is quite average (1.8m), his jumping ability isn’t exceptional. But still, he’s capable of delivering a strong and accurate header when he wins an aerial duel. On the other hand, Bile is very quick. His acceleration and pace allow him to outrun most opponents with some ease. He also has quick feet, making it easy for him to change direction and turn quickly. Mentally, he seems solid. He doesn’t show signs of frustration toward teammates or the referee. Although he can get visibly annoyed with himself after a bad pass or missed opportunity.
Bile’s offensive abilities are highly promising. His finishing with his right foot is excellent, allowing him to score from challenging positions. However, his left foot could use some work while shooting. As mentioned earlier, his shot power is a strong asset. He positions himself smartly in front of goal and frequently makes forward runs to latch onto deep passes in open space. Occasionally, he moves out wide to create space for his teammates to attack centrally and then delivers a pass to them. His passing is generally reliable, he keeps it short and low. His left foot is not particularly strong in passing either. He can make progressive runs with the ball, but his overall ball control needs improvement. He often struggles to handle passes cleanly, leading to a loss of possession. The ball sometimes bounces too far from his feet, or he has to make awkward adjustments just to retain control of it. At times, he often walks around after passing the ball out wide or when he’s positioned too deep to impact the attack.
Defensively, Bile isn’t very active. He drops back to help during corners but usually stays near the edge of the box rather than inside it. He applies pressure on opponents who are passing the ball around but rarely engages in tackles. He can intercept a pass but cutting the passing lane. Most of the time, he stays high up the field, waiting for a long ball or counterattacking opportunity.
Right now, Bile is in fantastic form for Žilina. However, he shouldn’t think about making a move just yet. Last season, his numbers were significantly lower in the same number of matches he’s played so far this season. Finishing this season strong and potentially winning a Slovakian championship would be far better for his development and career than moving to a tougher league too soon. In my eyes he has the potential to become a great striker in one of Europe’s top 8 leagues, but he needs more time to develop.
Target Scouting 