Everton midfielder Merlin Rohl has said he enjoys “playing anywhere” after David Moyes deployed him in three different positions across two pre-season matches. The 24-year-old started at right back against Dundee and then played at right wing back and central midfield in the goalless draw at Bolton Wanderers.
Versatility on Display
Rohl, who finished last season in the first team playing on the right wing, acknowledged his versatility is a strength. He indicated he would be content to continue as a right back while Everton search for a specialist in that area, a priority heading into the summer transfer window.
“I train everywhere,” Rohl told reporters, including the Liverpool Echo. “Sometimes I train at right-back, sometimes on the wing. Sometimes you need to think about, OK, when you're right-back, 'I want to train a little bit for my crossing. I want to train a little bit on this touch'. Then you need to have a good balance to train everything. But in the end, you need to be a good footballer to play on the pitch. No matter what position, you just need to be calm on the ball. That's what I'm trying to improve as much as possible so that it doesn't matter which position. I'm always going to be a footballer that is capable of playing on this level. That's my goal.”
Rohl's First Season at Everton
Rohl endured a rollercoaster first season at Everton after his deadline-day loan arrival from Freiburg. Minor injuries plagued his early months before positive displays in winter wins at Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa appeared to signal a breakthrough. He struggled for opportunities after teammates returned from injury and the Africa Cup of Nations, before a surprise start on the right wing against Manchester City.
He impressed in that role, his pace exploiting space behind City's defence in a 3-3 draw, convincing Moyes to keep him there for the rest of the season. Rohl scored his first goal in a home game against Sunderland, though Everton collapsed in the second half. His loan was made permanent for a fee of around £18 million after the club's Premier League survival triggered an obligation to buy.
Adapting to Different Roles
Asked whether Moyes had identified a specific position for him, Rohl said: “I think in football it's so hard to predict anything. You always try to see what's coming. It's about my performances. If I had scored two goals today at right wing-back, everyone would say, 'oh yeah, maybe he's a good right wing-back'. That's football. It can change next week again if I play in a different position and perform there. It's always about the situation and how I perform in this one.”
In the first half at Bolton, Rohl pushed forward from his wing-back role as Moyes experimented with three centre backs. His highlight was an inch-perfect cross converted by Thierno Barry, only for the goal to be ruled offside. Everton's longstanding ambition to address issues at right back continues, with Moyes leaning towards a choice between Rohl and centre back Jake O'Brien.
“It's not completely new to me,” Rohl said. “I always played a little bit all over the pitch. Played right, left, back, sometimes on the wing, 6-8. It's always about switching your mind a little bit on what is the goal today, what you want to bring on the pitch. [Against Bolton] I was hoping to get a little bit more [into] offensive situations and counter-attacks, and maybe stayed a little bit too high sometimes. Then they got a little bit in behind sometimes. That's what you learn when you play these positions against a very good team today. I'm going to take a lot from today and always enjoy playing everywhere.”
