Merlin Rohl of Everton during the Premier League match with Manchester City at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
Merlin Rohl of Everton during the Premier League match with Manchester City at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
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Merlin Rohl said he enjoyed “playing anywhere” after David Moyes started Everton’s pre-season by playing him across three positions in two games.
The 24-year-old started at right back against Dundee and then occupied spots at right wing back and central midfield at Bolton Wanderers. He finished last season in the first team, starting the final four matches in a different position, that of right wing.
Speaking after the goalless draw at Bolton, Rohl acknowledged his versatility was a strength and indicated he would be content if that meant playing a right back - at least while Everton continue their search for a specialist in that area, the club’s priority heading into the summer transfer window.
Rohl’s availability as a multi-purpose player is as consistent in training as it is on a matchday, he said. In an interview with outlets, including the ECHO, he added that he will tailor his work depending on what is being asked of him and explained: “I train everywhere. 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 endured a rollercoaster first season at Everton after his deadline day arrival on loan from Freiburg. Minor injuries plagued his opening months before positive displays in the winter wins at Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa appeared to represent a breakthrough.
He instead struggled for opportunities after the return of teammates from injury and the Africa Cup of Nations before a surprise start on the right wing against Manchester City.
Rohl was a star in that slot, his pace allowing him to exploit space behind the visitors’ defence in a 3-3 draw that convinced Moyes to keep him in that position for the rest of the season. He scored his first goal in the home game against Sunderland, though that highlight was undermined by Everton’s second half collapse.
Rohl’s loan move was made permanent for a fee of around £18m in the summer after Everton’s Premier League survival triggered an obligation to buy the former Germany youth international. Asked whether Moyes had identified a particular position for him to focus on, 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.”
Rohl pushed forward with success from his new position in the first half at the Toughsheet Community Stadium as Moyes experimented with three centre backs and him and Adam Aznou as wing-backs. His highlight was an inch-perfect cross that was converted by Thierno Barry, only to be ruled offside. Everton’s ambition - as it has been for several windows - is to address the club’s longstanding issues at right back. Until that is done, Moyes appears to be leaning towards a choice between Rohl and centre back Jake O’Brien, who has been the starting right back for most of Moyes’ 18-month stint.
For Rohl, the most important thing is getting in the team, wherever that might be. He said: “It's not completely new to me. 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.”
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