2025/26 Merlin Röhl

[hetion]

I haven't formed an opinion of him yet as not enough minutes.

One thing about the midfield which is grating me a bit though, why has Gana all of a sudden become a playmaker, he's receiving the ball a lot in important areas and he has neither a good shot or good enough passing to be that guy. I could be wrong, it just seems that way.

This is a consequence of the huge issue we have with our midfield balance.

Gana is a 'be everywhere' ball-winning 8 type. This is great if you have a 6 to sit next to him who has fantastic passing, but we don't.

Garner is a safe, reliable 6 who is decent defensively and tidy but unadventurous on the ball. This is ~fine if you have a fantastic playmaking box-to-box 8 to play next to him, but we don't (he's probably not quite good enough defensively to allow for KDH to play that role).

I won't go through all of them but none of our midfield options dovetail together nicely as a 2. This is assuming Röhl doesn't suddenly show excellent passing in his new role here tbf but it feels unlikely.

 

[CJR]

I personally think this boy is going to moulded into Fellaini/Soucek role.

Moyes likes players who can win that first and second ball and when we have Beto and Barry, we can use Merlin to link up better between the midfield to strikers.

Yep been saying this, absolute nailed on Moyes will play him as a big physical 10

 

[Vaughan]

he will play up front at some point this season

 

[Bluebirdie]

Good analysis by Cai Jones on YT.

 

[Noisy noise annoys]

Good analysis by Cai Jones on YT.

Is there a link?

 

[Bluebirdie]

Is there a link?

 

[Noisy noise annoys]

Interesting, thanks

 

[Bluebirdie]

Interesting, thanks

I don't know the guys background but he offers some excellent insights into tactics.

 

[Noisy noise annoys]

I don't know the guys background but he offers some excellent insights into tactics.

Yeh, I realised I’d seen a few of his vids before

 

[Neiler]

Thought it was weird last night he didn’t get mins given we were getting Mullard in midfield.

 

[Rehnman]

I won't go through all of them but none of our midfield options dovetail together nicely as a 2.

This is spot on. Having brought in three central midfielders this summer of various stripes, it’s crazy but true that there is no good combination of them. I still can’t get my head around Moyes having apparently made Palhinha one of his first priorities, then - having unsurprisingly failed to sign him - not managing to find a single other player in the world with a similar profile. What sort of list has one player on it?

 

[Jebus_lives]

Thought it was weird last night he didn’t get mins given we were getting Mullard in midfield.

Moyes will always opt for safety first. If there is a point at stake, he's going to go with (PL) experience and hard work over an unknown..


A lot of Moyes big changes throughout his career have been when he's forced into change either through injury or poor results.

 

[Eggs]

Moyes will always opt for safety first. If there is a point at stake, he's going to go with (PL) experience and hard work over an unknown..


A lot of Moyes big changes throughout his career have been when he's forced into change either through injury or poor results.

….i actually thought Rohl was a ‘safer’ introduction than Alcaraz and even Iroegbunam. I was happy to see Alcaraz being introduced, I thought that was positive.

McNeil was clearly less positive but I thought introducing Dibling was high risk given the game situation. A very understandable change but McNeil then literally stunk the place out. Diblings turn next.

 

[Jebus_lives]

….i actually thought Rohl was a ‘safer’ introduction than Alcaraz and even Iroegbunam. I was happy to see Alcaraz being introduced, I thought that was positive.

McNeil was clearly less positive but I thought introducing Dibling was high risk given the game situation. A very understandable change but McNeil then literally stunk the place out. Diblings turn next.

Iroegbunam is physical. Alcaraz if he makes an error will be doing it away from our own goal (generally) and I think Moyes will have reasoned that it looks like we're trying to win the fame if he puts on Alcaraz.

I agree about Dibling, I'd be keeping him out until we have some form or a semi decent striking option. It'll be tough for him otherwise. But, McNeil was woeful last night. Looked miles off it in mentality and fitness.

 

[Neiler]

….i actually thought Rohl was a ‘safer’ introduction than Alcaraz and even Iroegbunam. I was happy to see Alcaraz being introduced, I thought that was positive.

McNeil was clearly less positive but I thought introducing Dibling was high risk given the game situation. A very understandable change but McNeil then literally stunk the place out. Diblings turn next.

That's what surprised me too, he went reaching for Tim and opposed to Rohl - particularly as we were struggling to get a foot hold in the centre.