Bournemouth’s Rose pivots Evanilson to deeper role after St Pauli victory
Marco Rose deploys Evanilson in a number 10 capacity following a 4-1 win over German side St Pauli, signalling a departure from Andoni Iraola’s previous system.
Bournemouth have begun their pre-season campaign under new manager Marco Rose with a 4-1 victory over German second-tier side St Pauli. The opening friendly on Friday provided the first glimpse of Rose’s tactical approach, which appears to involve a significant structural adjustment for striker Evanilson.
The Brazilian forward, who was brought in as a record signing to replace Dominic Solanke, rarely operated outside the traditional number nine position under former manager Andoni Iraola. Rose, however, is reportedly considering a shift for Evanilson to a deeper number 10 role, a move intended to enhance his goal output.
According to reports, Rose believes that playing in a more advanced midfield position will allow Evanilson to find the net more frequently. This strategic pivot addresses concerns regarding the striker’s goal return last season, which was viewed as a shortfall given his status and the cost of his transfer, despite his acknowledged importance to the team’s overall structure under Iraola.
The tactical change does not necessarily rule out Evanilson playing as a central striker, but the emphasis from the new management team suggests a preference for utilising his abilities in a deeper creative capacity. This represents a distinct departure from the previous regime, where the striker’s role was largely confined to the front line.
The friendly result and the observed tactical experiments mark the start of a transitional period for the club. As Rose settles into the role, the integration of Evanilson into this new system will be a key metric in assessing the effectiveness of the managerial change ahead of the upcoming season.
