"We have to be tactically fluid," Joey Barton said on Thursday when asked about settling on a strongest Bristol Rovers XI. In an ideal world, he would love to have a starting lineup that picked itself, but the manager says the challenge of League One means he has to be flexible.
That is a stark contrast to the second half of last season when Rovers were romping to promotion in League Two; by the end, the Gas changed their tactics and philosophy for no one. Nowadays, Barton believes his approach has to be more malleable. The level of the competition has gone up and the Gas are a rebuilding team, meaning more focus is going into nullifying the opposition than previously.
As a result, predicting the team becomes a complicated task. Rovers have flipped between a back three and a back four throughout the 13 games this season, often pivoting within games too, and with the injury crisis that plagued them for several weeks relenting, there is stiff competition for places in most areas of the pitch.
For Tuesday's win at MK Dons, Barton showed he has no fear of changing a winning team. He made three changes to the XI that beat Cambridge United seven days ago, and the Rovers boss could tweak things again today when the Gas travel to Cheltenham Town. Here is how they could line up at Whaddon Road...
What XI would you select? Have your say in the comments section below...
Goalkeeper and defence
James Belshaw may never have had a quieter evening on a football pitch than Tuesday. He was a mere spectator for long stretches of the win at Stadium Mk, but he will be braced for a more eventful afternoon when he starts in goal at Whaddon Road. Anssi Jaakkola will provide cover from the bench.
With Barton’s desire to be flexible in mind, the 4-3-1-2 formation that has worked well in the past two games could be altered. Cheltenham have exclusively played a back three this season and Barton could match them up. If that is the case, Luca Hoole would return to the starting XI to play alongside Bobby Thomas and Lewis Gibson, who were very impressive in Buckinghamshire.
James Gibbons has been a steadying presence in his two starts since returning from injury and he is likely to start again, this time at right wing-back. Lewis Gordon is set to be on the other side, with the former Brentford prospect impressive in recent games
The trip to Gloucestershire comes too soon for James Connolly after a back injury; he is earmarked to return in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday. Alfie Kilgour, though, is available again after a concussion and he could be on the bench with Trevor Clarke.
Josh Grant, however, has been ruled out for the season. He underwent knee surgery on Thursday.
Midfield
Barton has built his squad with serious depth in midfield, shown by his bench at MK on Tuesday. He was able to take Antony Evans and Sam Finley out of the starting lineup without sacrificing the quality of the starting XI.
Both men made a good impact as substitutes, particularly Evans, who scored the winner, but Finley could be the likelier of the two to return to the starting lineup today. Barton has spoken about the importance of being able to affect the game from the dugout with the five-substitute rule in place, and with Rovers on the road, the manager may believe Tuesday's match-winner is best used from the bench at Whaddon Road.
Jordan Rossiter has made a big impact on the solidity of the team since his return from suspension last month and he should keep his place. Finley could play alongside him in midfield, rotating with club captain Paul Coutts, who started on Tuesday.
Should Barton go that way, he would have a very strong bench behind him with Luke McCormick, Evans, Coutts and potentially Glenn Whelan to call on. Zain Westbrooke is also available.
Attack
The front three of Aaron Collins, Ryan Loft and Josh Coburn has been impactful for Rovers in the past two games, with the two strikers posing a stern physical test and Collins offering a dynamic threat behind them. With John Marquis set to be missing again with a knee injury, that trio should continue to spearhead the attack.
Harry Anderson, Sylvester Jasper and Harvey Saunders have all delivered impactful performances off the bench this season and they are likely to be among the substitutes again on Saturday.
Rovers (3-4-1-2): Belshaw; Hoole, Thomas, Gibson; Gibbons, Rossiter, Finley, Gordon; Collins, Coburn, Loft.
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