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" Sam&apos;s reply: <p> By the end of his tenure, Barton was exclusively playing with a back three, but I think that was out of necessity given the way Rovers&apos; squad was built. </p><p>The opening games of his tenure gave a better idea of his tactical ideals. </p><p>He likes to pick a team that is capable of switching from a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 to a 3-4-3 in the midst of a game, without making a substitution. </p><p>That flexibility is obviously really handy, making players like Alex Rodman rather valuable. He is equally comfortable as a winger in the 4-3-3 and as a wing-back in the 3-4-3, allowing Barton to make tactical tweaks on the fly. </p><p>I expect that to be the case next season, rather than him being married to any particular shape, and that will play a role in the building of the squad, because Rovers&apos; recruitment last summer left Rovers short of true full-backs to play a back four with success and regularity. </p>"
<https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bristol-rovers-qa-live-joey-5482006>