Ryan Woods: Bristol Rovers sign Hull City midfielder on loan
The 29-year-old featured 27 times for the Tigers last season after joining from Birmingham City.
He has previously had stints with Shrewsbury Town, Brentford and Stoke and has spent time on loan at Millwall.
“Ryan is another player who adds both quality and experience to our group,” Pirates boss Joey Barton told the club website.
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Suddenly, after it appeared as though Joey Barton was edging closer to knowing his best starting 11 with the players available, it feels like we’re almost back to square one again when it comes to predicting the team for the next game.
Changes thus far have come in limited quantities for Bristol Rovers but after last weekend’s 2-0 defeat at Cambridge United and the expected return of at least some players, alterations are expected to be made for this afternoon’s match against Wycombe Wanderers…but how many?
The Gas return home for a Mem meeting with Matt Bloomfield’s Chairboys, two weeks on from their 1-1 draw against Barnsley, an affair that really should’ve seen Rovers pick up three points.
Barton will be hoping for similar intensity from his side as they seek their first home win since beating Charlton Athletic 1-0 on April 7. The draw against the Tykes saw the Gas create a hatful of chances, particularly in the second half, but they were unable to find enough of a clinical edge to beat their opponent.
Scoring opportunities were also plentiful three days later when Rovers travelled to Charlton and picked up their first win of the campaign thanks to a clutch 98th minute volley from substitute Luke McCormick. Already, there is a strong contender for moment of the season with that goal.
However, last Saturday saw the attacking output dry up against a Cambridge side that remained disciplined and resolute. The best chance of the game fell to Aaron Collins who couldn’t convert as the forward still looks to open his account for the season before the U’s scored two late goals on the counter.
After the match, the Gass boss revealed that a handful of players were set to return to training after respective injuries, admitting, “competition for places is going through the roof” and that his players have “to work hard to keep that jersey.”
George Friend and Jack Hunt could be in contention for their Rovers debuts whilst Jevani Brown, James Wilson and James Gibbons were also in the conversation regarding a return to action.
It’s the hardest one to call yet. If you’re Barton, do you put faith in the current regulars or do you bring players straight back into the fold? This is the predicted team we’ve gone for…
Goalkeeper and defence
The easiest selection right now is Matt Cox in goal. Not much more needs to be said on him except for the fact that he must be desperate to get that first clean sheet after an impressive start in between the sticks for Rovers.
In regards to the four men in front of him, it comes down to the fitness of players returning to the fold. Hunt wasn’t included in the squad that travelled to Cambridge after joining two days prior but the Rovers manager has hinted he could find himself in the starting line up soon, saying: “He’s not a million miles away, now that he’s training and is coming into the group, this will give him a chance to get into the squad and hopefully in the starting 11 in the near future.”
Moreover, it is understood that Wilson has trained this week but where his fitness is at is unknown. Here, we’re going to play it safe and stick to an unchanged back four with Luca Hoole, Connor Taylor, Tristan Crama and Lewis Gordon all keeping their places.
Alas, it won’t come as a surprise to anyone if the defensive personnel is tinkered with, mainly due to its youth and inexperience with Cox and his defenders averaging an age of just 21 years.
Should Hunt, Wilson or even Friend drop in, it would add some necessary experience but given a lack of clarity regarding exactly where their respective fitness levels are at, we’re playing this one safe and going with zero changes.
Ok, we’re not shying away here. It would be a surprise to see new signing Ryan Woods included in the starting line up this early with his arrival announced yesterday lunchtime. However, a first start could be on the cards for Lamare Bogarde after the Aston Villa loanee came on briefly at Cambridge.
Having impressed in his first loan spell at the club last season, fans are keen to see the Dutchman given a decent amount of game time in blue-and-white quarters and so we’re backing him to replace Sam Finley.
The captain has been subject to some criticism from supporters this week after the Cambridge loss. Sure, it wasn’t near his best display but you could also argue that being skipper, he will always be subject to some strong words from certain sections of the fanbase after a bad result.
However, the central pivot that has largely been the captain and Grant Ward could do with some freshening up and, with Ward having been one of Rovers’ best players so far this season, we’re predicting that Finley will sit this one out.
On the flanks, it’s business as usual with Luke Thomas and Aaron Collins on the right and left respectively. Fans are starting to get impatient with the latter, mainly because they know what he’s capable of. Hopefully, that first goal comes later today.
As for Thomas, we’ve said it before and will say it again, one of if not the best player for the Gas so far this season. Last week the winger’s work rate in a tough game with limited chances was exceptional. Hopefully, he’ll have the chance to offer some trickery and cause Wycombe serious issues this time out.
With creativity and threat in the final third limited last time out, we’ve gone for a return for Jevani Brown, assuming he’s fit enough to start. The summer arrival has shown his quality in every game, whether that’s been in pre-season or against Portsmouth and Ipswich before his injury. If he’s available, the forward could be exactly what Rovers missed last week.
The 28-year-old could be deployed in a central attacking midfield role, the ’10’ if you like, or as a second striker. It’s dependent on the formation but we’ve currently gone for a 4-4-2. Having that option must be so pleasing for Barton.
Alongside him, John Marquis keeps his place. Gasheads are calling out for a prolific striker to come through the door before Friday evening’s transfer deadline. Just under a week to go, the next couple of days could be busy……………………..
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