RE: Trollope

When PT was the coach at Bristol Rovers he was popular with players.

However, they also had a reputation for incredibly boring overly defensive football that gave far too much respect to bad teams, made very late substitutions, and selected players when in bad form.

With the club heading towards the bottom of the entire football league Lenny Lawrence & PT were thought to be very close to being sacked.

Circumstances dictated that they had to win the next game or they might be sacked. There was also a big falling-out with a central midfielder (that kept being selected despite being terrible) so they were forced into a change.

Suddenly, the tactics were forced to become more positive, players gained confidence from it, and they went on a fantastic run and got promotion via the play-off's.

They sold Rickie Lambert to Southampton. Lenny Lawrence didn't have his contract renewed and Trollope became the manager.

Trolls was given money to replace Rickie Lambert but he struggled to make signings. He seemed lost.

Trolls went back to the old formula of giving opposition teams far too much respect, late subs etc. Confidence went and so the team struggled.

Rickie Lambert later said that Southampton were far more professional with regards to coaching fitness levels etc. (and so he lost weight and became a better player).

I don't know how much of our tactics are down to Trollope or Hoots but the way we play is exactly the same as when Trollope was a manager before he was sacked.

Posted By: Larry Hagman, Nov 25, 17:48:08