Finding a replacement for Lambert has been tough, says Bristol Rovers boss Trollope
Bristol Rovers boss Paul Trollope last night talked of how difficult it has been to try to find a replacement for Rickie Lambert as the season-long search for a targetman goes on.
Trollope and director of football Lennie Lawrence have been scouring the transfer market in a bid to replace former fans' favourite Lambert since his £1 million departure to Southampton at the start of the campaign.
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Bristol Rovers manager Paul Trollope
The duo have since brought in Charlton striker Chris Dickson for a brief loan spell, and have signed Doncaster marksman Paul Heffernan until the end of the campaign.
Trollope is still hopeful of adding a robust striker to the ranks before next Thursday's transfer deadline – but has explained that it has not been easy to try to find a player capable of filling the void vacated by Lambert.
He said: "It has been well- documented that we are looking for a certain type of player.
"We sold the best one in the league (Lambert) early in the season and he has gone on to do well (for Southampton). Trying to replace him is not easy because we have looked long and hard since he left.
"We don't advertise everything we do, but we have been working hard and did go close on a number of occasions during January.
"It has been frustrating at times, because sometimes we do need a different option up there. We don't want to take anything away from the players who are in the building at the moment, because all of them have contributed to some good wins for us over the last few months."
Trollope is understood to have targeted West Brom striker Chris Wood and was spotted running the rule over Swansea City striker Besian Idrizaj at a reserve game in Swindon last week – but confirmed it was 'unlikely' that a new face would arrive before the start of next week.
"We'll keep looking but we are not going to rush in to anything or be hasty if the player is not going to make us any better," he said.
"We are not going to force the issue. We have two quality strikers in Jo Kuffour and Paul Heffernan, and Andy Williams has made an impact when he has come in."
Kuffour, meanwhile, missed training yesterday after suffering with a migraine problem. Trollope is hopeful the nine-goal striker will be fit to face Exeter City at St James Park tomorrow night.
Defender Byron Anthony has got an 'outside' chance of featuring – despite being carried off with a leg injury during Saturday's goal-less draw with Tranmere.
An X-ray showed no break to his fibula following a Bas Savage challenge, and Trollope said: "It has been good news. Nothing showed up on the precautionary X-ray, and things have progressed well since.
"Byron has done all the right things and can put weight on it. There is an outside chance he could play. We are pleased with his form and are hoping to have him available."
Carl Regan has stepped up his rehabilitation from tendonitis and could also be available to play at right-back should Anthony fail to make it in time.
On-loan midfielder Wayne Brown has been recalled by Fulham.
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by Dave, The Blue Half of Bristol
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 12:42PM
“Lambert's best quality was his ability to play in a deep lying forward position, dropping back to help out midfield or powering in those long range efforts. For a big guy he wasn't the best in the air but he was the best passer of the ball at the club. This has been sorely missed this season. We've really struggled to break down teams like Tranmere last Saturday.
I'd like to see Blizzard given a run in the centre of midfield as he looks a decent passer of the ball and looks frustrated being played out of position all season.”
by 24/7 Gas, Westbury - on - Trym
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 9:08PM
“Jimmy i said "IF" we could have not we could have. I agree keeping hold Lambert would have been difficult bordering on impossible!! Our biggest mistake was letting him go before having a replacement lined up.
I am a season ticket holder and have been to all bar one home game this season and a few away, its amazing how many people turn up when the sun's out and rovers win 4 nil away!!
Lewis i agree with everything you have said, only problem is picking a gem from lower/non league can be difficult, however as we have proved in the past and Swindon have proved recently not impossible.”
by Lewis the Gas Head, Bemmy Dorm
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 4:12PM
“Thanks Jimmy.....maybe we have to look at our scouting network...but theplayers i have mentioned would jump at the chance to play at a higher level.teams like Gillingham and Rochdale shouldnt be able to turn down a decent fee.”
by Lewis the Gas Head, Bemmy Down
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 4:09PM
“@Filton Gas
Cheers mate...although hes not a murderer it was man slaughter...how many people drink and drive? and he paid the ultimate consequences...”
by Jimmy McNulty, Westside
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 4:05PM
“Filton Gas-- I agree 100%.”
by Jimmy McNulty, Westside
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 4:04PM
“Lewis- indeed. Look at all our most succsesful singings over the last few years, Hales, Roberts, Agogo, Lambert - all bought from lower or non league sides.
Why look for some clapped out player who isn't good enough to make it a higher level?”
by filton gas, filton
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 4:02PM
“lewis the gashead i agree with everything you have said except the bit about lee hughes although he has the finishing quality we need from a striker and knows were the back of the net is i don't want to see a murderer playing for bristol rovers”
by Lewis the Gas Head( Rovers scout), A league 2 club near you
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 3:48PM
“Well we couldnt expect Lambert to stay lets be honest. Trolls would of discussed the situation wth him. Yes we have sold our players over the years but at least were not another Southampton, MK Dons, Cardiff. It was only a few years ago we sold players such as Roberts and Ellington...then we wasted the money on players like Mickey Evans and Scott Jones...over £500,000 for the pair. So its better sometimes to hold onto the money and get in decent loan signings..then if the loan signings are good then look into the possibility of making it permanent. Lets agree Fraser Forster, Mikael Anderson, Daniel Jones, Heffernan have all been good signings....even Dickson looked promising at the start...lets hope we can get Heff, Jones and Anderson to stay..but realistically if we want to sign someone for a transfer fee then we need to be looking at players in league 2 or the bottom of league 1...players like Jackson of Gillingham, Dagnall of Rochdale, Le Fondre, Lee Hughes now County are skint....lets be fair were not going to sign anyone decent from the league above or the top of our league....”
by Jimmy McNulty, Westside
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 3:10PM
“Oh come on there is no way we could have kept Lambert once Southampton offered to treble his wages be realistic- we are surviving on gates of around 6,000 every week.
It's exactly the same as Spurs having to sell Carrick and Berbatov to Man U. Look at the fuss Everton made about Lescott and they still ended up selling him.
Maybe if a higher proportion of those 40,000 'fans' who went to Wembley turned up even now and again we may be in a better position.”
by 24/7 Gas, Westbury - on - Trym
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 2:02PM
“I agree Lambert may not have been happy with not getting the chance but if we had of Kept him and he would have scored as many goals as he has with us we'd be well in the playoffs and next season could have gone to a championship club!!
Instead of probably playing in League One again next season. I agree with not rushing to get a striker and if we can bring in Jones and Heffernan on permenant deals and also Buy Andersson (Unlikely) or loan him back for next season (Possible) we have a good base!!
All of these are big ifs and on top of all of that we still need a good target man, however if we get all these players in we do have a chance next season (Then again we say this every season and usually end up not quite there)
Up the GAS!!”