Lines is key to Bristol Rovers – Trollope
Bristol Rovers boss Paul Trollope believes Chris Lines is well on the way to becoming a "complete modern day midfielder" as talks to tie him to the club on a long-term deal continue.
Bristol Rovers chairman Nick Higgs last week revealed that negotiations to keep Lines, who has been attracting the interest of a number of Championship clubs, at the Memorial Stadium beyond the end of the season got underway last week.
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Chris Lines celebrates opening the scoring for Bristol Rovers at home to Gillingham
And Trollope yesterday explained that he was keen to tie up a deal for the Bristolian after labelling him 'instrumental' in some of his side's impressive victories this season.
Trollope said: "We are speaking to Chris (about a new contract) but these things take time. He has been instrumental in some of our games of late and has developed into a very good offensive midfield player over the last couple of years.
"He is starting to add goals to his game and is also beginning to show aggression in his defending and tackling. I think he is on the way to becoming a very good all-round modern-day midfielder."
Trollope handed youth product Lines a professional debut soon after he replaced Ian Atkins at the helm at the end of 2005 and the midfielder has now made in excess of 100 appearances for the club.
"People develop at different times and it didn't happen overnight with Chris," Trollope added.
"We started to feed him in during the promotion year and it is only in this last 12 months where he has really started to establish himself.
"We were patient with him when he first came in to the team and people were saying he wasn't going to make it.
"We always felt that we could bring him on and he has shown a tremendous application and willingness to listen.
"He is getting better and better so we are hoping he continues that progression."
Trollope, meanwhile, looks set to carry out a defensive reshuffle in a bid to see his side keep a clean sheet for the first time in 12 games when Rovers entertain Exeter City at the Memorial Stadium this evening
Trollope aired his displeasure at the manner of defending that led to the four goals conceded in a 4-2 reverse at Charlton last Tuesday evening – a result which saw Rovers' goals against column move up to 29 since the last time they kept a clean sheet. That came back on September 12 in a 1-0 victory over Oldham Athletic and, when asked if shuffling his back four around was in his thoughts for tonight's game, Trollope replied: "Yes, of course it is. A lot of our forward play is of a good level but the other end has been a bit of a concern over the last six or seven weeks."
Trollope could choose to bring back Carl Regan to the starting line-up at right-back, which would leave loan signing Pat Baldwin, Byron Anthony and Danny Coles battling it out for the two central defensive places.
"It was a tough decision to leave Carl on the bench at Charlton," Trollope said.
"Sometimes a new signing takes a few months to settle in, but Carl has been one of our most consistent performers this season.
"I just thought the four lads had done well against Gillingham and deserved another chance at Charlton."
3 Comments
by MisterX, The Mem
Tuesday, December 01 2009, 5:34PM
“I agree he's developing well, for me the only thing he's lacked this season has been confidence in his own ability at times but hopefully his contribution with goals will help him believe in himself more and shoot when he's in the position to do so instead of passing to a team mate in worse position than him as he's so often tended to do in the past. Come on Linesy - Believe!
As regards Pipey being sent out on loan for me this is another example of Trolls not thinking straight as he's now let our only truly creative midfielder go and the only one that gave us width with ability - OK Swallow is one for the future granted but a long way to go. If David Pipe is classed as fit, and by that I mean morally so after the handbags at dawn saga, then he should be playing for us - not another club! As Mendip rightly said - We are missing his creativity, running, heart and devotion to the cause big time and until that gap is filled we do not have a squad capable of putting in continued winning runs.
Also agree about Baldwin, looked promising so far which is more than can be said about our keeper of late who has been glued to his goal line far too often and flapped more than the Steve Phillips knockers ever accused Phillips of. I do hope that our management duo have picked up on this and are knocking it out of him in training.”
by MENDIPMAN., CHEDDAR.
Tuesday, December 01 2009, 10:27AM
“I totally agree with Longwell Green Gas. Byron Anthony should be rested, with Pat Baldwin playing alongside Danny Colles in the heart of Rovers defence, with Carl Regan and Jeff Hughes taking up right and left back spots. I agree that Chris Lines is developing well and now scoring goals regularly. I hope he continues to progress. It is always good for any team to have a tall, strong goalscoring playmaker. I feel that the team misses David Pipe. If the alledged nihght club incident is true, then he needed to be disciplined by the club, but he is a 'Winner' on the pitch!”
by longwell Gas, Longwell Green
Tuesday, December 01 2009, 8:14AM
“Thank God there's some decent competition & now a reason to drop Byron to the bench. I can see another clean sheet & 3points if its Pat & Danny in the middle.”