Vital Gas Mid Season Interview: Basel

1) When did you become a Rovers fan and why?

In 1974 my late Father along with an Uncle took me to watch Rovers v Blackpool at Eastville,Rovers lost 1 3,Bannister penalty.A while after this i figured Rovers must be my team.

2) What do you think of this season, do we have a chance to push for the play offs or will we slip towards the wrong end of the table?

I think PT/Lennie and the lads have done very well this time.The Leyton O opener was a big disapointment,but then that good run of victories.As ever PT and Lennie and the lads work very hard on the training ground and are not scared of repeating a few lessons until the `penny drops`as it were.We`ve had a few ups and downs but i think obvious and not so obvious progression is being maintained.
We definately have a chance of reaching the play offs.I think we will finish somewhere between 10th and 5th.

3) Best moment of this season so far?

I was lucky enough to be at St Marys for our 2 3 victory,`the Andy Williams game`!Great following of Gas there that night and when Andy struck the winner that became the ‘moment of the season’ for me,so far.Sensational!Not often you see a reserve come on and turn into `Pele`.

4) Worst moment of this season so far?

Rickie Lambert being sold,we`ve missed him hav`nt we.

5) Do you expect any arrivals this January and if you could bring in a player or two, who (realistically) would you go for?

I certainly hope we sign a middle defender,a middle midfielder and a striker.Right down the middle and along with Mikkel our spine should be toughed up.
In a perfect world decent cover for Aaron at LB because we could do with keeping Jeff on the left middle.

6) Which player/s should Rovers sign this summer? And do you think Rovers will spend enough this summer to progress

I don`t know about the Summer.The problem with looking forward,to see how many steps forward Rovers may take is we can easily forget how many steps backwards we may take in the same time.Eg,we sign cover for LB,but lose a creative midfielder.

We are in the race now,players should be signed now.

If we were to win the play offs and get promoted,i imagine we would be looking at players from the teams who are coming down into the third tier from the second,or maybe players from clubs who played in 3rd and 4th tier play offs.Good uns who fancy 2nd tier football with Rovers.
I also think the Gasheads who feel we could be looking at the 5th,6th and 7th tiers for players do have a point,although as i said,i rate the players brought in so far.I`m not sure how far Rovers cast their net when aiming for bargains in lower league football.

As i suggested,`in the Summer`,`next transfer window`,`by the Autumn`etc are not good enough when you are in the race right now.If we want promotion,then we sign players now.

7) What do you expect us to do/finish this season?

As i said i think we will finish between 10th and 5th.
Very difficult to say because we have as yet not made any signings in January.

8) Your opinion on Paul Trollope now he is mid way through his 5th season in charge?

PT is an excellent manager and we are lucky to have him.He comes across very well in interviews ,talks sense.I think he is happy at Rovers.He is clever enough to learn from mistakes,he comes across very fair to his players and i am sure they must all like and respect him,although he is no `soft touch`.His Father John was a great servant to Swindon Town and i think/hope that a sense of loyalty has rubbed off on Paul.Tactically Paul is very astute and i hear he prepares for matches in a very professional way.I think it good the squad travels the day before and has a hotel stay,rather than a long journey and straight onto the field.I`ve thoroughly enjoyed his era and am convinced he and Lennie can take us to the 2nd tier (depending on how the Board support them).
Best manager/coach we`ve had in donkeys years.

a) And your opinion on Lennie Lawrence?

Lennie offers massive experience (over 1000 games a manager!),on and off the field.His role as DOF (Rovers style) has worked very well indeed.He and Paul seem to like and respect each other which is of course vital in any combination.Off the field Lennie deals with potential new players and their agents.He is also on the training field almost daily.I think the players must really like having Lennie around,he offers credibility,it is good that such a man is on our side and when he speaks the players listen.I think it no coincedence at all that Lennies introduction to Rovers (along with Paul) has seen a steady progression up the tables.

Lennie is a football man and has done an excellent job for Rovers.

9) Your opinion on Nick Higgs and his board?

Bristol Rovers deserve better.Something has to change.The Board have failed to deliver.

10) Favourite current player?

Mikkel Andersen.Best GK we`ve had in ages,super attitude,very agile,comes for cross`s,reminds me of Martin Thomes somehow.

11) Favourite former player/s?

Paul Randall.Paul was a hero of mine and i can remember chanting ‘Randall for England’ and actually believing he was good enough!The Saints Cup game (over 26,000 at Eastville!),’1 0 down,3 1 up, we knocked City out the Cup’ at Ashton Gate etc.Paul is a Gas legend.Halcyon days (more or less smile.gif.

Terry Cooper. When Terry had reached the veteran stage,he perhaps looked an unlikely star,but,for those 20 minutes,while he still had the legs he would be the best player on the field.I think perhaps TC is the only ever player to have worn the quarters that in his prime (at Leeds United), would of made many peoples world eleven at left back.A true World class player.

12) And finally which celebrity would you most like to bang and which celeb would you most like to thump?

I`d like to take Helana Bohnam Carter out for fish n chips,a pint and a decent gig.

To ‘thump’,hmm that judge off the X Factor gets me dander up.