BR - pressure

By Cherry Picker
September 22 2010

If anybody believes Gloucester's poor early-season form is a temporary lull before the side finds form and brushes all Premiership opposition aside, take a look at how one commentator describes the team: "A ragged, ill-disciplined and error-ridden rabble whose efforts betrayed the heritage of a great club." Ouch.

No punches pulled there in a description of the form shown in last weekend’s defeat at London Irish and if you are of a nervous disposition, a pain-killer or two might be advised before you read the rest.
Poor form, poor results and poor crowds … it all adds up to a worrying start to the season for Glaws as the recession hits the club off the pitch and goodness knows what hits them on it. Two defeats and a single-point win over a Leeds side clearly in for a struggle this season should have set the alarm bells ringing as loud in the dressing room as they have behind the scenes at Kingsholm.
And before anybody tries to offer excuses or put a biased outlook on the way things have gone so far, take a look at one or two unbiased “experts” said after last weekend’s defeat at London Irish.
Robert Kitson (Guardian):  “Gloucester's tight forwards were so sapped of energy by the end they could barely think straight … the Cherry and Whites plodded … sides do occasionally come good after a slow start, but Gloucester badly need a decent performance against Wasps at Kingsholm this weekend.”
Even more damning was what Mark Souster wrote in the Times: “On the evidence of this performance [Gloucester] are in for a terrible struggle this season … Despite having 12 internationals in their side, Gloucester were sadly off the pace, a ragged, ill-disciplined and error-ridden rabble whose efforts betrayed the heritage of a great club.
“That they snatched an undeserved losing bonus point when Lesley Vainikolo trundled over virtually in slow motion for a converted try as an act of larceny.
“They were smashed in the set pieces. Gloucester’s attempts to run from their 22 proved increasingly embarrassing and comical.”
Nobody wearing red and white was laughing, though, and as Kitson says, the pressure is on for a good result in this weekend’s home game against Wasps.
Form so far suggests it won’t be easy, and perhaps the best we can hope for us that the sort of scathing criticism aimed at the team in the national press hits a nerve and produces a positive reaction – if it doesn’t Redpath’s short tenancy of the Kingsholm hot seat could end in tears.
We know the team is a work in progress and there’s no money about, but “a ragged, ill-disciplined and error-ridden rabble whose efforts betray the heritage of a great club” just isn’t good enough for the Kingsholm faithful and hopefully not good enough for the powers that be behind the scenes.

Time for Glaws "rabble" to find their form

Discussion started by Shedloads (IP Logged), 22/09/2010 16:44

Shedloads
22/09/2010 16:44

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Two Sheds
24/09/2010 16:27

I thought the Times report was a touch harsh, but perhaps some people saw the game in a different light. It certainly wasn't pleasant watching for anybody of a cherry and white persuasion.

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