Username
Password
Glaws in good shape for 2009, says Ryan

Delve - bac k soon
By Cherry Picker
December 31 2008
As Gloucester head into a new year, probably fairly happy to see the end of the old one, coach Dean Ryan says the team and the club are in good shape, but nowhere near where he would like them to be. Looking forward to kicking-off the new year with a difficult home test against Saracens, Ryan is up-beat about the club's prospects and believes the tam is slowly but surely getting better.

And with a handful of important players due to return from injury as 2009 progresses, he's convinced the prospects for the next four months are bright.
2008 was hardly a bad year for Gloucester, but it had its frustrations as consistent form in the GP season was ruined by more play-off disappointment, and Ryan is as keen as the club's fans to put that right this time round.
JSD try v BristolGareth Delve, Akapusi Qera and James Simpson-Daniel (right)have all been missed through long-term injuries, but they are due to return in 2009, while of crouse the awful luck suffered by Greg Somerville as he started his new career with the club just about summed up the way things have gone injury-wise in recent months.
Ryan told the Citizen: "We're all right, but we're nowhere near there. We've had to come back a little bit from where we've been in previous seasons.
"We were very clear-cut about our game in the last couple of years, but clearly it didn't deliver the final prizes.
"We've come back, we're trying to find different ways of playing the game. We've got some different individuals and we've arrived at Christmas in good shape.
"That's not a bad return given that we started the season under laws which we never played before.
"I'm pretty happy with where we are. If we can push on from this I think we've got a good chance of getting in the mix as the season goes on."
Of course the law changes were the same for every club, so Glaws can't make an excuse there, but injuries - long-term as well as minor niggles - have disrupted the team's form and Ryan is right to hope that 2009 will see more freedom for him to pick the team he wants rather than one forced on him.
The Sarries game is a great way to open 2009 - they ended London Irish's winning streak last weekend, and Glaws are still desperate to put their own hammering at the hands of the Exiles the week before behind them.
The feeling in the squad is that the win over Bristol was a response to that and that team-work off and on the pitch is the answer.
Beating Saracens would be an ideal way to prove it.

View a Printer Friendly version of this Story.

Bookmark or share this story with:

Goto Thread: Previous•Next
Message List•New Topic•Search•Log In
31 Dec, 2008 11:35 Report
Shedloads (IP Logged)
Unregistered User
Glaws in good shape for 2009, says Ryan
What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.

Reply•Quote
31 Dec, 2008 13:22 Report
JJ_Glos (IP Logged)
Registered User		 Date Joined: May, 2007
Location:
Posts: 15
Re: Glaws in good shape for 2009, says Ryan
Hopefully, with the returnees back in the squad, our appalling missed tackle and lost ruck count will be reduced.
Opta Team Stats

For someone who is hailed for his defensive duties, Tindall needs to do a lot more tackling practice. Four Gloucester players in the top 12 for missed tackles... What has happened to the coaching?
Opta Player Stats

Reply•Quote
31 Dec, 2008 13:53 Report
cheerycherry (IP Logged)
Registered User		 Date Joined: May, 2007
Location:
Posts: 4964
Re: Glaws in good shape for 2009, says Ryan
With the players returning from injury then '09 could be a good year for Glaws. The side is overdue some luck with injuries and if they can get a constant level of performance then Glaws can still be major players this season. Definately glass half full territory but Glaws need to push on now.

Reply•Quote
31 Dec, 2008 14:30 Report
Alecmonty (IP Logged)
Registered User		 Date Joined: May, 2007
Location:
Posts: 10
Re: Glaws in good shape for 2009, says Ryan
Some interesting statistics there, JJ_Glos. We certainly do need to tighten up on the areas you highlight and Andy Hazell is one man who would affect the rucks won and tackles made counts.

Reply•Quote
31 Dec, 2008 14:45 Report
cheerycherry (IP Logged)
Registered User		 Date Joined: May, 2007
Location:
Posts: 4964
Re: Glaws in good shape for 2009, says Ryan
I think Haze's problem is he sometimes lacks support. He needs teammates backing him up at the breakdown or he just gets cleared out at the ruck. When all are available a backrow of Strokes, Haze and Naz would be pretty effective but if you replace Strokes with Bucko then you lose a large degree of pace and mobility.

Reply•Quote
1 Jan, 2009 11:08 Report
Two Sheds (IP Logged)
Registered User		 Date Joined: May, 2007
Location:
Posts: 1201
Re: Glaws in good shape for 2009, says Ryan
Statistics interesting? Have you been at the drink? They are a load of bollocks.

Reply•Quote
Goto Thread: Previous•Next
Goto: Message List•Log In

Goto: Forum List•Message List•Search•Log In
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.
We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment. We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals. We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards. If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing abuse@sportnetwork.net