Pride in the shirt?

By Cherry Picker
October 28 2009

Kingsholm coach Bryan Redpath says he believes he can turn Gloucester’s fortunes round and make the club a major force in club rugby again. Not all the fans agree with him, many calling for his head after last weekend’s home humiliation against Wasps and just as many blaming this season’s poor form on a lack of pride in wearing the cherry and white shirt. But are the fans right?

The latest Glaws Premiership test is at Sale Sharks on Friday night, a really vital game between two sides hovering just above the danger zone – some would day they are actually IN it – after which the losers will surely start to feel really uncomfortable, especially if yo-yo club Leeds manage to find SOME form.

In the meantime, let’s take a look at the two major bones of contention for Glaws fans:

1,  Bryan Redpath – was he appointed to succeed Dean Ryan (remember him?) because he provided continuity at a time when some stability was called for, or was he the cheapest option available? Either way, he surely deserves to be given more time to get things right.
Glaws finished last season badly, some very influential players left the club during the summer and many more have suffered injury in the first two months of the season – Redpath is a rookie coach, not a miracle worker.
He has agreed that he should take some of the blame for the current crisis, but surely he doesn’t deserve all of it. If his team had started this season like world-beaters, he would have been labelled a miracle-worker, but because he hasn’t worked miracles, some fans want him out.

2, Pride in the shirt – yes, there should be some, but the days when 15 local blokes, farmers and solicitors duing the week, were on first-name terms with the denizens of The Shed are long gone. This is professional rugby, and the Glaws squad is comprised of players from all over Britain and all over the world who are professionals.
They play for money, like the players at every other pro club, and while the paying customers have a right to expect 100 per cent commitment and effort, they surely don’t want to see a team of badge-kissers of the sort we see in footy do they?
If they play for any sort of pride, expect them to play for pride in their own and their team’s performance, not an over-priced piece of hooped material with too many logos on it.
If in doubt about pride in the shirt and playing for your home-town club, ask Ryan Lamb. is he playing for pride in a green shirt now, or has he been released from the pressure he felt at Kingsholm?
Glaws is a big club and should not be in the sort of trouble they are in now. But blaming a lack of pride in the shirt is rubbish – we are where we are because the squad is not good enough and makes too many daft errors, simple as that.
It’s up to Redpath and the players to put it right, starting at Sale on Friday night.

Is Redpath REALLY to blame for Glaws woes?

Discussion started by Shedloads (IP Logged), 28/10/2009 15:08

Shedloads
28/10/2009 15:08

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.

Reply Quote Report

cheerycherry
29/10/2009 11:35

I dont think it is fair to suggest it is entirely Redpath's fault, he has been hit by injuries to locks and centres, plus he cant do anything about silly individual errors the players are making on the pitch. What he can do is get the players together and sort out issues Glaws have defensively (Betts), sort out the complete shambles Glaws are still making of re-starts, even though that has been present for at least a season and a half (Betts and Hogg) and restore the likes of Voyce and Sinbad to their proper positions and get the team playing as a team. Having said that I think most people know he only got the job because he was the cost effective option, there seemingly was no money to bring in an experienced coach so get a rookie in because they are the budget option. It was a gamble from Walkinshaw, if it works out then great and steady as we go, if it doesnt then Glaws are flirting with relegation. At the moment it is not working and with the Anglo-Welsh runabout Cup coming up now is the time for the Glaws coaching staff to get it sorted out and Glaws to give the rest of the season a proper go. Will it happen? Over to the Glaws coaches...

Reply Quote Report

Two Sheds
30/10/2009 12:31

It's up to coaches (plural) to make the best of what they've got, and I'm afraid that isn't happening, There are weaker squads in the Prem, and other clubs suffer injuries, yet we are down near the bottom, playting badly and showing few signs of being able to play well.
It's up to the coaches to inspire the team and if anybody starts saying the Kingsholm crowd put too much pressure on them, expect too much or are too quick to complain, I'll be very quick to disagree.

Reply Quote Report

Message List Search Log In

Your Name:
Subject:

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