Glous I feel are now a team of losers (not even plucky losers anymore if I'm being honest) and personally I think they needed to try and lure a Venter.
All this fuss about attacking rugby but end of the day you can build more on a winning foundation than a losing foundation.
And I wonder if Ackermanns lack of NH rugby let alone Prem rugby going to help that?
I can't think of any other Prem team that can lose a game like Glous can.
Hmm, probably a little harsh IMHO - consistency is more the issue I reckon both between and within games.
For example we've beaten Saracens and Wasps at home, drawn away at Exeter and were within 4 at Allianz Park.
But we've also had some awful games and the collapses against Leicester and Quins were pathetic (although I think Leicester did a number on us in the second half as much as we collapsed so credit where it's due and all that).
I think there are too many changes in playing staff each year, which can't help (Hamilton cited the constant 'revolutions' as his main reason for leaving) but within the side there is some quality - the front five are a tidy unit, the back 3 are good quality, Scott is great when he plays and Williams is a good signing I think but other areas are weak and there's a lack of depth.
But I genuinely think the coaching has been the biggest problem.
I take your point about attacking rugby but the structure of the attack is woeful - tries come from opportunism or moments of inspiration rather than anything akin to phases creating space, multiple attacking line, etc.
Have long thought Fisher (and Taylor) have been the problem, which is why I'm so pleased at the announcement - as a saffer, I'm also hopeful he'll give us a harder edge to be a little more robust in defence and stop the collapses.
Would like to see Thrush named as captain too but that's based on the way he plays rather than any knowledge of what he's like in the dressing room.
No doubt you're right about the press hyperbole but most of the fans I know just want to see tangible progress in the way we play. Something that's been badly lacking in the last few years.
