Summertime blues pt1

Usually, at this time of year, I am starting to miss the rugby. I am not , like some of my neighbours, an afficienado of cricket or cycling and take only a passing interest in the tennis. OK so I have the footy championship thingy to distract me but, to tell you the truth, I am quite relieved to have a break from the rollercoaster ride that is the life of a Tykes supporter....

Last season was a damp squib for me. Twelve months ago I was full of optimism. We had acquired a big name coach who started early so as to have an input into the building of the squad. Our player acquistions all had top flight experience. We even organised a pre-season. So all was set for a serious tilt at promotion as the relegated side, London Welsh, were not expected to do much. Bristol, perennial chokers that they are, were there for the taking. Our time in the wilderness must surely come to an end.

History will show that Bristol finally got out of the Championship and that the club with the second biggest budget was probably lucky to make the play-offs after failing to capitalise on all of the above. Despite the best efforts of the "Glass half full" brigade I never felt that the squad we had was punching it's weight.

OK so we had a few injuries to key players. We did not, however, have adequate quality cover in key positions and team selection was mysterious, to say the least, at times. Our game management often left a lot to be desired.

Now I do not want to develope a blame culture on this mb which is a sanctuary for open-minded Tykes and rugby supporters generally but I do have to say that much of what went wrong was Bryan Redpath's fault.

He has stated that he has learned a lot from his first season in the Championship. His players did not transcribe that knowledge into their performances, particularly at the sharp end of the season when reaction to learning should have started to become apparent. This coming season's squad is entirely Redpaths. If the players he picked to join the club do not perform then it is down to him.

It is a positive that he has brought in Steve Boden as forwards coach and J-Lo as backs coach as both have proven track records as motivators. Next season we need to see progression after the mish-mash missed opportunity just gone.

For me nothing less than top two finish and play-off final will signify progress. If that is looking unlikely by Christmas then my blues will only get worse.