Too many indians?
Last updated: 29th February 2008
Dean Ryan: Gloucester's Chief
We don't have a Martin Johnson that sits in there and everybody gets behind him.
Dean Ryan
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Sometimes being the best just isn't good enough.
Gloucester are top of the Guinness Premiership and they have been there for 95 per cent of the season - only Bath have knocked them of their perch since the early rounds of the campaign.
But a dip in form since the turn of the New Year has some fans voicing some discontent. They have lost three of five - nearly four after last weekend against Newcastle - and they only won the other game by a point over Wasps.
Coach Dean Ryan says that's the way it goes down at Kingsholm.
He told The Rugby Club: "This place is always the same, unless you win every game, every week and every competition then you must do better!
"It's the nature of the place."
The Rugby Club asked Ryan if there is an absence of a natural leader on the pitch for the Cherry and Whites, particularly with Mike Tindall injured.
Peter Buxton aside, it could be argued that there are too many indians and not enough chiefs in the current Gloucester tribe and that might have something to do with the relative poor run of form. Ryan is not sure.
"We don't have a natural leader," he said. "We don't have a Martin Johnson that sits in there and everybody gets behind him.
"I see example leaders like Peter Buxton and it just takes time and you grow confident. Good sides can evolve from anything; there is not a blueprint saying you must be like this to be a good side.
"You just know there are certain characteristics that make it a little bit easier. It doesn't mean we can't evolve a different way."
