Redpath: We'll be in the top four
Gloucester coach Bryan Redpath says a top four finish for the club is the minimum that will be accepted by the end of the season.
Redpath believes the club have enough squad depth and quality to make a real push for the top of the table this season. However, there are many other clubs who have already stated similar ambitions for this season.
Gloucester finished seventh in the table last season and this was the club's worst performance in the top-flight of rugby for nearly a decade. Redpath believes it will not be difficult to improve on that position and is aiming for at least fourth.
Gloucester have a number of strengths that will allow them to push for a top four finish. However, there are a number of other clubs with better squads and better experience of fighting at the top end of the table.
A lot going for them
Gloucester have some very quick and skilful players on the ball. Luke Narraway has been the centre of attention at the club during pre-season on more than one occasion. He is one player the club will look to for creation and pace during games.
Gloucester have plenty of speed in the wide areas. This is important because it should lead to a lot of points if the players in the middle of the team can get the ball out wide quickly. James Simpson-Daniel is an example of a player that can exploit the smallest gap in any defence.
The coach is very ambitious and forward thinking. Redpath will have to step in at various points in the season to keep players sharp and to stop heads from dropping. He will have to be on top form on and off the pitch if Gloucester are going to get close to the top four this year.
Redpath said: "I'd love to win it and I think we've got a squad that can but we have to be in the top four to justify this club. That's our target and that's the target of any club this size. We only won two away games in the Premiership last season and you've got to win five or six if you want to get into the top four."
Other sides
It is very easy to name four or five sides who already have a better chance of making the top four than Gloucester. Bath, Leicester, Harlequins and Saracens all have slightly more quality in their playing squads as well as the experience of fighting around the top four in previous seasons.
This is something that Gloucester will have to compete with on a regular basis and it could force them down and in to a mid-table position as the games start to pile up.
Redpath added: "You need to be mentally tough to win away from home and on certain occasions we weren't. I look at last season when 14 left the club and this time round it's only been four or five. I think the stability thing is huge and you can make it clear what last season was all about and how we need to move on."
Betting advice
Give Gloucester a little bit of faith if they start the season well. Watch how they play and if the rugby seems fluent, fast paced and attacking then back Redpath's men to make a top four place.
However, if you see equally good signs from any of the other big clubs expected to do well this year, back them before you back Gloucester. It's an extremely difficult season to call for this club.
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