Over the last six years we’ve seen some bad performances from Melbourne Victory from time to time, some quite bad indeed. None of them though were as horrendous as the shit we served up last night (to put it bluntly). Whatever it was, it barely resembled football.

We just couldn’t do anything right. It was as though we’d completely forgotten how to play. Like our players had been recruited from a dodgy Sunday League. Football basics had been thrown out the window.

Every time we got the ball we’d already lost it barely a minute later, after we’d played ourselves into a tight corner or failed to execute a simple ten yard pass. Now of course, occasionally you get crap games in football and sometimes players have bad days, but some of the “skills” on show last night were just pathetic. These players are professionals. They train almost every day. How they can manage to look like they’d never played a game in their life? When your already looking disjointed as a team, poor individual performances certainly don’t help.

The blame isn’t solely on the players though as its the coach who tells them how to play. You have to wonder what it is exactly that Mehmet Durakovic is instructing his players to do. In the post-match press conference he said:

We’ll work on the training pitch and as soon as we can get this structure right there’ll be no stopping us going forward.

We just need to get this system and structure right. We’ve got the players to put the ball in the back of the net and the sooner we do that the better.

And when will that be Mehmet? Does he realise that the season has actually started? We’re playing for points here. Now is not the time for experimentation. He’s had a full pre-season with the players and he still can’t decide on the starting eleven. He still doesn’t know what that structure is or how to best utilize the players at his disposal. Stop saying how good the team will be, because at the moment they’re not getting anywhere. Three weeks into the season and there has been no progress whatsoever.

I hate to sound all negative but this is just the reality of the situation. I’m not going to sit here though and say that Mehmet should be sacked immediately. Many have already said that they think he’s out of his depth, but I think its too early to make that call. Although, the doubts I had over his lack of experience when he was appointed are now justified.

The telling factor will be how Mehmet responds to the situation. If he can’t pull this team together and start producing the results that the Board expects then his days may be numbered. What a huge test the next couple of weeks will be. Wellington away – never an easy trip – and then Brisbane at home. If we play like we did last night, Brisbane will tear us apart.

So, what’s the solution then? For starters, we need to get some sort of a midfield going. Its been non-existent so far. We really struggled in transitioning from defence to attack. Playing two DM’s may be a safer option in terms of providing cover for the back four but its not doing us any favours when we have possession of the ball – especially considering Brebner and Broxham are way too similar. We need more creativity in the middle of the park but lack of options and quality in this area is really hurting us.

We may have only conceded one goal so far but we haven’t scored any either. What have we got to lose by playing one DM and a central midfielder? The question is though, who do we play in the middle? Well, thats open for debate. Up front, I think its about time that Solorzano is given a spot in the starting lineup. Its clear that we’ve looked a better side with him on the park. But then do you play Thompson out wide? I think he’s better utilized up front, but then you compromise a spot in midfield. Good thing I’m not being payed to coach the team.

At the end of the day, Durakovic and the players themselves need to take a step back and reassess things. A lot of expectation has been placed on this team but they must realise that nothing comes easy. They will have to work a lot harder for each other and for the shirt.