Melbourne Victory Champions to Chumps?

Now the Victory only have two out of the last eighteen points.

And if you read the Victory forums the fans are not happy. Not happy with Ernie Merrick or many of the players.

But what's to be done?

Let's be clear it's not too late, not yet. But Ernie is starting to panic. Look at the coaching changes on the weekend.

Of course the sack is the quickest option.

But after a dreadful first season Ernie won the title on the back of some great away performances with a very mobile front three. Should he be sacked?

Well by A-League Coaching standards, clearly. But given he produced a side capable of winning a title he should be given longer.

Or else every club will continue to get rid of one, maybe two managers each season. That would be a disaster, but if so, thank god the league is only 21 games!

And Ernie may be off anyway. His resume turned up at Port "Who" Vale by chance. Ahem!

And the team is clearly demoralised if not split.

Ljubo Milicevic Kevin Muscat, Archie Thompson and others have had problems this season.

The key off-season signings did look great. Not anymore.

Ljubo, Kaz Patafta, Carlos Hernandex, Joe Keenan, Leandro Love and Matthew Kemp. On paper every one was an improvement on what the squad had before.

Sunday at the Glory, Archie was outstanding. An early goal could have changed Victory's game.

And remember ten man Victory, just a few weeks ago at the table-topping Central Coast were superb, but they lost.

Ernie has lost his confidence it seems to me.

Leandro Love, tried, tested and dropped at least for now. Kaz Patafta neither tried nor tested.

Carlos Hernandez tried and dropped away to Perth. That speaks volumes about Ernie's thoughts.

Joe Keenan moved to right side, then back to left. After intially impressing he has created little in forward play.

Danny Allsopp is in a slump, again. Archie has to score all the goals and who can expect it of anyone.

So Adrian Caceres was left out early in the season, and fans wanted him in. In he came, and has scored a couple of nice goals but threatens rather than achieves.

And Grant Brebner. He plays the ball so long. And yet he's pivotal to the Victory game plan.

Look at the Jets, the Glory on the weekend, The Mariners, Sydney in Asia and Adelaide. At their best they play short and quick.

It wouldn't take much to fix the Victory. But changing the defensive midfield structure must be worth a try.

Kevin Muscat, Leigh Broxham Carlos Hernandez and Kaz Patafta. More forward movement, More creativity and a different style. Maybe even Adrian Caceres with Danny Allsopp coming on from the bench.

Victory have relied on long balls, and the energy of Fred last season, to win games.

Without this "luck" factor, which arrived and left with Fred, Victory have to find another way, before it's too late.

Grant Brebner is no Fred. Nor is he expected to be, but to me when he lifts his head to play a wonderful 40 metre pass the Victory season goes with it.

The pass could work, looks good, but nothing comes of it.

And the Brebner and Muscat is midfield means you are never going to attack in numbers. Both together are too slow too motor forward into the box.

Time to give Grant a wee rest, and that could force Victory's hand.

Frank Farina had his hand forced by results and it worked. Perth Glory have done the same in leaving out Mate Dragojavic.

Fortune favours the brave. Coaches who have stuck by the Simon Lynch's,Ante Milicic's, David Zdrillic, and Dragojavic's because of a players reputation or because they signed them have been found wanting in the results area.

Graham Arnold stuck by Lucas Neill, Vinny Grella and Patrick Kisnorbo in the Asia Cup. He changed because he had to, and sneaked through the group.

The top managers mould their teams irrespective of the name or reputation of the player.

Maybe that is why the Central Coast and not Melbourne Victory are top!