We are just past the halfway point of the 2010-11 A-League season and I am now willing to admit that it is destined to be an unusually lean one by Melbourne Victory's lofty standards. Having appeared in three out of the five A-League grand finals, and won two, Victory fans expect success and we are not going to get it this year.

While we have at least managed to draw our last two games against Central Coast Mariners and Wellington Phoenix, our tally of four wins from 17 games is pathetic. While some opposing players and pundits still feel Victory is the competition's dark horse, set to charge at any moment, this should be written off as misplaced and unjustified sentiment.

The table doesn't lie, and, if we haven't managed to string together decent performances after 17 games, it is not suddenly going to start happening. The only reason Victory is still in the hunt for a finals berth is that other teams, such as Melbourne Heart and Newcastle, have been equally inconsistent and poor.

So what has gone wrong? Has Victory dropped the bundle or has Brisbane and Adelaide raised the bar? The general consensus amongst those in the know is that the standard of football in the league has improved markedly. I can't say I've watched enough games to offer an informed judgement on that claim, however, I do know that the standard of Victory's football has dropped. This was all too evident in the opening half of our game against the Mariners.

The most glaring problem was the team's pitiful work rate. Archie Thompson can be forgiven as he has just returned from a long-term injury, but the others have no excuse. Considering their modest position on the ladder - a flattering sixth - I expected an intense approach from the outset.

This was not the case. They were consistently second to ball and not nearly desperate enough. While this did change in the second half - presumably after a well-deserved rocket from Ernie Merrick at half time - the damage had been done and they had gone down 1-0 to a soft Daniel McBreen goal. While a piece of Carlos Hernandez magic pulled us out of the fire in the second half, we cannot rely on that every week.

The young Costa Rican midfielder Marvin Angulo has been starved of opportunities this season and Merrick has decided to give him a starting spot in the last few matches. Finally given a chance - one I thought was well overdue - Marvin should've been chasing every ball like a headless chook. But alas, against the Mariners he seemed as lethargic as the rest of the team.

And what about Robbie Kruse? A month ago, after a match-winning performance against Adelaide United, The Age and Herald Sun were asking when and not if the Victory striker would be poached by a European club. How foolish such an assertion looks now. While he scored a tap-in against Wellington, he has been very disappointing since the Adelaide game.

Everyone associated with Victory must reassess our 2010-11 aspirations and realise it's time for a changing of the guard. Merrick must continue to give Angulo, Dugandzic, Ferreira, Kellaway and Berger a decent crack. If they don't meet the required standard then it's time to look elsewhere.

Merrick has been very loyal to the older guard including Tommy Pondeljak and Grant Brebner, and now it is time to show the same faith in the kids. I have spoken before about Merrick's misplaced loyalty to his talismanic skipper Kevin Muscat and I don't think I'm the only fan who feels it's time for Kev to hang up the boots - leadership qualities can only count for so much.

At 37 he is too old to hold up his position as sweeper in Victory's defense, and Muscat and Merrick seem the only ones oblivious to this fact. He has been an outstanding player and leader for Victory and may well be remembered as the greatest player to ever wear the navy blue and white, but he is not doing his legacy any favours.

While his passing remains first class, the rest of his game is not up to it. Muscat is also not being helped by his coach insisting on playing three lumbering centre backs - Muscat with Adrian Leijer and Rody Vargas - in a static back line. However, Merrick at least rectified this blatant tactical deficiency against the Phoenix by including Leigh Broxham in a back four.

If Victory continues to struggle as the season progresses and a finals spot appears unlikely, there is absolutely no point in persisting with Muscat at the heart of the defence. Ask him to relinquish his playing role in favour of an assistant coaching position and look to rebuild before the vital Asian Cup campaign. The current set up just isn't sustainable.