(Sean Walsh is a Melbourne Victory member, freelance writer and regular BPL A-League contributor.)

The Club

The only optimistic note I can raise for Victory is the high membership and good attendances they continue to experience.  We can only hope that the increased attendances resulting in large part due to the recruitment of Harry Kewell are filtering through to the club's bottom line.  

From the outside looking in, it is hard to find any other decision that has borne fruit.  The football department appointments of Francis Awaritefe, Mehmet Durakovic and Kevin Muscat have, to this point, been an unmitigated disaster. And Durakovic's sacking today came as no great surprise.

At least part of the problem was the long appointment process and the late recruiting decisions. The extended nature of the Kewell signing can now be seen as the warning of what was to come.  Durakovic had little ability to mould his squad and little experience around him to lean on for important decisions. The power struggles above and within the football department have destabilised a club that was previously the benchmark for solidity.

Given that Durakovic has paid for the team's poor performances with his job, half the current board should have the good grace to resign now as well.

Grade

Can you do worse than an F?  Okay F then.

Coach

Durakovic's career as an A-League coach has come to an end, the past two performances ensuring his sacking.  Losses to the top three teams may be a tough period to judge him on but it is not so much the scoreline as the manner of the losses that brought about his demise.

He had been unable to find the formation that exploited the talents of his personnel.  After tinkering in the early weeks it appeared he had settled on a 4-3-3 variant.  The continuing problem is that the only personnel certain to fill positions are the keeper, captain and three up front.  That leaves six players playing for their spot every week, a very high number halfway through the season.  Another difficulty is that too many members of the squad display little versatility. The inability to develop a system that provides attacking support from midfield for the front 3 is the major reason the team is relatively impotent in attack.  Of recent weeks the Victory have also been porous at the back, in some part due to a lack of defensive pressure from the midfield, and should have conceded many more goals than they have.  Despite the challenges of formation and selection, there are two areas in which Durakovic performed worse.

His ability to project knowledge and control through the media was non-existent. A small rally when his position first came under threat has petered out.  Recent weeks have seen use of phrases such as "we were unlucky" and "we've played some brilliant football".  These sentiments do not reflect reality.  You can't expect to be outplayed for significant periods and blame "luck" for poor results.  Also if I've been witnessing "brilliant football", the definition of brilliant has changed since I last looked at a dictionary.

Matching his poor media performances were his inability to alter tactics or personnel to affect games.  The recent Derby was a case study in being outcoached.  The Heart changed the way in which they set up and steadily dominated the game from that point.  A penchant for retaining defensive-minded midfielders when on the wrong end of the scoreline also points to naivete or stubborness.  A goal down against Central Coast but Cernak comes off for Rojas, while Brebner and Broxham were both retained. Why? Broxham had been attempting to get forward from his centre left midfield position but is never going to represent the attacking threat Cernak can. 

Coach's Grade

Don't want to kick a bloke when he's down but, sorry, it's an F.

Players

Let's start with the positives:

Covic has been far better than expected.  Signed hastily to cover for the injured Velaphi, Covic is probably responsible for the Victory not sitting at the foot of the table.  A

Thompson despite losing a yard after the knee reconstruction is back to his best.  He buzzes around the pitch frequently pulling defenders out of position.  Much like Covic, but for Archie our points tally could be halved. The only downside is that he is trying to be both striker and linking midfielder at the same time, by the 60th minute he's exhausted. A

Those doing a serviceable job:

Hernandez nearly makes the top table. He has been very good and is looking much fitter than last season. Drops from an A due to his lack of versatility and the need for other midfielders to shoulder his defensive load. B

Cernak had a poor start but has in the last 3 games begun to turn the corner.  Although if selection and substitutions are any guide Durakovic's opinion differs.  Provides desperately needed mobility and attacking threat from midfield. C+

Kewell was recruited amid much fanfare and was expected to set the league alight.  Has been serviceable and shows flashes of brilliance.  Lack of support from midfield too often leaves his lack of mobility exposed and a penchant for trying the miracle pass or trick has too often cost possession. The acquisition of Kewell currently looks a little like buying caviar when living on the bread line. He fills a need that the team has covered in the form of Hernandez and playing the two together has resulted in defensive and formation frailties. C

Leijer has been solid at the back.  The defensive displays of the last two weeks might indicate his importance to the side's defensive structure. C+

On the Brink:

Franjic & Foschini - both young defenders with plenty to learn.  Foschini needs to get fitter and sometimes loses concentration failing to track runs (both Simon's goals from Wednesday's game).  Both have the rest of the season to show they can prosper at this level.  Foschini may be better suited in a back three. C

Fabio's inconsistency has resulted in him losing his starting place.  Is in the best 11.  Lack of midfield cover has left both full backs exposed at times. C-

Ferreira - reasonably mobile and a better passer than Broxham. Not as good defensively. Young and room for improvement. At the moment is good squad cover for RB and midfield. He is not a LB as proven against Central Coast. Hopefully will never play there again. C

Broxham. As it says on the packet: one decent diminutive defensive water carrier. Poor passing, good tank. Teams allow him to have the ball as he doesn't hurt them. Needs to improve this part of his game or will forever be defensive squad cover at this level. C-

Celeski has shown a glimpse of regathering his pre-knee reconstruction form but is not quick, is prone to injury and inconsistency. D

Rojas has shown he can only play as a winger with little defensive side to his game. Needs good coaching and plenty of it to unleash the potential he has shown. Confidence clearly at a low ebb. Slight resurgence against Central Coast. D

Thanks Fellas:

Vargas & Kemp for different reasons and having given good service to the club have not been able to produce the performance expected of senior players. Unless there is a dramatic improvement in their contribution are likely to be let go at seasons end. F

Can't be Graded:

Allsop is a player I have greatly admired in a Victory shirt. Runs himself into the ground for the team, finishing is questionable but his heart isn't. Not sure he has the ability to change a game off the bench. If he can't make the 11, Solorzano is a better bench prospect.

Solorzano has been given little opportunity to show his wares under Durakovic. The Kewell signing appears to have squeezed him out.

Brebner. Great competitor at the end of a good career. Lack of mobility and fitness are an issue