IT'S NOT often that I switch off the television coverage of a Melbourne Victory game and choose instead to follow the fortunes of my team on the radio.

But when Matt Thompson's second goal on the stroke of half time hit the back of the net I had seen enough I was up and out my seat.

After what was one of the worst days in the short history of Melbourne Victory, I had a feeling that it wasn't going to be our night and this feeling wasn't helped by what I believe is the reason for the recent dip in form.

The area that is of major concern for me at the moment is in the defensive half and more specifically the final third. In the last three matches, Victory have conceded an unflattering total of nine goals. This is in stark contrast to the miserly 12 that were conceded in the preceding twelve matches.

I am not usually one for pointing the finger at an individual player as part of this problem but this time I am willing to make an exception and single out Michael Thwaite for some criticism.

Too often in recent games his opponents look to have turned him too easily. Two prime examples spring to mind, the first being from Friday night's match against Newcastle when Marko Jesic easily turned the Melbourne defender to whip in a brilliant cross for the opening goal of the game. Thwaite looked to have no second effort as he basically stood there and watched his opponent put in the cross.

The other example that springs to mind comes from the Perth match where a simple swivel of the hips from Adrian Trinidad was enough to lose Thwaite and allow the Argentinean to set up Eugene Dadi for Perth's first goal.

For me, Thwaite quite simply hasn't lived up to the reputation that saw him in the Socceroos squad only a few years back and currently is not worthy of a starting XI spot. Apart from being turned easily, there are plenty of other examples of poor positioning and being pushed off the ball too easily.

He also appears to be lacking in confidence and the smile that was evident in the early rounds looks to have disappeared. Maybe the distraction of his supposed move to Gold Coast United is also playing on his mind.

Thwaite's dip in confidence has also appeared to have a flow on effect to fellow defender, Rodrigo Vargas, with the usually reliable defender making a number of uncharacteristic mistakes in recent weeks.

In the final third, the only player that in my opinion can hold his head high in the last three matches is the captain, Kevin Muscat, who despite the controversy leading up to Friday night's game was one of the best for the team from Melbourne.

To improve this recent poor defensive record, Merrick should revert back to a central pairing of Vargas and Muscat and a return to the starting line-up for Matthew Kemp at right back with Evan Berger at left back.

They say championships are won on a platform of a solid defence, and for Victory, this platform is looking very shaky at the moment - and if the early season solidity does not return then any chance of finals action may fast disappear.

Neil would like to wish all the readers of au.fourfourtwo.com all the best for the festive season.

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