Adelaide United have a magnitude of problems. When you have no wins from eight games you cannot point the finger at one person.
Manager Guillermo Amor has come under scrutiny along with the players and owners of the club for what many fans see as a lack of ambition. A poor off-season did not yield the additions to the squad many wanted.
But the form of striker Bruce Djite is beginning to become a major problem for Adelaide United as they sit rooted to the bottom of the A-League table. It is hard to believe that on the eve of the Asian Cup just over a year ago many felt Djite should have been in the mix for a spot in the Australian team, this writer included.
The 2-1 loss to arch-rivals Melbourne Victory Saturday evening means the goal drought for Djite continues. He has not scored a goal this season, not scored for 14 consecutive games, and not scored against Victory in 15 attempts.
They are not the statistics you want to see associated with your number one striker. And therein lies the problem, Djite is a striker who simply does not score goals.
Many pundits have questioned what role Djite is currently playing. No doubt confidence is an issue, as it appears to be with the whole team. But time and time again against Victory Djite found himself in positions that the lone striker should not be in.
Taking throw-ins and spending a lot of time on the right wing, everywhere but in the box and in a central position. This is what is most concerning. Not only is Djite not scoring goals, he is not getting in any positions to threaten opposition goalkeepers.
Overall Djite has somewhat of a mixed rating among Adelaide United fans. Many see Djite as a powerful player who can bring others into the game and can cause headaches for the opposition. Others look at his goalscoring record and a history littered with injuries, which often seem to strike Djite when he is looking to get into best form.
This Sunday Adelaide host Perth Glory and the Reds will not have a better chance to register a win, and for Bruce Djite to register a goal. The Glory squad is one of the weakest in the competition and their current roster more closely resembles a hospital ward than a professional football team.
When you have a poor squad you cannot afford injuries, yet Dino Djulbic, Ruben Zadkovich, Gyorgy Sandor, Guyon Fernandez and Josh Risdon are all missing. Perth are possibly devoid of more confidence than Adelaide United coming off a thrashing at the hands of Melbourne City.
There are no excuses for Adelaide United or Bruce Djite this week, only a win will do.
Philby Ramone
Guest
I was a handy footballer when I was 17. Didn't go on with it. So there you go. You can't live on your reputation and the promise of what you once might have been. I think Bruce is playing a division higher than he should be.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Djite is a curious case, he is one of a number of players of his generation who promised so much, absolutely smothered in plaudits, even gave glimpses of potential greatness, but delivered little over the journey (I can think of other names of the same generation like Kaz Patafta, Kristian Sarkies, Spira, Matthew Mullen, etc). But let us recall that he was a very important part of the Reds' run towards that AFC final appearance against (hmmm, I'm testing my memory here, was it Gamba?), in fact, I have a distinct memory of opposition coaches singling him out as a player they had trouble controlling. There may even been some who heralded him as the next Dukes - and to be honest, at that time, he appeared to have the goods.
Frustrated Red
Guest
Get rid of him!!!
Gazz
Guest
Not signing a striker was disgraceful from Adelaide United in the off season. And I mean a decent striker, not that ex Melb heart reject Adelaide got.