I mostly agree. There hasn't been a sudden slump brought about by a change of style, the slump was there from the outset of the season. Too many players in comfortable positions as favourites of Ricki who are past it. The team needs a complete rebuild and the emphasis must be on players at the height of their game or developing good youngsters, not keeping on ageing pros.
Bring up Boxall, Lindsay and Hogg to augment Fenton and Boyd, that at least would be a positive for next season. Then have a big clear-out at the end of the season and bring in the best of the local scene and a couple of good imports. My clear-out would be Lochhead, Downey, Bertos, Totori (not up to A League standard), Lia and Smith. Ifill should be released with a big thank you, his day has gone. If Bertos stays then he has to revert to being an attacking winger.
A lot of similarity's to the Brisbane Roar 2009-2010 season (apart from the change of manager). Worst season for the Roar, change of ownership, mid-season change of style (that didn't work), very low attendance, eventual purge of older players and a focus on blooding youngsters, crazy angst from all the supporters. This of course led to a double championship winning team from the very next season.