Very few of us here are blaming anything on Merrick.
I am. He's playing the wrong tactics for the players he has. And I was always on record as feeling ashamed of picking up MVFC's leftovers (same with Hernandez) - they were let go for good reasons.
What a load of bollocks to be honest.
I would resist the urge to make it personal, and rather play the ball than the person.
Not everyone likes the idea of Merrick coming to the Nix, and clearly Doloras does not think Merrick's style of play suits the players he has at his disposal. To some degree this is true. However, I would argue that the style is right, and this is what Seb has already stated. Current players will move on, but the style will be bedded in. This is the football that is played today, and one that allows countries not traditionally dominant improve beyond their previously modest limits (think Japan). Not all players can play that style. What this means is that Merrick will find the players suited for that style, for example by letting Lochhead go, but recruiting Riera from Auckland City, and so on.
I am not expecting miracles overnight, although a win now and then would be nice. I am prepared to pay to watch my team to lose well as much as I am prepared to pay to watch them win ugly. That is football.