Responsibility for what is turning in to a shambolic season lies equally with the Herbert and the owners.
After last season it was made clear to all concerned that a more entertaining style was required to get crowd numbers up to where they needed to be for the club to become self sustaining - I know the season ticket holders I go with had had their fill of hoofball. Key recruitment objectives were identified to enable the new style including a right back, an upgrade in our midfield creativity and a decent striker. Between Brocky (when he turns up) and Waffles (jury is still out) you could argue the last objective was met. The first two weren't and we are paying the price - our midfield is dire and incapable of playing any sort of prolonged possession based game. This situation has been compounded by Manny (play me at DM or I'm off) Muscat being poor - slow of thought and action. The number of times he has been caught in possession, from behind, is criminal.
Leo has made a decent attempt at RB but it's obviously not his preferred or natural position.
The owners would have signed off our recruitments last season so they share, with Herbert, responsibility for the recruitment shortfalls. Personally I think having Herbert part time (away with the All Whites) when he should have been focused on recruitment didn't help.
Compounding our problems is players clearly at or past their best by date (Lochhead and Ifill(?)) and players obviously out of form (Sigmund and Dura (below his best)). Blaming "total football" for Sigmund's dopey decisions to repeatedly rush out of the line or Lochhead's lethargy is nonsense - it is the performance of our back four and DMs that has cost us points as much as trying to play a more attractive style.
If we are going to make the transition to a club that produces talent in-house that will take time and for performance and results to be maintained in the meantime we have to be a hell of a lot smarter with the use of our import spots - ask yourself; Totori, Smith, Waffles are not even regular starters.
I do think the owners made a mistake in trying to change styles half way through the season but at least we have found out, albeit the hard way, that much of our squad is not up to the skill level required to play a decent standard of football - in the context of the improvement in the league's standard.
We all have our own views on whether Herbert can coach a higher standard - personally I don't think he can. I also think there is probably a fatigue factor with Herbert and some of the longer serving players - they've heard every team talk multiple times and maybe it's time for fresh ideas.
The positive I take out of the current shambles is there will be a sort out in the next off season and there will be a much greater focus on recruitment than there has been in the past. My reservation is Herbert will have a conflict of interest - as Phoenix coach he may want to release Lochhead, Sigmund, and Paston (more due to his personal choice) but as All Whites coach he may want them playing regular football. Hopefully the owners will be making the final calls and will be seeking independent advice.