Melbourne City's problems may appear to run deeper than their owners' pockets, but it is down back that they most require urgent change. City have conceded 19 goals in eight games, an average of 2.38 a game.

That not only makes City's defence statistically the competition's worst this season - 2.38 is more than any other side has allowed in any of the A-League's previous nine seasons.

Easy does it: Phoenix's Nathan Burns celebrates another goal against Melbourne City. Credit:Getty Images

Even the pitiful New Zealand Knights from the competition's first instalment only let in 2.24 goals a shift. Of course, the season is still a week shy of reaching its one-third mark, but the trend is evident, and potentially shambolic.

New Victorian premier Daniel Andrews could model the city's future transport plan on the back of City's net, so easy has it been to access for opposition clubs.