IT'S doubtful if Jose Mourinho, Sir Alex Ferguson or even Pep Guardiola could save Adelaide United.

Although club officials are refusing to write off the season, Adelaide is living on borrowed finals time.

The Reds are four points out of the six with a negative 13 goal difference - the A-League's worst performer.

Adelaide's problems stem from defence and the world's best gaffers would struggle to re-lay the foundation which has been the key to all successful clubs.

Statistics have proven that it doesn't matter who takes charge of the ship - Rini Coolen or John Kosmina - they really are at the mercy of recruiting.

The quality of Reds players signed never has been in question.

The balance - the fine line between success and failure - Adelaide has in its 22-man squad, however, is awful.

The A-League is not like Europe where players in some countries are like mercenaries because of no salary caps or restriction of trade in most domestic competitions.

If a player doesn't fit the mould, clubs usually move him on with a minimum of fuss.

Not in Australia.

If a club botches the recruiting mix it usually is then stuck with its mistakes for the term of that player's contract.

Ultimately, Kosmina has inherited Coolen's squad after the Dutchman shipped out 11 players from the era of former boss Aurelio Vidmar.

Stability is another factor which has dogged United throughout its seven A-League seasons. Incredibly, 56 players have come and gone - more than two squads - since 2005.

An injury list which would have seen the decks cleared at cashed up clubs also has contributed to the season from hell. Kosmina and Coolen have experienced disasters defensively in their coaching reigns.

Under Coolen, Adelaide coughed up 21 goals - seven in one hit from Brisbane Roar - in 11 games.

Under Kosmina, Adelaide has conceded 12 goals in eight matches.

While Adelaide has not been on the end of a seven-goal hiding in Kosmina's second coming, United still is leaking goals with most coming from elementary errors. Adelaide in 19 matches has equalled its second-worst goals conceded statistic when the 33rd goal flew past skipper Eugene Galekovic's glove on Sunday in the 0-3 loss to Perth Glory.

Vidmar's side lost 33 goals in 27 games when Adelaide finished bottom in 2010.

Signs that Adelaide's defence was far from safe surfaced under Coolen last year.

While Adelaide scored a superb 51 goals in 30 matches, its defence conceded a record 36 before finishing in third place.