After suffering its sixth defeat in eight matches since coach Ange Postecoglou took over less than a year ago, fans would be entitled to feel nervous about their favourite team.

Coaches usually get sacked for that sort of record.

After a comprehensive 2-0 defeat to Belgium in the international in Liege, the general concern about the current Socceroos must have grown a notch or two.

The team was outplayed by a slick Belgian side that was not at full strength or in top form but the Socceroos showed in patches what they can achieve if they reduce their alarming mistake rate.

Okay, you don't play matches in patches, particularly at the highest level.

Yet the intrepid Socceroos unquestionably have shown promising signs in their last four matches in Brazil and Belgium to suggest that the good times might not be too far off.

Which means that we should be patient and tolerant in our treatment of this side because, despite the doom and gloom emanating from the scoreboard, it can so easily flourish right in time for the Asian Cup in January.

Patience is not a word you would usually associate with Australia's football culture.

For far too long Aussie footballers have tried to get to the opposing goal and win matches as quickly as possible while the fans and media have always demanded almost instant success.

However as Postecoglou tries to change the team's mentality in favour of a more measured approach, the fans should temper their expectations.

We all knew that Postecoglou's revolution that ushered in generation next was going to be painful before being gainful.

We all recognised that the task of replacing the veteran heroes who put Australia on the world map was never going to be a walk in the park.

And we all accepted the unescapable fact that the new players coming in would need time to fit into Postecoglou's modern methods and adapt to the unforgiving demands of international football.

Results so far might suggest that things are not going according to plan but let's not forget that there already have been some success stories.

The new team has shown that it can take on some of the world's best and give a good account of itself if only in fleeting moments of a game.

Speedy striker Matthew Leckie does not seem at all out of place on the right side of the attack and he would be a far more devastating player if he sharpens his distribution.

Exciting if inconsistent winger Tommy Oar has acquitted himself well on the other side of the attack and, again, he would be more influential with better crossing.

There is not much more one can say about Mark Bresciano, who continues to boost his legendary status in our game by showing guile, smartness and vision in midfield at 34 years of age.

He will be so terribly missed when he eventually pulls the plug on his incredible career.

Uncompromising midfielder Mark Milligan, whose international career was in limbo a few years ago, has fitted in beautifully in Postecoglou's system and it was his opening to Jason Davidson in the first half that provided Bresciano with one of Australia's two best scoring chances against the Belgians.

Young Mat Ryan had big shoes to fill when he took over from the incomparable Mark Schwarzer but he already has established himself as the No 1 goalkeeper.

Australia is lucky to be able to count on his agility, alertness and positional sense for years to come.

Postecoglou's main problems lie in the back four.

There is still a worrying level of misunderstanding and a glaring lack of pace in the back third that will need to be fixed if the Socceroos are to make a serious bid to win the Asian Cup.

Aggressive captain Mile Jedinak does his darndest to protect his erratic defenders in his screening role but he can only do so much.

Belgium got behind Australia's defence far too many times and the first goal it scored was a result of a collective comedy of errors that would have deeply annoyed Postecoglou.

Australia just cannot afford to keep making such schoolboy mistakes in the Asian Cup because the quick forwards from Japan and Korea Republic could rip through its defence with ease.

Having said that, it is therefore vital for the media and fans to be patient and tolerant in their treatment of a team that is prepared to take a few risks and have a go.

This is what we all wanted to see after the bleak years of Pim Verbeek and Holger Osieck, after all.

In Postecoglou the Socceroos have a competent coach and supreme motivator who has a vision and knows what he's doing.

His selected players need to know that they will not be vilified or punished as soon as they have a poor game.

Today's elite Socceroos are not the finest players in the world - many would argue they are not even among Australia's best ever - but they are showing enough enterprise and bravery as a team and individually to deserve to be persevered with.

I have a feeling that if we are patient enough with this lot the rewards will come for one and all.

Follow @MicallefPhilip