Stuart Barnes says that Bath have to change their game plan as they head to Toulon for Sunday's rearranged Champions Cup Pool 5 clash.
Bath and Toulon are level on eight points - six points behind Pool leaders Wasps, who have played an extra game
Mike Ford's men did beat Wasps in round three but since then, they have lost four of their last six games in the Premiership - to Leicester, Northampton and most recently Newcastle - and head to the home of the triple champions in poor form.
"I think Bath have some big problems," Barnes told the Sky Sports ERCC podcast.
"Coaching wise, they are way too structured and they are trying to replicate what they did last year. It worked last year because teams did not realise what was coming and it allowed George Ford, Anthony Watson and Jonathan Joseph to cut teams to pieces.
"This year, teams have identified the way Bath are trying to play and I am disappointed that Bath have been saying that they have not been accurate enough in what they are trying to do. What Bath need to do is change their game plan.
"The other thing with Bath is that they look very short of confidence and going to Toulon, if you want to give them a game, then that is something that you must have.
"The Bath teams of yore would have loved Toulon; they would have gone into the Mediterranean entrance, through the thousands of thronging Toulon fans and said 'if you want a battle, we are here for it.'
"I am concerned that, at the moment, this Bath team look mentally a little bit weak."
Tactical nous
Toulon are not in the best of form themselves, but Barnes says that could well make Bath's trip to Stade Félix Mayol even tougher.
"Toulon are not playing that well at the moment themselves but that makes them more dangerous and I fear for Bath," he added.
"There will be no complacency [from Toulon] because they are not clicking - they only just managed to beat Pau at home and they got a thumping from Toulouse. If the triple champions lose this one, then they are in a whole heap of difficulty.
"I just don't see that happening though - I don't think Bath have the confidence, and at the moment, I don't think that the management have the nous to flick the switch and change the way they are playing."
Spending power
Barnes says that while there are similarities between Bath and Toulon in terms of the money behind the team and attracting the big names, Toulon are spending their money in a smarter way.
"Bath have signed some fantastic players but you have to wonder about team morale. If you think about it, they have signed David Denton. They then go and sign Taulupe Faletau for next season and then also sign the Japanese No 8 Amanaki Mafi. If you want to get the best out of Denton, then that is a terrible way to try and motivate someone.
"I think that there is a little bit of motivational difficulty which Toulon don't have and I think the players they have signed don't quite have that winning edge in terms of experience that the Toulon players have. I think Toulon are probably spending more than Bath, but they are also spending wiser."