For confused serious rock fans of a certain vintage, the name Gore will always synonymous with that awesome instrumental band that once had a split LP with the Rollins Band (whoops). For other, it brings to mind the Niners’ disgruntled running back (above), who found a shoulder to cry on in the form of the SF Chronicle’s Nancy Gay.

As the 49ers’ record continues to plummet after four consecutive losses, questions about coaching and trust – specifically, the offensive play-calling – are building.

On Sunday, it was running back Frank Gore wondering aloud whether his teammates trust the play-calling of first-year offensive coordinator Jim Hostler.

“Norv Turner, he’s been doing it for a while,” said Gore, reminiscing about the good ol’ days in 2006 when he averaged 106 rushing yards per game. “Whenever he said something, we wanted to do it. Now I feel that a lot of people, when coach Hoss calls something, it gets in the back of their heads, ‘Is he calling the right play?’ “

A day later, coach Mike Nolan tried to downplay the deeper meaning of Gore’s concerns in the wake of a mistake-filled 33-15 road loss to the New York Giants.

“If we were winning games, I don’t believe that comment would necessarily be made,” Nolan said Monday at his news conference. “I also know that Frank, as well as many other players, (is) frustrated by the production, or lack of, in the offense.

“By no means would I have used that comment after yesterday’s game. I thought there was every effort made … and, again, I think it was an act of frustration.”

Does Gore have a point? Does Nolan sense a lack of trust in the scheme or the play-calling?

“No. What I’ve seen is, when things aren’t going well, as we’ve already talked about offensively the first five weeks, there is a confidence factor that goes with that,” Nolan said. “And some people look within themselves to make a difference. And some would like to look outside.

“All of us would like to look around. But I believe when (Gore) says that, I believe they all are looking for answers. Some people are pointing fingers and some people are trying to do it internally by themselves. And some people are doing both. But I believe that his comment was more an act of frustration than anything else.”

Much as I like Nolan (and respect his reluctance to wear a Reebok track suit in public), I’m having a hard time with the logic behind his essentially saying, “if we were unbeaten, no one would complain”.