The phrase "are in a poor position" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone or something that is at a disadvantage or in an unfavorable situation.
Example: "Due to the recent economic downturn, many companies are in a poor position to invest in new projects."
Alternatives: "are at a disadvantage" or "are in a difficult situation."
The Giants are in a poor position to pursue free agents in the open market, and the team has historically been conservative about signing big-name veterans.
In effect, the Americans seem to have concluded that as long as the Shiites maintain their militias, Shiite leaders are in a poor position to protest the arming of Sunni groups whose activities will be under close American scrutiny.
The write-offs that Japanese and Western banks had to make on their Asian loans did not imperil them; European banks are still convalescing from the global financial crisis and are in a poor position to write off more billions.
"But the bigger picture is that we are in a poor position.
Foreign health insurers, lacking contracts with providers, would be in a poor position to compete with domestic insurers in the age of managed care.
Moreover, the United States is in a poor position to criticize Saudi support of its positions in Iraq and the Arab-Israeli peace process.
But if this is the case they are unlikely to be recruiting at all and therefore may be in a poor position to react to increases in demand.
United was in a poor position to withstand a strike because many customers were already seething over its many flight cancellations and delays in recent months.
Thus, the hospital is in a poor position to protect itself by inquiring about or testing the devices, pressuring the manufacturer to promote product safety or selling a different pacemaker which is not defective.
So the Irish in Ireland were in a poor position to try to claim that back in the old country the day was meant to be both silent and sober.
