Picking an All Whites Confederations Cup Squad Based on Anthony Hudson’s Selection History
The All Whites named what was supposedly their strongest possible squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Fiji last month. That obviously changed when Winston Reid pulled out injured but the original sentiment still told a story. Wrapped up in that idea is the implication that they hadn’t always picked their best guys before, that those who weren’t here aren’t in the top 23 and that this was something close to what we could expect from the team that heads off to the Confederations Cup in a couple months.
Funny that strongest possible squad also included two debutants. Anthony Hudson hasn’t been shy of introducing new blood to this team in the past but the Ingham Bros were actually the first new caps he’s offered since Liam Graham against Mexico – having handed out no less than 21 debuts in his first seven games. Nah but seriously, 21 debuts in seven games. But let’s come back to that.
Uncle Huddo’s been in charge for 17 games now. His first squad was picked by previous interim Neil Emblen but Hudson was there on the sidelines in Uzbekistan as the journey began. Starting with that 3-1 defeat, and swinging all the way to that 2-0 win over Fiji in Wellington two and a half years later, we’ve seen this All Whites side go through plenty but it’s really only now, as we near the Confederations Cup, that we’re finally gonna see what we’re working with here. The trip to America last year was pleasantly successful but it’s the challenge of Russia, Mexico and Portugal that we’ll face there which will finally give us a glimpse of where this kiwi team stands amongst some fellow World Cup hopefuls – and fellow confederation champs. If we’re gonna be back in Russia for the 2018 World Cup then the All Whites must beat the fifth placed South American team. Well, spoiler alert, there are more than five great teams in South America and Aotearoa’s finest will have to reach heights never before seen if that’s gonna come out triumphant.
That’s a lot of pressure on this upcoming tournament then, considering that the Confeds Cup is pretty much a glorified rehearsal. A non-competitive competition and a chance for the next World Cup hosts to flex their hosting muscles. But having begun his reign as manager by trying to, erm… expand the playing group as he put it (picking a bunch of players that simply weren’t good enough for international footy as others saw it), the competitive switch has now been flicked. Which means we should be able to finally draw a few conclusions from the seventeen starting elevens that Huddo’s chucked out there, particularly these most recent ones. So… alright then. Let’s do that.
Ten Most Capped All Whites Under Tony Hudbags:
| START | SUB | TOTAL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael McGlinchey | 14 | 1 | 15 |
| Stefan Marinovic | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| Marco Rojas | 12 | 2 | 14 |
| Michael Boxall | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| Chris Wood | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| Bill Tuiloma | 11 | 1 | 12 |
| Kosta Barbarouses | 8 | 4 | 12 |
| Themi Tzimopoulos | 9 | 1 | 10 |
| Monty Patterson | 4 | 5 | 9 |
| Moses Dyer | 2 | 7 | 9 |
Beginning with the regulars. There isn’t a player that’s played all seventeen games but there are a few that’ve come close. Mike McGlinchey has started 14 games and came off the bench once (against Fiji in the Nations Cup). He was a regular before Hudson and has been one of the Englishman’s favourite players since. Almost exclusively as a central midfielder as well.
Similarly it’s no surprise to see that Chris Wood has played a bunch of games. Being one of New Zealand’s finest couple players and also ensuring he’s been available at every possible time makes that a safe bet. He did miss a one-off friendly against Myanmar in September 2015 (Shane Smeltz starting instead of him) and was also injured for the most recent game as well as getting hurt at the Nations Cup (before ducking out for his sister’s wedding). With most of Hudson’s XIs featuring a target man striker, Woody’s been crucial.
However there might be a few people who didn’t realise just how often Marco Rojas has been available. His time in Germany and Switzerland was famous for injuries and limited minutes but he often used these international opportunities to get a little match fitness. He was injured for Hudson’s first game and rotated during the Nations Cup. That’s it. Same for Mike Boxall who might not be the most glamourous player in that backline yet he’s almost always been there, even after moving to South Africa (which is something you can’t say for his teammate Jeremy Brockie – who has played six times under Hudson but only twice in the last 12 games and that was after he was called in as an injury replacement at the ONC). Themi Tzimopoulos is in the same bag with his ten appearances (nine starts) out of a possible 14 since his debut. Boxall’s a dead-set regular… although he’s definitely benefited from certain other defenders coming in and out of the squad.
Oh say Tommy Smith, for example. Missed a game so he could propose to his missus, missed games because of club commitments, missed games because of a perceived lack of international ambition… but he’s back in there and saying all the right things. Two games against Fiji, one start and one as a sub, have taken his tally to four games under Hudson now. Which ties him with Winston Reid. Poor old Winston has a habit of getting injured right on the edge of international breaks and with his profile in England for West Ham, it’s not always been feasible to bring him across the world for friendlies either. He started in Uzbekistan, he started in Myanmar and then he started both the games in American against USA and Mexico. That’s it. Smith and Reid have never appeared together for the All Whites under Anthony Hudson.
Here are a few players who’ve more caps under Huddy than Winston Reid: Louis Fenton, Sam Brotherton, Moses Dyer, Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi, Luke Adams, Rory Fallon and Monty Patterson. Deklan Wynne as well, who was ineligible for ages and missed 18 months of international footy. And Andrew Durante who was all but retired for a while there.
The biggest omission from the last squad was Kosta Barbarouses. Anthony Hudson has said that Kosta’s recent impressive form for the Wellington Phoenix is exactly the response he wanted from the dude and he remains in the running for a Confeds spot. Given he’s played the tied-sixth most games under Huddo that sounds pretty legit. Hence also why his dropping was quite surprising despite his form – Hudson’s been loyal to his guys when he can. Case and point a certain Moses Dyer, a gun in the NZ Premiership but never beyond, who has been a regular himself with nine caps – although seven of them coming as a substitute. One start was in the ONC, the other in the away leg of WCQs against New Caledonia.
By the way, only Monty Patterson with five substitute appearances comes anywhere close to Dyer’s seven spots as a sub. Kosta and Brockie have come off the bench four times.
How about them goalkeepers? We already know about them goalkeepers. Glen Moss started the first game, Jake Gleeson started the next two and ever since then it’s been Stefan Marinovic between the sticks. The German-based gloveman has well and truly made that position his own with 14 consecutive starts and now that Mossy’s back in the wider squad there’s really only one place left for the GKs in a top squad. Those three are the only keepers to have taken the field, though Gleeson has been in and out of squads (Moss too but he reassured his commitment, like Tommy Smith, after pulling out of several squads with minor knocks in the past) and we don’t really know if that’s because of Gleeson’s club commitments as the starter for a MLS side in America (Portland Timbers), where like Australia they don’t always bother with international breaks, or because of travel complications caused by the DUI charge he had last year that complicated his green card situation or maybe just a personal preference of Hudson’s. If it ain’t Gleeson as the third guy (he deserves it on ability but, yeah, there are other issues there) then Tamati Williams, Nik Tzanev, Max Crocombe and Oliver Sail have all been in squads and not played.
Jesse Edge, Adam Mitchell, Sam Burfoot and James Musa are the other fellas to have been picked by Hudson (or Emblen on behalf of Hudson) and not taken the field.
In 17 games, Anthony Hudson has selected 47 different players. It all started with that game in Uzbekistan where the team looked as such:
Remarkably similar to a team they could put out tomorrow if they wanted. Well, except for Chris James and Tyler Boyd who have barely been heard of again since despite both playing regular professional footy overseas all the while. James disappeared after that one but Boyd stuck around for four matches before he was flicked. Storm Roux hasn’t played since his eligibility was cleared up and it’s not 100% clear why, though it’s been implied he wanted to reaffirm his place in the Central Coast Mariners side first after recovering from a long term injury. You’d assume then that he’s at least in conversations for the Confeds Cup squad. Last week Roux re-signed with CCM so those club commitments might not be so drastic for him now.
Those fullback places have been the two spots on the park where no player has been able to get a sustained run. While Marinovic has claimed the gloves, while Boxall and Themi (and more recently Dura) have held firm at the back, while Wee Mac and Tui have been good in midfield and Rojas and Woody further forward, the fullbacks have been in constant change.
Here’s a complete list of players to have started a game for NZ under Hudson at fullback or wingback: (number of starts – so excluding subs, obvs – in brackets)
Tommy Doyle (3), Deklan Wynne (6), Storm Roux (4), Louis Fenton (4), Kosta Barbarouses (no seriously, 1), Kip Colvey (6), Matt Ridenton (1), Mike Boxall (2), Liam Graham (4), Dane Ingham (1).
You can see the issue there. Kosta was a fill-in the first time that Hudson tried a 5-back formation, clearly picked with more of an attacking sensibility. Matt Ridenton got a go on the left in an ONC game. Mike Boxall, who plays regularly as a right back for SuperSport United (albeit in a four man defence), only got two looks there and both in the Nations Cup where rotation was common with five games in 15 days there in Papua New Guinea. Perhaps Dane Ingham will be the answer. If not, Kip Colvey and Deklan Wynne have been the most common.
What’s more is that both Wynne and Colvey were given their debuts by Hudson. As were Doyle and Ingham. Oh and Graham as well. But then you already know that the list of Hudson debutants is a long one. Those games before the Nations Cup he was all about expanding the selection pool and perhaps one of the lessons learnt there was that you can’t really fake that stuff. Either a player is good enough or he isn’t, you know?
Anyway, as Hudson’s couple years have gone on we’ve seen new dudes emerging organically without the need to force selections. Kip Colvey was picked after getting drafted into the MLS. Liam Graham had a breakthrough with the Chesterfield first team before he found his way on the plane to join the squad and the Ingham Bros, both had already played A-League (one of them a regular) before they were convinced to join the lads.
But early on that wasn’t the case. Tommy Doyle debuted in Huddo’s first match, as did Joel Stevens off the bench. In the games against China and Thailand in September 2014 we saw a full international debut for Deklan Wynne, as well as a unique sighting of Kane Vincent (remember him?). It was in March 2015’s defeat to South Korea that things really got weird. Four debutants were picked to start with another two appearing off the bench. In Marinovic and Tzimopoulos we saw two chaps who’ve been regulars ever since. Clayton Lewis has stuck around as well, initially with a little controversy but not any longer as he’s started five of the last six All Whites games and his last couple have been his best performances. Lewis is still gunning away in the NZ Premiership but looks to have a professional future and he’s rewarded most of the faith that Hudson’s put in him.
But also playing for the first (and so far only) time was Lewis’ Auckland City teammate Ryan de Vries. That bloke’s fallen right out of the reckoning ever since. Same with Benjamin van den Broek who, like Themi, was a European find with kiwi heritage who jumped at the chance to play international footy. A shame then that he only ever appeared once off the bench. The other sub to debut was Moses Dyer, another NZ Prem lad and one who’s also been a mainstay under Hudson. Dyer hasn’t developed like Lewis in that time but he has played a fair few times for his country all the same.
Obviously there were two types of players that Uncle Tony was looking for. Professionally based dudes with some pedigree and young fellas that could be developed and relied upon. Tzimopoulos and Marinovic fit the former, Lewis and Dyer the latter. With these picks, you could only fit so many guys in a squad and it was notable that some veterans, Mossy and Smeltz for example, disappeared from the scene as other options were explored. Both are now back and established but until coming off the bench in Fiji, Shane Smeltz had only played once for Hudson and that was in the 1-1 draw against Myanmar - where he scored (he’s withdrawn from later squads with injury, though).
Myanmar was Hudson’s fifth game in charge and the second time he’d named an XI without a debutant. Oh, he’d make up for that with his bench, don’t worry: the legendary trio of Alex Rufer, Harshae Raniga and Liam Higgins. Rufer is still around but the other two remain in the depths of the NZ Prem, not exactly standout stars like Lewis is at that level either. Guts to Raniga who was subbed off injured after being subbed on for his only cap that game. Also, Myanmar was also the last known sighting of former Blackburn trainee Tim Payne at the international level, his third and final sub appearance for Huddo.
Against Oman, the first win of Hudson’s tenure, the debutants were more palatable. Under-20s standout Sam Brotherton started in a defence that was missing Smith, Reid and Durante while Blackpool youngblood Henry Cameron took advantage of his passport to play for NZ as well. He was also seriously injured on debut, stink. Brotherton’s former U-20 buddies Logan Rogerson and Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi (no relation) also made their premiere appearances off the bench that game.
By the time of the Nations Cup then he’d had a good look at the players he had available. But with quite a few withdrawals from the side Hudson ended up chucking in Kip Colvey, Luke Adams, Monty Patterson and Luka Prelevic to start the opening game there. Adams and Prelevic came sorta out of the blue as folks based in Aussie club stuff and they’d been a part of a wider training squad before that tournament and must have impressed. Odd thing is that despite all these first-time players, the ten games since then have seen Hudson grant just three new caps: Liam Graham on the American tour and the Inghams in the last window. Thus it would appear the squad expansion is now complete. One more reason to get excited about the recent selection trends.
But just to recap, here are all 24 of the players that Hudson has debuted, with their total appearances (subs and starts combined) in brackets:
Tom Doyle (4), Joel Stevens (3), Deklan Wynne (7), Kayne Vincent (1), Stefan Marinovic (14), Themi Tzimopoulos (10), Clayton Lewis (8), Ryan de Vries (1), Moses Dyer (9), Ben van den Broek (1), Alex Rufer (3), Harshae Raniga (1), Liam Higgins (1), Sam Brotherton (7), Henry Cameron (2), Logan Rogerson (3), Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi (5), Kip Colvey (8), Luke Adams (5), Monty Patterson (9), Luka Prelevic (3), Liam Graham (3), Dane Ingham (1), Jai Ingham (1).
That’s 24 of the 47 players he’s chucked out there on the park who have known no other international manager. More than half of them.
And here now just for kicks is a list of players who up until now have only played one time for Anthony Hudson’s All Whites. Call them the buggers who failed to impress:
Chris James, Cam Howieson, Kayne Vincent, Ben van den Broek, Ryan de Vries, Liam Higgins, Harshae Raniga & Glen Moss.
The Inghams are left off the list because they haven’t yet had the chance to back up their first appearances and Glen Moss, as a goalie, is sorta unfairly listed too.
Goalscorers Under Uncle Tony
| OPPOSITION | DATE | VENUE | RESULT | GOALS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uzbekistan | 8-Sep-14 | Tashkent, UZB | 1-3 | Brockie |
| China | 14-Nov-14 | Nanchang, CHI | 1-1 | Wood |
| Thailand | 18-Nov-14 | Bangkok, THA | 0-2 | N/A |
| South Korea | 31-Mar-15 | Seoul, KOR | 0-1 | N/A |
| Myanmar | 7-Sep-15 | Yangon, MYA | 1-1 | Smeltz (P) |
| Oman | 12-Nov-15 | Muscat, OMA | 1-0 | Wood |
| Fiji | 28-May-16 | Pt Moresby, PNG | 3-1 | Tzimopoulos, Fallon, Wood (P) |
| Vanuatu | 31-May-16 | Pt Moresby, PNG | 5-0 | Wood 2, McGlinchey, Fallon, Barbarouses |
| Solomon Isl | 4-Jun-16 | Pt Moresby, PNG | 1-0 | Adams |
| New Caledonia | 8-Jun-16 | Pt Moresby, PNG | 1-0 | Wood |
| Papua New Guinea | 11-Jun-16 | Pt Moresby, PNG | 0-0 | N/A |
| Mexico | 8-Oct-16 | Nashville, USA | 1-2 | Rojas |
| USA | 11-Oct-16 | Washington, USA | 1-1 | Patterson |
| New Caledonia | 12-Nov-16 | Auckland, NZL | 2-0 | Rojas 2 |
| New Caledonia | 15-Nov-16 | Kone, NCL | 0-0 | N/A |
| Fiji | 25-Mar-17 | Lautoka, FIJ | 2-0 | Wood, Rojas |
| Fiji | 28-Mar-17 | Wellington, NZL | 2-0 | Thomas 2 |
Rightio then, how do we pick a Confederations Cup squad of 23 out of all this? First thing to do is make the assumption that there won’t be any emerging talents between now and then. With three warm-up games before that tournament, Hudson has already said the full internationals of those three, against Northern Ireland and Belarus, will see top strength XIs take the park. Ressies get a run in the club friendly but that doesn’t leave much room for anyone beyond the top 23.
We’re also assuming that there won’t be any serious injuries. Liam Graham’s been out for ages so he probably won’t be there, while Winston Reid and Themi Tzimopoulos, for example, are currently out but should easily be fit in time.
Three goalies, already talked about them. Marinovic and Moss, probably with Gleeson in tow. Maybe Williams if there are complications if Jakey Boy. Easily done, now moving onto the defence.
Reid, Smith and Durante are locks. Since coming back into the side, Dura has started five in a row and returned as a sub the game before that. Mike Boxall edges Themi as a fellow lock, though there should be room for both. With Hudson’s fullback situation, you’d assume he wants four. Two lefties and two righties. Colvey and Wynne, likely Dane Ingham too (he’s fresh but he was good vs Fiji) and… let’s say Storm Roux to round things out. Having been outta the loop lately, his place could be swapped for Tom Doyle’s but Hudson’s been a forgiving lad when guys have reached out to him. Moss, Durante, Smeltz and most famously Smith have all begged their way back in there. And Roux started four in a row at right back to begin Huddo’s reign.
McGlinchey and Tuiloma, no arguments. Ryan Thomas, Marco Rojas and Chris Wood, still no arguments. Shane Smeltz sounds like he thinks he’ll be there (and he should be, Hudson gave him some love as with the start in Wellington last time out with no Woody available). You’d also imagine that Clayton Lewis is there what with his recent first XI status and all. That takes us up to 19 players, four more to pick, already including every player who started against Fiji in those two games except for Tom Doyle, who’s pretty much a 50/50 for Storm Roux’s place.
Four more dudes then. Could possibly take Sam Brotherton as another defender, unlike Adams he’s stayed in and around the team since the ONC but in those six games since Sammy’s only played once off the bench so perhaps that’s unlikely. Which means that given Thomas and Tzimopoulos can fill in at CM, we’re probably looking at a bunch of attacking players.
Until he pulled out injured from the Fiji games, Monty Patterson has played nine in a row for the AWs - mixing between starts and subs and even scoring against USA. Seems like that gives him the edge here. Speaking of injuries, Henry Cameron had that shot before The Python but hasn’t really featured for club or country much since. Spent a month on loan at non-league Telford Utd and played once off the bench against America for NZ. Sounds like he might, for now, be in the same state of limbo as Jeremy Brockie who gets called up when there are injuries but only then. Brox actually scored the first goal of the era against Uzbekistan, but hasn’t featured since the ONC.
Jai Ingham meanwhile, he’s gotta be in the loop based on getting named in that last squad. Even got in there ahead of Kosta Barbarouses although Kosta’s late season form for the Nix has him in a good place for a recall. Rory Fallon’s elder statesman striker possie has been taken by Shane Smeltz, but Moses Dyer’s possie as teacher’s pet is gonna be safe if things are consistent. Who else is there? Tyler Boyd last played for New Zealand in March 2015 and Hudson-Wihongi has been out long term with injury. Alex Rufer remains an option as does Matt Ridenton if fit. It doesn’t look like there’s much Chris James can do at this stage though, same goes for Dan Keat. And that’s about it as far as Hudson selections go. Here’s what we’ve got and we’ll see how accurate it is in a month or two…
GOALKEEPERS: Stefan Marinovic, Glen Moss, Jake Gleeson
DEFENDERS: Winston Reid, Tommy Smith, Andrew Durante, Michael Boxall, Themi Tzimopoulos, Deklan Wynne, Kip Colvey, Storm Roux, Dane Ingham
MIDFIELDERS: Michael McGlinchey, Bill Tuiloma, Ryan Thomas, Clayton Lewis, Jai Ingham, Monty Patterson, Moses Dyer
FORWARDS: Chris Wood, Shane Smeltz, Marco Rojas, Kosta Barbarouses
Screenshot that, print it out and put it in a sealed envelope. Then place that sealed envelope in a locked safe and leave it there until the official squad is announced at the end of the European season. Then take it out and check how close it was to being perfect and voila - who needs to pay twenty bucks to see a magician when you can see the same tricks right here? For bonus points, this is what his starting XI will look like from that squad…
MARI / INGHAM - DURA, WINNIE, SMITH - WYNNE / WEE MAC, TUI, THOMMO / ROJAS, WOODY
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