They’re so much fun, these All Whites squads. What a luxury to have actual selection controversies, to know that there are more quality kiwis out there than can fit in a single touring party. It hasn’t always been that way, that’s for sure. Worth keeping that in mind whilst sharpening those knives of discontent ahead of every squad naming.

The All Whites play Japan in a single friendly in Nagoya on Friday night. 11.20pm if you’re staying up late to watch in Aotearoa. That leaves enough room for a second game later on in the week but they haven’t organised one of those, which is fine. Wouldn’t be entirely shocked if they end up playing one anyway against some local team without telling anyone, that’d be very NZ Football, but whatever. It’s the last window before the Intercontinental Playoffs and Japan are a strong team, a World Cup standard of team. It’ll be a good test.

It’ll also be a good sign of the team’s progression because NZ played Japan over there back in March 2014 and were 4-0 down inside twenty minutes before Chris Wood scored a couple times to restore some dignity to the score-line, 4-2 the final score.

Because of all that, we’ll probably see a very strong team selected, a top strength XI. There are a few out injured but nothing like last time and this squad was named pretty close to the date (only a week out) so there wasn’t as much chance for a few cases of inconvenient muscle tightness or anything. So, yeah, it’s a decent looking collection of footy players that’s been named. A few notable recalls, one or two interesting exclusions… vamos.

GOALKEEPERS

Stefan Marinovic – Vancouver Whitecaps, CAN/USA (21 caps/0 goals)

Michael Woud – Sunderland AFC, ENG (0/0)

Only two goalkeepers? Yeah, well they’re only playing one game so what’s the other bloke gonna do? It’s a 22-man squad. There’s a space for one extra goalie to come into a regular sized tournament assortment and presumably that man will be Glen Moss. At least from the indications of what Huddo had to say about it all. Obviously you can pick holes in his specific words but the main thing with Moss to remember is this: either way, he’s not gonna play.

That’s because Marinovic is the top keeper in New Zealand and has played in 21 consecutive games under Anthony Hudson. It’s the one position where there’s never any rotation and you can bank on Mari playing the ninety against Japan unless something unexpected happens. Whichever other keeper goes along, they’ll be watching from the bench. Hence no need for the third.

If Moss is that second bloke then he misses the first week of the A-League with Newcastle Jets. Huddo’s point about him potentially losing his spot for the Jets because of that is a stretch but that’s always a risk. Jake Gleeson missed a few games for Portland with injury lately and he lost his starting role for the form of his replacement (ironically that’s the same way he won that starting role, back when he was the replacement).

Tamati Williams? He’s a benchwarmer for his Danish team. Michael Woud, however, is a young keeper with a bright future in the game. There were two standout players at the last U20 Wold Cup for New Zealand: Woud and Meyer Bevan. Bevan got his first call-up (and first two caps… and first goal) last time now Woud gets his call-up this. He’s only this season made the leap from Sunderland’s U18s to their U23 squad (alongside Brotherton, who’s been in and out) yet it’s inevitable that Woud will someday be a guarantee squad member and Uncle Tony’s shown a tendency to wanna get at them early. Clayton Lewis, Dane Ingham, Meyer Bevan, Monty Patterson, etc.

If the decision’s already been made that Williams is out of it, and Gleeson still hasn’t begged his way to a recall, and with Moss it’s been agreed that things’d be more beneficial if he stayed behind… then who else are you gonna pick? Max Crocombe playing (very well in) non-league English footy? Nik Tzanev who hasn’t been playing for Wimbledon? Ollie Sail was in the last squad but 18 year old Keegan Smith has been starting pre-season games for the Nix with Darije Kalezic not ruling him out of being the numero uno for the first game of the A-League season either. Whoever got picked was gonna have question marks. Woud is as logical a pick as the rest of them, no worries.

DEFENDERS

Michael Boxall – Minnesota United, USA (28/0)

Sam Brotherton - Sunderland AFC, ENG (9/0)

Kip Colvey – San Jose Earthquakes, USA (12/0)

Tom Doyle – Wellington Phoenix, NZ/AUS (7/0)

Andrew Durante - Wellington Phoenix, NZ/AUS (21/0)

Dane Ingham – Brisbane Roar, AUS (4/0)

Winston Reid – West Ham United, ENG (21/1)

Themi Tzimopoulos – PAS Giannina FC, GRE (13/1)

Deklan Wynne – Vancouver Whitecaps, CAN/USA (13/0)

WIIINSTON! He’s back!

And this time he’s back with a realistic chance of playing too. A few games on the trot for the ‘ammers, no fresh lingering injuries… should be good. It’s been almost a year since he last played for NZ. Don’t wanna go in as cold as that for the Intercontinentals, even if Reidy is the one player in the squad who can slip right in after that length of absence with zero dramas.

Who starts alongside him? In a full strength team it’d be Boxall and Smith, though Tommy’s not recovered from his bad hamstring… although Mick McCarthy did say this week that he’s close to a return. Still a chance at the South American games then, which is a relief because, you know… all hands on deck for that one. Storm Roux is also injured if you were wondering. Hence why Dane Ingham is back in business after being kicked out of the last squad for a lack of fitness. Huddo’s banging that drum rather hard and fair enough too. Fitness is a sign of commitment as much as anything – especially with young players. No real excuses there so cool to see he’s made amends. Bill Tuiloma as well but he’ll be up later in the agenda.

Back to who starts with Reidy and Boxall, you’ve gotta think it’ll be Andy Durante although Themi and Brotho both offer alternatives. So does Tuiloma, come to think of it. He’s primarily been playing CB for the Timbers 2 side and the inclusion of James Musa means he can be spared in the midfield if necessary. Tom Doyle might play on the left of the three, even – he did so last time in the Solomons.

Then you’ve got Colvey and Wynne in the front-running for the wing back positions with Doyle and Ingham your alts. Wynne has started five of the last six internationals while Colvey hasn’t started since the opening game of the Confeds (vs Russia) but Storm Roux ain’t there this time and Igham’s been through a dropping since his last starts… though that probably won’t factor in and he’s definitely a chance to take the park in Japan.

Right now the defensive positions are all about who’s fit. There’s a really consistent group of them getting picked every time and there aren’t as many professional outsiders really pushing at them. Unless you count Brotherton, Wynne and Colvey, that is. Those three lads are on the fringes of the professional game right now but are familiar faces in the national team. There are goalkeepers, midfielders and strikers in better club situations who aren’t getting picked at all, that’s just the state we’re in with defenders at the moment but those things can change fast so no big deal. Give Cory Brown another year, see if he ain’t here.

MIDFIELDERS

Moses Dyer – Eastern Suburbs, NZ (10/0)

Mike McGlinchey - Wellington Phoenix, NZ/AUS (49/5)

James Musa – Sporting Kansas City, USA (3/0)

Ryan Thomas – PEC Zwolle, NED (15/3)

Bill Tuiloma – Portland Timbers, USA (21/0)

Bloody I don’t know why Moses Dyer is in there either. It’s not that he’s a bad player but, like, has anyone seen anything from him in his ten caps to suggest there aren’t others worth a go who might be better? Just a little empty, to be honest. Dyer spent a bit of time after the Confederations Cup looking for a pro deal in Europe, bouncing around at least three clubs, and is now set to play for Eastern Suburbs again in the NZ Prem. Huddo’s the only one who sees whatever it is that he sees.

Tuiloma’s back, that’s nice. The lack of fitness of last time was a lack of games as much as anything, meaningful games, and since he’s joined Portland he’s been a regular for their T2 side. Hasn’t featured for the MLS squad at all but he trains with the first team. And Jake Gleeson can tell you that Timbers team is mighty good, not an easy lot to break into at all.

James Musa is retained after his injury-replacement return to the All Whites last time. Two subs appearances against the Solomon Islands saw him fit comfortably into Tui’s Confeds role as the defensive mid subbed on 10-20 mins into the second half – hence why Tuiloma should be considered as a LCB contender. There’s no Clayton Lewis but that’s more to do with the timing of his move to Scunthorpe than it is those lingering fitness worries. They don’t break for international windows in League One and, similar to Mossy, there’s more to be gained for a player unlikely to start for the All Whites against Japan establishing himself at his new club for a couple weeks first. Presumably Dyer’s the placeholder for Lewis’ November spot… but not necessarily. Conclusion jumping with the All Whites can be a dangerous pursuit.

Wee Mac and Thommo to start? Yeah, likely. Against Japan that sounds like a strong duo. Against Argentina or Chile let’s just say that Wee Mac, poised to earn his 50th cap, should probably make way for someone for whom the word ‘strong’ is more literal. Tuiloma or Musa seem the only proper options. Those’ll be feisty games, especially if the NZers are competing. Some midfield steel would be handy.

Not at the expense of Ryan Thomas however, he’s been brilliant for Zwolle this season. No sleeping on Thommo is permitted.

FORWARDS

Kosta Barbarouses – Melbourne Victory, AUS (44/4)

Myer Bevan – Vancouver Whitecaps, CAN/USA (2/1)

Monty Patterson – Ipswich Town, ENG (15/1)

Marco Rojas – SC Heerenveen, NED (37/5)

Shane Smeltz – Borneo FC, IND (57/24)

Chris Wood – Burnley FC, ENG (53/23)

Aaaaand… Jeremy Brockie is back! Nah jokes, but Shane Smeltz is here after returning to fitness. Marco Rojas is having fun in Holland these days, he’s also back in the team after missing out through injury last time.

That’ll alter some things from what we saw against the Solomons. There it was Python Patterson in an attacking mid position with Barbarouses playing off Woody (and Bevan in the second game after Woody was released, hatty in hand). Marco Rojas comes in for one of those two… it’s a matter of which one. If fit then The Woodsman is a guarantee to start in November so Shane Smeltz either takes an axe to Woody’s ankle or he tries to play beside him. That’s an option that’s only been tried once by Hudson and not to any success (vs Belarus). It’s possible we get one last look at that partnership… more realistically it’s a buzzy second striker instead and that definitely favours Kosta.

Myer Bevan is looking at a subs appearance, Monty Patterson might be as well. Which means that that’s about that. You might argue they picked a forward too many but it doesn’t really matter. Here’s an estimated set of starters…

Predicted All Whites XI: Marinovic / Colvey, Boxall, Reid, Durante, Wynne / McGlinchey, Thomas, Rojas / Barbarouses, Wood

Biggest question marks are those RWB and LCB places. Also, a new favourite TNC office game is picking a squad out of players who aren’t in the squad. A backup squad, so to speak. Away we go…

GK: Glen Moss, Jake Gleeson, Tamati Williams

DEF: Storm Roux, Liam Graham, Tommy Smith, Steven Old, Francis de Vries, Cory Brown, Andrew Blake, Tyler Lissette

MID: Clayton Lewis, Matt Ridenton, Mike den Heijer, Alex Rufer, Dan Keat, Henry Cameron, Niko Kirwan

FWD: Jeremy Brockie, Tyler Boyd, Jai Ingham, Logan Rogerson, Rory Fallon

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