Ok tell me this. What is the purpose of the All Whites? Is it to qualify for the world cup? Unquestionably it is yes for me.
Well how do you get there? Surely it is by developing a squad that peaks for the 2017 playoff. If that is the case, don’t you want to involve players now who are likely to be around for 2017/18.
Is Chris James young enough to be involved then? Yes. Is he one of our better midfielders? Yes. Is he going to be clubless for most of the next 3 years? No.
So why does it matter his current circumstances matter if they are very little to improve in the near future?
I think this is a very good argument 2B, and ultimately a pretty pragmatic response to our overall playing stocks. But at the same time isn't there also an argument that if you cannot convince someone to pay you to play football you ultimately don't deserve to be picked for our national team? If you don't have a club in the middle of the football season are you even a footballer at that point? Maybe a friendly is a different story and a bit more leeway can be allowed, but I don't think if this was a competitive game that we should pick unattached players.
Why doesn't he have a club? I do find it a bit odd that he got let go by his last club when he was pretty good for them it seemed and then did well in the qualifiers
I absolutely back having James in the squad too. He adds experience to a young squad and (apart from McGlinchey) an especially young midfield (Thomas, Payne, Howieson) selection. And it's only a friendly, so a chance to see if he's up to it.
Players get included in squads for football powerhouses too sometimes when they are between clubs, banned from playing for their club etc. And the Scandinavian leagues where he is probably looking for a club don't start until late March or April.
I think James' problem may be his fitness record - he is very injury prone and has had major problems in the past. He was okay for most of the last Finnish season but broke down at the end and missed the Cup Final. He was lucky to make the All Whites for Mexico, only just returning from injury. His club may have been acting on medical knowledge when they wouldn't extend his contract.
Chris James @Chris26James Feb 10
"Treat every game like it its your last" - I certainly will be....can't wait to get that shirt on again #13 ⚽ ?
Re: Lochhead, Henderson and Keat, they are all in pre-season with their clubs with their leagues kicking off weeks after the Japan game, so unlikely to want to be called up.Chris Wood has made himself available because he has only been on the bench recently and his club are not short of strikers. He has been playing regularly for the reserves at Leicester. Players often get selected for their country despite only being on the bench for their club just because they are regarded as amongst the best for their country. Happens to many players at Man City, Chelsea, Real Madrid etc.
Bit of a beat-up by Michael Brown in the Herald today, reeking of tabloid journalism, trying to fabricate a split between Tommy Smith and the All Whites management:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/soccer-football/news/article.cfm?c_id=86&objectid=11200224
5:30 AM Wednesday Feb 12, 2014
Commitment questioned after All Whites defender Tommy Smith chooses club over country.
Case of a journalist trying to attract attention to himself by exaggerating things.
Much more balanced report in the Fairfax media by Sam Worthington shows it's a beat-up:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/9710326/Emblen-opts-for-form-youth-in-All-Whites-side/
Emblen said discussions with Reid and Smith had reached the conclusion that both were better off remaining with their English clubs...
..."Tommy's situation is slightly different ... he wants to basically put his club [Ipswich Town] first, for this occasion. We're not going to force the international ruling, that players have to come."
Emblen believed both players remained committed to the All Whites and would have made themselves available if it was a more important game.