Smith withdrew from the AWs setup, because he was fudgeed off with how incompetent NZF & Herbert were managing the buildup and Mexico playoff series itself in 2013. Going back to the Horror in Honiara. From memory he was captain once Reid pulled out with injury. He just felt the whole show was a clusterfudge of disorganisation, and the team was given no chance of sucess.
Not that different to Nelsen withdrawing from the AWs for a few years, and then when eventually coming backing still having to agrue with the NZ Soccer CEO for better everything, in the leadup to South Africa 2010.
With Smith it was only Hudson getting the job, and squeezing better resources out of NZF, that persuaded Tommy S to return to the fold. Smith and Nelsen being unavailable was as much about making a stand about useless NZF administrators as anything.
But yeah agree is getting to the point, where Smith's squad spot is now seriously under question. He struggled starting against Mexico (though so did Boxall). He just looks too slow now - maybe even for the ALM, let alone international football.
Smith yes the outlier, but otherwise the omission of guys like Sutton, Rojas, Howieson & ADJ - shows it's getting tougher and tougher to crack an AWs squad. That's what we want. I thought Cam H played well at the ROF. Be interesting if he keeps his starter's spot ahead of 2 goal hero Brimmer when AFC next play.
Not that different to Nelsen withdrawing from the AWs for a few years, and then when eventually coming backing still having to agrue with the NZ Soccer CEO for better everything, in the leadup to South Africa 2010.
With Smith it was only Hudson getting the job, and squeezing better resources out of NZF, that persuaded Tommy S to return to the fold. Smith and Nelsen being unavailable was as much about making a stand about useless NZF administrators as anything.
But yeah agree is getting to the point, where Smith's squad spot is now seriously under question. He struggled starting against Mexico (though so did Boxall). He just looks too slow now - maybe even for the ALM, let alone international football.
Smith yes the outlier, but otherwise the omission of guys like Sutton, Rojas, Howieson & ADJ - shows it's getting tougher and tougher to crack an AWs squad. That's what we want. I thought Cam H played well at the ROF. Be interesting if he keeps his starter's spot ahead of 2 goal hero Brimmer when AFC next play.