There's also a bit of a theme here that lots of players shouldn't be called up for whatever reason, but there's a finite number of players out there and squads will be 23/24-man strong. Can select less players, but a tournament squad has been 23 historically - it was 26 in Qatar but that might've been a one-off - so then you'd just be calling up new players at that time.
If you look at alternative centre-backs to Smith there aren't many jumping off the page - to me at least. Tuiloma does, but he will be there. Nikko Boxall? He has only one non-added-time-sub appearance since early July. Finn Surman? He's played 148 minutes this season through 21 games. James Musa? Unused sub in the first three matches this season. Sam Brotherton? Hasn't played since December and needs to get well established in the US to get a recall. Themi Tzimopoulos? Plays at a higher level than quite a few All Whites but nearing 40. George Stanger? Playing third tier semi-pro in Scotland which would be well below fourth tier in England.
Whoever is the coach could go down the early-Hudson route and bring in a lot of young players who might be being picked on potential rather than ability. That could benefit the players in the long term with pro deals down the line - but adjust result expectations accordingly.
But re Smith: until one of the aforementioned steps up and shows they can replace him, or the All Whites go into an early WC cycle development-over-results focus, he will probably still be there. After all, he made it clear he wants to be at another World Cup so he won't voluntarily leave the scene.
If you look at alternative centre-backs to Smith there aren't many jumping off the page - to me at least. Tuiloma does, but he will be there. Nikko Boxall? He has only one non-added-time-sub appearance since early July. Finn Surman? He's played 148 minutes this season through 21 games. James Musa? Unused sub in the first three matches this season. Sam Brotherton? Hasn't played since December and needs to get well established in the US to get a recall. Themi Tzimopoulos? Plays at a higher level than quite a few All Whites but nearing 40. George Stanger? Playing third tier semi-pro in Scotland which would be well below fourth tier in England.
Whoever is the coach could go down the early-Hudson route and bring in a lot of young players who might be being picked on potential rather than ability. That could benefit the players in the long term with pro deals down the line - but adjust result expectations accordingly.
But re Smith: until one of the aforementioned steps up and shows they can replace him, or the All Whites go into an early WC cycle development-over-results focus, he will probably still be there. After all, he made it clear he wants to be at another World Cup so he won't voluntarily leave the scene.
Smith will be 36 and Boxall 37 come next World Cup in just over three years.
Tuiloma will be in his prime at 31 and will be a sure thing but I've never rated him as highly as Boxall who in the past in MLS has been quicker, is taller (Tuiloma a bit shortish at 5' 10") and less prone to mistakes under pressure (already evident in Tuiloma's first two games for Charlotte).
Bazeley was constrained in his choices for young alternatives (on top of the late arrival problems of senior players) due to the u-23's playing in the curtain raisers.
The specialist centre-backs (and players used as centre-backs) in the u-23 fixtures must give some indication of future All Whites options.
u-23's Game 1:
Back four with Finn Surman (aged 19) and Isaac Hughes (aged 19) both from the Phoenix;
u-23's game 2:
Back three of: Finn Linder (aged 18, Vancouver Whitecaps, MLS reserve team) on the left;
Finn Surman in the middle;
Lukas Kelly-Heald (aged 18, usually a left-back at the Phoenix reserves)
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Sub used in both games:
Zac Zoricich (aged 20, Central Coast Mariners Academy, one appearance in A-League this season, usually a left back)
He replaced Surman in the first game and Linder in the second.