If Buckingham had beaten Hay to the AWs job in 2019, I doubt he would still be coaching the team 5 years later. For young coaches with ambition the holy grail is a head job at a pro club. Oxford United gaffer job is probably paying more than coaching the AWs, and their competitive games are more interesting than Fiji, PNG & Vanuatu.
Post 2022, and AWs either going to Qatar or not, most likely that Des would have left for the next rung up the ladder. Even Hudson got a quality club gig (Colorado Rapids). The Canadian FA, better resourced than NZF couldn't keep John Herdman post Qatar. Whether Buckingham would be getting better out of this current squad is all pretty moot now. He's not in the job, and even if in a different universe he was given the role in 2019, he wouldn't still be there.
Post 2022, and AWs either going to Qatar or not, most likely that Des would have left for the next rung up the ladder. Even Hudson got a quality club gig (Colorado Rapids). The Canadian FA, better resourced than NZF couldn't keep John Herdman post Qatar. Whether Buckingham would be getting better out of this current squad is all pretty moot now. He's not in the job, and even if in a different universe he was given the role in 2019, he wouldn't still be there.