I have yet to see anyone saying it's not time for a change.
The arguments seem to be that Ricki should be sacked for not playing the U20 squad and not playing like Spain - at altitude in front of 100000 against a side who are light years better than us. Us 'part time fans' don't think that is a fair assessment.
For the first 30 minutes the plan he used (the right plan) worked and then we made stupid errors. Sure there are a couple of selection questions (for me Ivan should have played in midfield and Siggy should have played ahead of plodder, and I have no idea what the story is with Fitzgerald) but for me the tactics were our only option. The tactics were not for our defenders to fuck up, and I'm sure they were meant to have a more controlled possession when they did win it. Unfortunaely the simple facts are that we are not that good. As Evald sais the sudden expectation that a side who couldn't string three passes together against New Caledonia should suddenly be able to do that against Mexico is laughable.
There are a generation of people that jumped on the bandwagon in 2009 and now think that is the norm. SInce then we have lost Nelsen, Elliot and Brown (our entire competent midfield) and were missing Reid (and to a lesser extent Payne). The nation and a pile of johnny-come-lately football fans have delusions of adequacy about this side and the depth and quality of footballers we have available.
Last time I checked the U20 players people are advocating start achieved exactly what at the U20 world cup? This is real football, not kids football yet people are saying that even though they were poor at the U20 world cup they would have been more competitive than the experienced players we used?
Please.
I see some similarity in the criticisms levelled at Ricki and Holger Osieck. The Socceroos' decline has been partly attributed to Holger's failure to bring young players in to replace the incumbents. Likewise, Ricki might have had more player options against Mexico if some of the youngsters (e.g. Fitzgerald) had been given more chances to prove themselves at senior international level beforehand. Instead, he felt compelled to stick with the likes of Lochead.
Unfortunately, with the All Whites playing so few games, opportunities to blood young players are few and far between, and I suppose you can't blame Ricki for that.
Jibes about delusions of adequacy indicate a dismissal of the current drop of AWs outside Reid. No-one is saying we should play like Spain because we can't, but Chris James proved that a fully fit professional playing at a reasonable level (Finland) was competitive at the Azteca. He played some decent possession football and thought about who he passed to. It immediately lifted the performance of our midfield in the second half. This in turn lifted McGlinchey's game, which was surprisingly bad alongside a dreadful Christie. Rojas, still short of match fitness, added further playmaking and we actually pressed forward. Had we had Fitzgerald (J League) Henderson (Sweden) and Roux in the mix I believe we could have put on a better performance. I would have also played Fallon alongside Wood to give us two big target men in the box and pin them back a bit. Also Brockie needs a kick up the bum, he too often goes AWOL. A fit Smeltz should replace him if possible. Barbarouses earned his spurs at the Azteca, so did Moss and Fallon.
It must be very frustrating for players like James, Fitzgerald and Henderson that Herbert has constantly overlooked them in favour of his below par favourites like Bertos and Lochhead. Christie was just bloody-minded stupidity and Butler should never have been there. Herbert will go on doing it until he goes.
I have a question - is Christie flying to Wellington with the rest of the squad? If so, why? It's a total waste of a return business class ticket. Unless Ricki is going to have another brainfreeze and play him again. It's going to be bad enough having a clearly below standard Lochhead running out at Westpac and we're only going to be spared Bertos because of a yellow card and Oceania skullduggery.