I think people are being far too harsh on that press conference. I think it'd be rather silly to start pointing out individual players, even our top players, because he may find down the track that for whatever reason he doesn't actually want that player in the team. Plus he can only answer the questions put to him and I can't recall any of the press there asking for specific names (which would've been a valid question).
He says he's been a fan of New Zealand football since 2010, and even if that is a bit of a suck up, there could be some truth in that. How many of us watched the 2014 FIFA World Cup and thought teams like Costa Rica or Algeria or some other minor nation did well? You could say you were a fan of many things those countries did and I'm sure any ambitious coach would love to take over a team with plenty of potential and a relatively easy qualification route to the world cup.
Hudson commented briefly on the political side of the Bahrain Football Association, and how much pressure there is on coaches in that area. I can understand why he wanted out, even if the money here was much less.
It does make sense for Emblen to pick the first squad. How much can Hudson really be expected to know of every footballer in New Zealand in the space of a month? It may be a case of bringing in our regulars and then him judging for himself whether he invites them back the next time. I'm certainly fine with giving him some time to ease in to the role.
I'm definitely in the camp of thinking this is a breath of fresh air and a good choice for coach. Emblen is still there as assistant so all of those people who are saying this is a bad appointment, I do have to wonder, who did your really prefer to be in the job? An ASB Premiership coach? Some has-been A-League coach? Everyone is bagging his lack of a CV, but how strong are the resumes of any of the other candidates? I think Hudson and Emblen were the two best candidates and we've got them as a team together, which is perfect.
Now lets wait and see how the results go and how the squad looks AFTER the next friendly.