To be honest, Ricki had a bit more to work with in terms of experienced pros - Vicelich, Nelsen, Smeltz, Killen, Fallon, Elliott for part of it - these are the types of players we don't have avaliable right now. Too many young promising midgets.
Don't forget that most of those experienced pros you name weren't available to Ricki in the early years of his All Whites reign.
If Hudson's lucky, some new faces with decent ability could enter thew squad at a later stage.
Lest we forget, here is what Ricki was working with early on - his first game in charge at Craven Cottage vs. the Socceroos, June 9 2005:
New Zealand: Mark Paston, Che Bunce, Michael Wilson (Jeremy Christie 78'), Steven Old, Danny Hay, Brett Fisher, David Mulligan, Tim Brown, Noah Nickey, Vaughan Coveny (Shane Smeltz 89'), Adrian Webster (Leo Bertos 87'). Coach: Richard Herbert.
Ricki's third game in charge vs. Malaysia, Auckland Feb.23 2006:
New Zealand: Glen Moss, James Pritchett, Danny Hay [c], Steven Old, Noah Hickey, Tim Brown, Jeff Fleming (Jeremy Brockie 65'), Adrian Webster (Andrew Barron 65'), Shane Smeltz, Leo Bertos, Campbell Banks (Jarrod Smith 70'). Coach: Richard Herbert.