History for ConanTroutman

I agree, but I think this is symptomatic of a deeper issue with NZ Football. This type of attitude creates a vicious feedback loop in two ways. Firstly because of what you say: it sets a dangerous precedent for other players to start doing it. Secondly, because each key player who sits out or picks up a convenient "injury" just in time for AWs games weakens the team, which makes it more likely we'll lose, which makes it more likely we'll slip down the rankings, which means less incentive for players to make themselves available. Basically it makes a joke out of our national side and that damages the credibility of the game here all the way down.  Why would young kids playing football on a saturday morning dream of playing for the AWs if the country's best players are refusing to so they can play for their clubs?

I always felt conflicted about Ryan Nelsen doing this - on the one hand I understand why he did it, and when he did play for the AWs he always gave it everything, but on the other I remember commenting when he was missing from a squad or something that it sets a bad example for the youngsters in the squad. And lo and behold, look what we have now - Tommy Smith refusing to play for the national side.

Go back and look at who was missing from our squad for the Horror in Honiara. IIRC both Nelsen and Reid were "injured". Why was Ricki playing Killen in DM there? Because he wanted to play 3 at the back and 2 of his 3 starting CBs didn't show up - so Vicelich had to slot in there, which meant a gap at DM. Dumb tactics, but a non-issue if our players had actually turned up. Maybe that's where Smith's bitterness comes from? Turning up for that debacle and having to endure it while those guys stayed in England, now he just thinks why should put myself through all that if Ryan and Winston didn't have to when it didn't suit them?

And it doesn't just go for competitive matches either. Even friendlies are a chance to build credibility but more tangibly they are a chance for the team to gel, try tactics and combinations, and get used to playing with each other. If these players want to play at World Cups then the should put the effort in that requires. Which means flying around the globe to play against the island nations in 40 degree heat in the Solomon Islands, or flying to Japan to play a friendly, or whatever. It annoys me when players think the can just pick and choose when they play. And because we lack depth we can't really call their bluff. 

I know pro football in Europe is the pinnacle career wise for Kiwi footballers and I understand they want to maximise their chances at maintaining that career. Fair enough. But I just wish our best players really wanted to pull on the white shirt whenever they could, and that they wanted to do the country proud, regardless of how inconvenient that is for them. 

I know, it's not that simple. And Smith might be quoted out of context in that article or whatever. Just a pet peeve so I got on a bit of a rant.