In November 2009 the NZ Herald's Michael Brown convened a panel comprising Kevin Fallon, Fred de Jong and prominent veteran football writer Armin Lindenberg to select the best All Whites eleven from the '82 and 2009 vintage:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c...
This was before Winston Reid came into the picture and you'd feel he'd now supplant Almond (who played for Reid's London rivals Spurs)
Their selection (4 2 2) and not unanimous with convener having final decision:
Moss
Dods Nelsen Almond Elrick
Bertos Sumner Grant Turner Keith McKay
Rufer Smeltz
'82/'09 All Whites dream team
Glen Moss 09, Glenn Dods 82, Ryan Nelsen 09, Bobby Almond 82, Adrian Elrick 82, Keith Mackay 82, Leo Bertos 09, Steve Sumner 82, Grant Turner 82, Wynton Rufer 82, Shane Smeltz 09.
Subs: Frank Van Hattum 82, Ricki Herbert 82, Simon Elliott 09, Steve Woodin 82.
Woodin and Brian Turner were preferred by some panelists as second striker with Rufer but didn't make the cut.
Fallon would have only two players from the 2009 side, Nelsen and Bertos.
Fred would have Killen ahead of Smeltz up front.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Selecting an eleven today based on all previous and current All Whites, I'd probably go with the back line selected above but replacing Almond with Reid at centre-back. Glen Dods for me has been our best-ever right fullback. Always consistent and very highly-regarded in the Aussie league too where he spent much of his career.
Adrian Elrick would have other contenders for left back from the sixties, seventies and eighties but none since his era that I can think of.
Sumner I'd keep but I wouldn't have Bertos or McKay in midfield at all but would prefer maybe Mike McGarry, Simon Elliott, Ryan Thomas, Rojas or Barbarouses. Grant Turner and Duncan Cole would still be contenders for me.
Up front I'd obviously have Wynton but would find it hard to choose second striker between Smeltz and Woodin, Chris Wood and Brian Turner.
In goal, I'd have Moss ahead of Frank van Hattum, Richard Wilson, Clint Gosling and Barry Pickering (our four best goalies of the 1980's - Pickering being less well known today because he was often kept out of contention due to being somewhat injury-prone and having those other talented keepers to compete with).
Mark Paston was very good at his best such as in South Africa 2010 but to me not as consistent across his career as the others I've mentioned.