Current All Whites who would/will make a all Whites best XI ever ?

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.

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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.

What about Nutting at his best (on keepers).

At their best, Prevan Jeram and Kevin Curtin  were superb.

I was always a fan of Johnny Morris

When he was good, he was very. very good... and when he was bad, he was a real bad mother...

I read that Jock Newall was supposed to be pretty good, obviously well before the time of many off us here

I'd go for Elliott instead of Buzzer McKay - slightly different roles, but Elliotts composure and passing ability wins it for me.

Wouldn't put Rojas or Kosta anywhere near the starting XI, but Ryan Thomas shows potential to get in there in future years (like Storm Roux could turn into a really good RB)

And for goalie.....Jason Batty....kidding! We've had a lot of guys who aren't too bad, but aren't too flash neither. I'd go Pastie, just for standing up to Italy in the WC - that alone gets him a few points. No other goalie for NZ has thwarted top-class opposition so successfully as Paston did in 2010

3-4-3 formation. Moss, Reid, Nelsen, Smith, Vicelich, Elliott, Armstrong K,Thomas, McGarry, Rufer, Wood.

Some difficult choices,and the inclusion of Thomas & Wood is slightly premature, but surely New Zealand's best team should centre around players who made it to the top level or thereabouts overseas. It's a little harsh on others who never got the opportunity, but hey,them's the breaks and I'm the selector! I have one exception to that rule: Mike McGarry was a classy player with excellent technique, who unfortunately played in a "in between" era for the national team. Rojas? Technically impressive but a few things to prove yet I feel. Ken Armstrong is a forgotten man in New Zealand football and would easily walk into the team: over 350 games for Chelsea(league title winners) and capped by England. Played for New Zealand when in his mid thirties but was head and shoulders above everyone. 

Give me an hour and I'll pick a different team...!

MOSS is a good keeper  but that PASTON fellow excelled when needed the most..  for me from what i ve seen  of your nat team is

                                                          PASTON 

                               OUGHTON       REID     NELSEN   TOMMY SMITH 

                                                      VICELLICH

                                              

                                            ELLIOT     MCGLINCHEY   

                          RUFER               SMELTZ                  KILLEN

Hugh call having Wee Mac there.

From players i've seen:

Frank van Hattum

Ryan Nelsen

Winston Ried

Ceri Evans

Malcolm Dunford

Mike McGarry

Steve Sumner

Simon Elliott

Grant Turner

Wynton Rufer

Brian Turner

(only 2 poms starting including brian turner who i believe grew up in auckland?)

Bench: Mulligan, Cresswell, Wooddin, Herbert, Cole

Surely someone will pick Alf Stamp in one of their selections? 6' 20" weighed 45kg and could dribble better than Messi.

6'20"? Jesus, that's 7'8"! Taller than a tall thing!

you mean a tall bandy leg looking fella like this?

That's him. Amazing to watch.

Actually, a guy like that would do quite well with the long balls Hudson played against Fiji.

Good to see Loosehead Len has been working on his thigh-gap

To be honest he was best with the ball at his feet terrorising defenders, he was never known for his ability in the air or holding the ball up for others to run on to.

From

http://muirpark.weebly.com/hamilton-afc-1970s.html

A freakish, lanky Scottish-born dribble wizard winger and entertainer. Part footballer, part clown, amazing to watch.

Alf played three seasons in Scotland with Queen's Park and Partick Thistle before joining Caversham for the 1975 season then Hamilton in 1977. His 6' 4'' frame and unorthodox style made him a great drawcard.

He cast a long-legged shadow in playing 28 matches for Hamilton (1977-78) and was the clown prince of the national league. His dip of the shoulder or twitch of the hip could be mesmerising.

He scored the first national league hat trick by a Hamilton/Waikato player, v his old club, Caversham, in 1977. And then did it again versus North Shore later that year.

Once, having been criticised for not scoring enough with his head despite his height, he dribbled through a defence at Muir Park, and then dived down into the mud to head the ball over the line.

Hamilton's player of the year in 1977 - pipping Keith Nelson.

He scored 12 goals in total for Hamilton in 1977 and 1978, before being sacked by 1978 coach Kevin Fallon - who was them himself sacked. Stamp went to Eastern Suburbs, where he scored a further national league hatrick.

He isnt really in the running to make an AW greatest 11, was just a cheeky mention. All those who got to watch him play will have a smile on their face remembering him. The best thing I ever saw him do was come on for the last 20 minutes when I think the AW's played Ipswich Town who were runners up that season in the old English 1st division. He went on one mazy dribble where he left John Wark and Brian Talbot on their arses. I remember Talbot standing up and laughing because Stamp had made such a monkey of him.

I remember him running down the wing for Cavie, back heel flicking it over his own and the approaching defender's head and carrying on. The defender just stood there wondering what had happened.

Epic.

Campbell Banks. Dark days indeed.

Have to say that I cannot comment as I have never heard of him or seen him play.

Banks was tall.

That's all I remember about him. 

currently playing for Nelson Suburbs another potential Tasman United signing?

I'm guessing a few names in our current squad will fall into the "never seen him play" or "who is that bloke and when did he get a cap" categories in the future.

Yeah have to say Banks deserved the fern more than many who have worn it since we lost to Mexico twice.

That would be an awesome team and would even compete well in a decent European league.

It would also give a best-ever Socceroos selection a run for their money.

There could be players on the bench like Ceri Evans, Michael Utting, Brian Turner, Glen Dods, Grant Turner, Ricki Herbert, Steve Woodin

Grant Turner was offered a trial by Spurs but never made it to London; Steve Woodin was about to be signed post '82 World Cup by a Belgian First Div. team but failed the medical (he never fully recovered though he continued playing a few more years for Christchurch United); Frank van Hattum was offered a deal by Feyenoord but fell victim of a wrangle between Feyenoord and Manurewa over a transfer fee. 

how gutted would you be at manuwara

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