Plenty of lessons in our heavy defeats

BILLY HARRIS

OPINION: You learn more in defeat than you do in victory.

For that reason, contrary to comments emanating from the All Whites in the aftermath of their losses to Mexico and Australia, the matches were useful exercises.

It has been said that, with the benefit of hindsight, the All Whites might have been better not to play the matches, the main reason being that the list of players unavailable through injury, illness and prior engagement made it difficult to field a competitive side.

That's an excuse – and a bad one – for two 3-0 defeats.

After all, when you look through the list of absentees, it's hard to think many of them would've made much difference in Denver or Adelaide.

Jeremy Christie and Leo Bertos? Christie isn't a first choice player, and though Bertos was a regular before his injury, there is adequate cover for him, particularly in Jeremy Brockie.

Ivan Vicelich and Simon Elliot? Two players who by virtue of their age the team needs to get used to playing without.

Craig Henderson? Hasn't yet played for the All Whites.

Rory Fallon? A quality striker, but so are his World Cup colleagues Chris Killen, Shane Smeltz and the increasingly impressive Chris Wood. And if players such as Kosta Barbarouses and Marco Rojas are to come into the team as many are hoping, then that creates an unprecedented depth of attacking talent. The temporary loss of any of Fallon, Killen, Smeltz or Wood isn't a mortal blow.

Winston Reid and Tommy Smith? Two important players in South Africa, yes, but the All Whites qualified for the World Cup without them.

Tony Lochhead? As the door closes temporarily for Lochhead, who until now has owned the left back/left wingback shirt, it opens for Brockie, and his emergence as a genuine alternative to Lochhead has been one of the successes of the matches. Admittedly, Brockie can't cover for Bertos and Lochhead at the same time, which allowed Herbert to experiment with Michael Boxall and Michael Fitzgerald against Mexico.

Ryan Nelsen? Bingo. The captain remains the only irreplaceable member of the team. He is to the All Whites what Michael Jordan was to the Bulls. His presence against Mexico and the Aussies would have ensured better results.

A year is a long time in football, and if Ricki Herbert were to select his best team, from a fully fit squad, for a vital World Cup match tomorrow, his line up might be considerably different from that which took the field against Paraguay in South Africa.

It could feasibly see Glen Moss in goal rather than Mark Paston. It would certainly feature Marco Rojas. Rojas produces more attacking threat in five minutes than others do in 90, and his must be the second name, after Nelsen, in future All Whites.

It would hopefully include Barbarouses, who proved in the A-League season that when used correctly, is an outstanding talent and Michael McGlinchey, in a central midfield role.

It would possibly see Brockie oust Bertos. Bertos' mobility in either a wide midfield or wingback role is an important feature, but Brockie is a better crosser.

It could even have Boxall, who has All Whites written all over him, in for Reid. Despite Reid's goal at the World Cup, and subsequent professional contract with West Ham, many are still not convinced of his discipline and concentration.

Moss, Boxall, Brockie, McGlinchey, Barbarouses, Rojas – none of those players would weaken the All Whites, and indeed many would add to the team. They all played against Mexico and Australia, and that's why the matches, far from being unnecessary inconveniences, were actually valuable learning experiences for the next generation.

Billy Harris is a former All White.

- Sunday Star Times

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