Soccer: NZFC auditions for All Whites nearing close

Ricki Herbert is only a few days away from naming his All Whites squad to play Chile next month, but his search will continue until the last minute.

Although names like Ryan Nelsen, Ivan Vicelich, Simon Elliott and other overseas-based players spring to mind, Herbert and assistant coaches Brian Turner and Stu Jacobs continue to consider all options. The New Zealand Football Championship remains a regular stop on that scouting mission.

"Certainly, the door is not closed," said Turner. "Ricki and I will be at the Waikato game in Mt Maunganui on Sunday. Among the three of us we have probably seen around 20 NZFC games this season.

"That's important. We have kept tabs on a number of players. We tracked Andy Barron for a long time before we included him in the team to play Malaysia.

"Now, with those games out of the way, we want to keep watching these players when they return to their clubs and make sure they maintain the standards we expect and that they don't allow bad habits to creep in," said Turner.

He said that all local players who were in the 21-man squad for the Malaysian series remained in contention for the games in Chile and, beyond that, the match against Brazil.

"Obviously, that depends on their on-going performance. We have only the NZFC on which to judge that so these games remain vital."

Turner said that in general the NZFC coaches had been "pretty good" in allowing their players to be part of the national squad. In other aspects Turner is bemused at the apparent lack of support for the All Whites.

"Support has been lacking in areas where you might have expected it," he said. "There is no surprise that some of the most critical comment has come from people who have not taken the time to spend time in the environment we have been working hard to create.

"It is disappointing when you see comments from former international players or coaches who have made inaccurate statements about some of the players and their ability.

"You would expect more support from people like this and others close to the game," said Turner.

"We have had years of political squabbling in our game. Now we have two New Zealand-born coaches and another who has been here for 50 years who are all doing their best and who are very passionate about the game.

"It is totally disrespectful to cry down the Malaysians the way some people have," said Turner. "We know that they weren't two of the All Whites' best performances, but you have to remember that just over 18 months ago we couldn't beat Vanuatu.

"We have moved on from that but we are still very, very aware there is room for vast improvement. We have taken the first steps. Now the search for better - both players and performance - must go on."

The pressure, from all angles, is on in this weekend's round of NZFC matches.

With just four rounds to play before the top five break off for the business end of the season, the shuffling continues.

YoungHeart Manawatu will seek to protect their one-point lead at Links Ave in what promises to be a serious test given Waikato's away win over Waitakere United last Sunday.

Otago, in fifth place, should pick up the points in Napier to stay in the race while the real pressure will be in Christchurch where Waitakere, who need points to hang on, face Canterbury United at their favoured English Park.

Auckland City are in Wellington as they seek to snap a losing streak.