When Ricki Herbert resigned as All Whites and Phoenix mentor in 2013 I had promptly mooted Auckland City FC Ramon Tribulietx as the natural successor to the dual thrones.
In fact, I even broached the subject with the Spaniard not long after during a telephone preview for a premiership (national summer league) match.
But Tribulietx, the ultimate diplomat, had understandably sidestepped the subject in pledging his undivided loyalty and collective energy to the potent Auckland franchise club who have put New Zealand footy on the global map with their exploits at successive Fifa Club World Cup campaigns during his reign.
It is refreshing to see that the prodigal son of New Zealand soccer, Declan Edge, is now in the Tribulietx corner via Twitter.
Edge has ruffled the feathers of some individuals and organisations but has long been an advocate of the possession-based game.
His academies have churned out talented youth who have secured international contracts but the essence of his impact in New Zealand was evident last winter at the helm of the Western Suburbs in the Lotto Central League.
One could be forgiven for thinking Edge, a former All White striker, harbours national aspirations now that he seems to have mellowed.
"I'm one of the easiest people in the world to work with — there seems to be an ongoing myth or perception about myself that I'm difficult to work with that I don't understand," he had said on the premiership website as former Waikato FC coach in expressing interest in the NZ U20 men's mentoring job in 2012.
Instrumental in grooming talent that drip feeds the A-League franchise team in Wellington, Edge's advocacy again is a reaffirmation of that cross-pollination between franchises and clubs seeking a pathway to the All Whites and Phoenix.
Herbert had passed his use-by date with his bunker mentality but the Phoenix also have failed to find a coach who can liberate them with what Edge would label an attractive brand on the foundation of fair play and wins.
Scotsman Ernie Merrick came the closest to realising that, albeit intermittently on a diet of defeats, but that ship sailed long ago.
Despite the flak Herbert copped, it's fair to acknowledge incumbent Phoenix coach Darije Kalezic could do with the former's manual on putting up the shutters - although it's debatable whether the current crop of defenders are the right fit.
Blatant fouls and poor vision, it seems, is the ticket to camouflaging inadequacies.
Swiss-born, Bosnian-raised Dutch national Kalezic, who missed out to Merrick in 2013, echoes Edge's sentiments but his recent outburst made me wonder why the Netherlands have slumped to world No 20.
Before the 3-0 loss to Perth Glory last Saturday, he reportedly declared the answer to the Nix's losses was to be "more direct".
Oops, wrong response and a clear sign of desperation for a team all out at sea in the final third, especially with injured Roy Krishna's impetus sorely missing.
Serbian striker Andrija Kaluderovic easily has the best goal-scoring head I've seen in the A-League but he can't score with his feet to save himself.
Kalezic's assistant, Rado Vidosic, and ex-Socceroo son, Dario, appear to have become the scapegoats as the club accepted their resignations this week.
Frankly Kalezic has made a fistful of blunders from starting with feel-good goalkeeper Keegan Smith to shifting players from pillar to post, such as Ali Abbas whose explosive surges are wasted in defence.
Gui Finkler has left in a huff but his signing with Kosta Barbarouses from Melbourne Victory failed to live up to the hype last season so the Brazilian is no loss.
A heads-must-roll mentality won't appease the mob in the face of one win from 10 outings for the last-placed Wellington.
That is why whoever coaches the All Whites should have a presence in Phoenix even as an assistant, especially to harness homegrown talent.
Tribulietx has the knack of selecting quality personnel although a cluster of Spaniards has dictated their tempo.
Signing key import players is imperative to succeed in A-League and he has recruited adroitly, but what sticks out is how well Auckland City function.
I reckon City can beat Phoenix and wouldn't that match be a crowd puller.
However, all that doesn't detract from the fact that the standard of A-League this season is dismal and the dwindling crowds is an endorsement of that discerning fan base.
