Herbert, Fallon locked in Mexican standoff

All Whites coach Ricki Herbert has a simple message for his players – anyone selected for the World Cup warmup match against Mexico must make themselves available.

That includes Plymouth Argyle striker and World Cup goalscoring hero Rory Fallon, who has been quoted in the British media as saying he would prefer to miss the March 3 match in Los Angeles to concentrate on Plymouth's fight to avoid relegation from the English Championship, or second division.

"I have told the gaffer [Plymouth boss Paul Mariner] it's up to him. Plymouth is my number one," Fallon recently told Plymouth newspaper The Herald.

"The problem with friendlies is that you can pick up injuries and I'm not really a friendly type of player."

New Zealand Football boss Michael Glading has told Plymouth manager Paul Mariner he could ring Herbert and discuss the issue. But that would probably be a wasted toll call.

Herbert has the right to call on Fallon because the match falls within a Fifa window, and he made it clear he intends to enforce that right.

"At the end of the day, my stance will be no different," Herbert said yesterday.

"If a player is called up for the national team, then they need to turn up. Simple. It doesn't have any grey area then, it's just the same right across the board."

Asked if Fallon would be selected for the match, Herbert said: "I'll be calling up the best players I can get, absolutely. Why would I look upon Rory as anybody different? Does that mean I leave all the A-League players behind as well?"

Herbert pointed out that, if the Phoenix made it to week two of the A-League finals series, the All Whites in the squad would have to play midweek in Los Angeles then return for a semifinal at the weekend. "That's a big ask but what do I do, leave them all behind? No.

"This way, it puts everybody in a very clear position," he said. "Nobody is saying 'OK, we'll let him off, but we won't let him off'."

Herbert made it clear there was a difference between matches in Fifa windows and ones outside, such as the planned training camp in the Middle East in April. He will call only on players who have finished their domestic seasons for the camp.

"I have already signalled I wouldn't be calling upon the European players in April. That's the time they will carry on and play for their clubs."

Herbert is expected to name an 18-man squad for Mexico within the next two weeks. He is hoping to include the English-based defender Tommy Smith, who recently declared his wish to switch allegiances from England to New Zealand.

Smith is contracted to Championship club Ipswich Town but is on loan to League One, or third division, outfit Brentford.

"I'll need to work through that one but he would be somebody that I would consider, given he has never been with us before," Herbert said. "It would be better to work with him now than bringing him in later."

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Edward   #16   03:57 pm Jan 26 2010

Alan #6, I would hesitate to suggest that if Rory Fallon did not turn up in Mexico, his guaranteed place would be gone.

On that point, Ricki backed down from the guarantee the other day into more of a "first look", saying that players in the 18 can be displaced by one outside the group who is playign well. Given some of the players who were in the squad but do not play regularly(Mulligan), and interest from some english based NZ professional, I reckon that not all 18 will be part of the 23 man squad...

Bernie   #15   02:55 pm Jan 26 2010

Who's Rory Fallon?

jake   #14   01:58 pm Jan 26 2010

Spot on Billy...

Bill   #13   01:41 pm Jan 26 2010

Sounds like he is being advised by his father, who lets face it has an axe to grind with NZ Football, all his own making mind you.

AJ   #12   12:16 pm Jan 26 2010

I dont think he has actually said he DOESNT want to play against Mexico, hes simply said he'll do what hes told to, but either way it comes down to what Ricki wants, and Fallon knows this. The game falls on a mandatory release date for ALL players. I agree much more is being made from this than is necessary, I think Fallon is playing the right card, the media again are just making a mess of it, like they did with that AWs vs ABs crap.

bleed*yellow   #11   12:15 pm Jan 26 2010

I think Billy (#5) has hit the nail on the head. Football is a sport rife with politics, the Fallon's obviously know what they are doing...canny, very canny.

george   #10   11:39 am Jan 26 2010

Rory only scored one goal and still takes the glory. If he doesn't want or can't play for his country then I'm with guy#2 cut him loose

johnny   #9   11:03 am Jan 26 2010

@ Billy #5 - he won't be a fan in his own country if he continues to portray himself as an average pro soccer player with a greater than thou attitude

Tuesday   #8   10:59 am Jan 26 2010

Rory...what would Jesus do? : )

sam   #7   10:29 am Jan 26 2010

Drop him, he's not our best striker anyway. You would think he was playing for Man U the way he's acting.

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