Selection poser for All Whites

OPINION: Ricki Herbert can expect the same selectorial headaches for the All Whites' World Cup qualifier in Bahrain but he also has a pleasant poser now.

The All Whites still look skinny at goalkeeper, rightback and central midfield after yesterday's characterful 3-1 win over Jordan in Amman.

But, for the first time in many years, the All Whites attack now looks stronger than their defence Ryan Nelsen apart.

Rory Fallon's fine debut means Celtic striker Chris Killen is now no longer a deadset certainty to partner Shane Smeltz up front in the Olympic qualifiers against Bahrain on October 10 and November 14.

Killen has scored 17 goals in 24 All Whites matches but Fallon looked to provide more presence against Jordan.

The Plymouth Argyle striker is 1.90m tall and a handful in the air. But he also displayed deft touches on the deck and struck up an instant rapport with Smeltz, whose two goals took his All Whites tally to 17 in 29 matches.

Herbert was "hugely impressed" with Fallon. "

The All Whites coach now has Smeltz, Fallon, Killen (probably in that order) to call on with teenage West Bromwich Albion forward Chris Wood in reserve.

For once, he has more migraines about his defensive permutations.

Glen Moss' petulant abuse of a referee in Fiji has come back to haunt the All Whites big-time. Mark Paston made a complete hash of a long-range first-minute freekick in Amman for Jordan's only goal. He made a couple of good saves later including from a shot which cannoned off his cranium but does not inspire the same confidence as Moss.

Rightback remains a worry. Ben Sigmund started there yesterday but looked much more assured in his natural home at centreback after Ivan Vicelich's ill-disciplined red card for deliberate handball.

Aaron Scott came on for the second half but the New Zealand Football Championship fullback is not playing regularly and looked short of a gallop.

Herbert may have to put country before club for a month and play David Mulligan at rightback for the Phoenix or sign Scott on a short-term contract. Either way, the All Whites must go to Manama with a match-fit rightback.

New Zealand still lacks class and the killer pass in midfield where Tim Brown and Simon Elliott both have high work rates but are essentially holding midfielders more adept at the square ball or back pass than penetrating passes.

Elliott did get forward to good effect once in the second half and fired a great cross just above Fallon's head. But there is no box-to-box midfielder, capable of supporting his frontrunners, among this All Whites group.

Michael McGlinchey may yet be the answer. Herbert started the former Celtic man on the right flank yesterday but replaced him, "for tactical reasons, not on performance" after Vicelich's banishment.

Herbert's rationale, quite rightly, was the All Whites could not afford the luxury of two wide players while down to 10 men. He should, however, have dragged Leo Bertos, the left-side midfielder. Herbert knows what Bertos can do and the Phoenix wing wizard will be a first-choice selection for Bahrain.

Herbert still has the route one option. Kiwi fans may wish to see the All Whites play Bahrain off the park, technically. But Herbert must play to his strengths in this case, Ryan Nelsen at the back and Fallon and Smeltz up front.

Few will care if New Zealand beat Bahrain by winning ugly.

- © Fairfax NZ News