FIFA dictates three goalies are mandatory for World Cup squads, so no real problems for NZ- just need two fit keepers for the first two games (e.g. Paston and back-up of either Bannatyne/Spoonley) and then will have option of using Moss for the third group game. Harris' piece is a little out-of-date since Winston Reid's availability for NZ was announced mid-week. This means Ricki Herbert's strongest defence would now look like: Reid (right back), Vicelich and Nelsen (centre backs), Tommy Smith (left back)- Thus relegating Lochead and Sigmund to the subs bench. (which is a relief, since I consider Lochead particularly suspect at international level and barely adequate for the A-League). The addition of Smith and Reid to the squad means a much stronger defence than the one available in qualifying. I strongly agree Duncan Oughton, who has seven year's experience with top US major League Soccer side Columbus Crew, would strengthen the midfield. But he seems to have fallen out with Ricki during the Confeds Cup and hasn't been selected since, even though available (e.g. he figured in MLS finals games and CONCACAF Champions League games just prior to the Bahrain play-offs). Hope 18 year-old Chris Wood (West Bromwich Albion) gets a decent run up-front. He's a big talent for the future- as highlighted on FIFA's "Official World Cup Preview Show" on Sky this week which spotlighted him as a potntial "Hyundai Young Player of the Tournament" come June.

Bannatyne = IN! He should definitely be there.

If I was Ricki the 23 I would be taking at this early stage would be: Paston, Moss, Spoonley, Nelsen, Smith, Reid, Lochead, Vicelich, Sigmund, Coombes, Elliot, Brown, McGlinchey, Bertos, Brockie, Henderson, Hayne, Clapham, Smeltz, Killen, Fallon, Wood, Barborouses

My thoughts are that Ricki made the comment about the 18 players for the Bahrain game all booking their seats in the heat of the moment and should not be held to that.

As to who to take I would not take Mossy, he would only be available for one game and has not been playing for Melbourne in the A-League since about the 5th round, all the training in the world will not make up for game play.

Ricki should simply pick the best 23 players who will be available for every game, at a tournament of this level he cannot afford to be carrying the dead weight of players who will be unavailable (Mossy)or who simply aren't up to scratch (Mulligan). The problem with goalkeeper is that after Mark Paston and Mossy we would struggle for a decent third string keeper. I certainly wouldn't take Bannatyne, perhaps Jacob Spoonley or the keeper from the U17 world cup team.

My first 11 would be as follows:

Siggy - right back, Nelsen - centre back, Tommy Smith - left back, Vicelich - defensive midfielder, Bertos - right midfield, McClinchy & Elliot - central midfield, Killen - left midfield, Fallon & Smeltz - strikers.

Some issues with Killen as left midfield but struggle to think of anybody else to fill the role.

I have to agree with the author that there will be headaches for Rikki as he forms his world cup squad.

I don't think Mulligan should be in the team for the points raised in the article. He has not had enough first team time compared to others and for that should not be there. I don't think it is because he is a bad player but he is not considered for the Phenix because there are better players there.

What I think is interesting is this new Guy Reid. I know he is a defender but what position is he an option for Mulligan?

What is a fear I feel is that there is a lack of depth in some positions. Goalkeeper is one of them. The advantage we have is a good set-up for strikers but the support to link them needs some work. In Killen, Smeltz and Fallon there is a great base to work from but they are only as good as the link to get them in a position to score. Smeltz has always had that problem. If he was back at the Phenix now with Paul Ifill that would be not as much as a problem.

I think Mcglinchy is needed and should be roaming to probe and hassle the midfield defence of the opposition. I feel he could fill an Ifill like role.

One advantage Rikki has is some players are utility like so some cover can be had so I am sure he can play it a bit like that to strengthen areas for us.

We should be fairly robust at the back with Nelsen, Smith, Siggy and now Reid. Build the midfield around Bertos, McGlinchey and Brown, Smeltz, Killen, Fallon upfront.

Steven Old needs to be brought back into the fold. He's with a top professional club in the SPL with Kilmarnock. He trains in a professional environment daily, and even when he's not playing consistently I'm sure he's doing more than someone like Aaron Scott of Waitakere in the NZFC. Herbert saying that he's definitley taking the 18 involved in the Bahrain match is a joke!

Elliot is awesome. You’re having a shocker ‘not a rikki fan’: 1. Calling yourself ‘not a rikki fan’… Do you think he’s had a bad year? 2. Without the overseas based players like Elliot the All Whites lost in the non-critical world cup qualifying match against Fiji (team included Barbarouses). 3. You obviously didn’t watch the Mexico game. Elliot definitely up to the standard and one of the few players in the game. I guess playing in the Premiership and MLS makes him a decent player.

John Adshead's treatment of Richard Wilson disgusted me back in 82. Wilson took us all the way to the World Cup and was then dumped. All that work and to then not even get any game time at all, not even in the dead rubber against Brazil in the final game.

Take MLS midfielder Duncan Oughton!

OUGHTON is the heart of our MLS team Columbus Crew, who look like being the top MLS team AGAIN. So far this pre-season he's helped the Crew to an unbeaten 6-0-3 including Mexican MLS team Chivas 4-1 and Scottish team Notre Dame. He's looking good this year with pre-season game time and assists.