KEY POINTS:
Tony Lochhead, that well-known defenceman of New England Revolution fame, has left behind the world of end-lines, fouls suffered and game-winning assists to join the Wellington Phoenix.
It's quite a different world, as David Beckham is now finding out as the LA Galaxy's high-profile recruit in the MLS, but a world Lochhead was content to give up.
The lure of joining Ricki Herbert in Wellington was too great for the 25-year-old, particularly with a World Cup campaign about to get under way next month.
New Zealand play home and away games in October against Vanuatu - who beat the All Whites 4-2 in the last World Cup qualifiers - and in November against Fiji.
The other team involved in the Oceania qualifiers will be New Caledonia, who the All Whites will face home and away next year. The New Caledonians beat Fiji 1-0 in yesterday's South Pacific Games final.
Lochhead was one of Herbert's first targets, even before the Phoenix had been created, and the All Whites boss completed the deal when the national team was in Costa Rica and Venezuela in March.
Lochhead was then "waived", or released, by the Revolution in mid-March even though he had just re-signed with the MLS club.
"Tony has the potential to be the best left back in the A-League," said Herbert ahead of today's home game against Newcastle. "He's at the right age now, is professional in everything he does and is an ideal example of a New Zealander playing professionally in his own country."
Even though the Phoenix have conceded five goals in their two A-League games to date, which hardly paints a glowing picture of the defence, Lochhead has shown glimpses of why Herbert rates him so highly.
He's an accomplished defender (all three of Central Coast's goals last weekend came down the opposite wing), is quick and has troubled opposition defences playing a system that encourages the fullbacks to get forward.
That system won't be sacrificed today, despite the defensive frailties, but Jeremy Christie will fill in at the troublesome right-back position in what is the third change there in three weeks. Cleberson will drop to the bench to make way for Steve O'Dor.
The Phoenix need a result to kick-start their season and carry momentum from their exciting 2-2 draw with the Melbourne Victory a fortnight ago. A crowd of about 15,000 is once again expected at the Cake Tin this afternoon.
"If we give up stupid goals, like we have, we're going to struggle like the Knights did," Lochhead said. "Last week was shocking [in the 3-0 defeat to Central Coast].
"Maybe it was good that it happened now rather than later so we can work on it because I think you get more out of that than winning or losing 1-0."
Lochhead got a lot out of his time in the US. He moved there six years ago, spending four years majoring in chemical engineering at the University of California (Santa Barbara).
He had a distinguished footballing career while at university, with his Revolution player profile explaining that he won "NSCAA Second-Team All-America honors, as well as All-Big West First Team and league defensive player of the year recognition. His 7546 career minutes were the most of any field player in program history."
This seemed to impress the scouts and he was picked up by New England as the 33rd pick in the MLS draft.
He saw a reasonable amount of game time as his side twice qualified for the finals but it was the prospect of more certainty in Wellington and playing under a coach he knew well that enticed Lochhead home.
"After talking it through with Ricki last Christmas, I got it into my mind that this was a good opportunity to come back and be involved," he said.
"The MLS is a little further ahead because this is their 12th season and it's only the third in the A-League but the potential is there for it to be on similar levels."
The way Herbert talks of his left back, Lochhead has the potential to help it get there.
Michael Brown
Slide Rule: Tony Lochhead gave up his MLS contract with the New England Revolution to join the Phoenix. Getty Images
Tony Lochhead, that well-known defenceman of New England Revolution fame, has left behind the world of end-lines, fouls suffered and game-winning assists to join the Wellington Phoenix.
It's quite a different world, as David Beckham is now finding out as the LA Galaxy's high-profile recruit in the MLS, but a world Lochhead was content to give up.
The lure of joining Ricki Herbert in Wellington was too great for the 25-year-old, particularly with a World Cup campaign about to get under way next month.
New Zealand play home and away games in October against Vanuatu - who beat the All Whites 4-2 in the last World Cup qualifiers - and in November against Fiji.
The other team involved in the Oceania qualifiers will be New Caledonia, who the All Whites will face home and away next year. The New Caledonians beat Fiji 1-0 in yesterday's South Pacific Games final.
Lochhead was one of Herbert's first targets, even before the Phoenix had been created, and the All Whites boss completed the deal when the national team was in Costa Rica and Venezuela in March.
Lochhead was then "waived", or released, by the Revolution in mid-March even though he had just re-signed with the MLS club.
"Tony has the potential to be the best left back in the A-League," said Herbert ahead of today's home game against Newcastle. "He's at the right age now, is professional in everything he does and is an ideal example of a New Zealander playing professionally in his own country."
Even though the Phoenix have conceded five goals in their two A-League games to date, which hardly paints a glowing picture of the defence, Lochhead has shown glimpses of why Herbert rates him so highly.
He's an accomplished defender (all three of Central Coast's goals last weekend came down the opposite wing), is quick and has troubled opposition defences playing a system that encourages the fullbacks to get forward.
That system won't be sacrificed today, despite the defensive frailties, but Jeremy Christie will fill in at the troublesome right-back position in what is the third change there in three weeks. Cleberson will drop to the bench to make way for Steve O'Dor.
The Phoenix need a result to kick-start their season and carry momentum from their exciting 2-2 draw with the Melbourne Victory a fortnight ago. A crowd of about 15,000 is once again expected at the Cake Tin this afternoon.
"If we give up stupid goals, like we have, we're going to struggle like the Knights did," Lochhead said. "Last week was shocking [in the 3-0 defeat to Central Coast].
"Maybe it was good that it happened now rather than later so we can work on it because I think you get more out of that than winning or losing 1-0."
Lochhead got a lot out of his time in the US. He moved there six years ago, spending four years majoring in chemical engineering at the University of California (Santa Barbara).
He had a distinguished footballing career while at university, with his Revolution player profile explaining that he won "NSCAA Second-Team All-America honors, as well as All-Big West First Team and league defensive player of the year recognition. His 7546 career minutes were the most of any field player in program history."
This seemed to impress the scouts and he was picked up by New England as the 33rd pick in the MLS draft.
He saw a reasonable amount of game time as his side twice qualified for the finals but it was the prospect of more certainty in Wellington and playing under a coach he knew well that enticed Lochhead home.
"After talking it through with Ricki last Christmas, I got it into my mind that this was a good opportunity to come back and be involved," he said.
"The MLS is a little further ahead because this is their 12th season and it's only the third in the A-League but the potential is there for it to be on similar levels."
The way Herbert talks of his left back, Lochhead has the potential to help it get there.
