Anthony Hudson believes the All Whites can still qualify for the next World Cup, despite recent comments highlighting major issues in the development and administration of the game.
Hudson's comments have drawn the support of high profile players and he says he's here to stay.
So what are the areas he would like to see change? Well let's start with the young players. He wants more desire and mental toughness from them, with few 'making it' overseas.
Ryan Thomas was one of the few, he now plays in the Dutch Eredivisie, one of Europe's top leagues, but he believes it's the coaches that are the problem.
The Wellington Phoenix wouldn't let us speak to players in their academy, but Andrew Durante went in to bat.
"The attitudes are spot-on here, we run a really tight ship," Durante said.
"Ernie's got everyone really switched on and focused on their jobs."
Second on Hudson's list is more matches.
They played just three last year, there's none scheduled this year either meaning by the time the Oceania Nations Cup rolls around in May, it will have been six months since they last played.
If the first step to a solution is acknowledging a problem, Hudson and the players have done that loud and clear.
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