I have no idea whether reports about Manchester City being interested in Aaron Mooy are true but there is a certain buzz around him. This Australian winter is going to be a long one for Melbourne City if they are hoping to keep their star midfielder.
The 25-year-old was a standout in the A-League last season and impressed for the Socceroos, particularly in last month’s loss to England.
Given the fact Manchester City are part of the same football group – and a much bigger part at that – then the speculation is not surprising.
The City project is an interesting one and will be much more so when Pep Guardiola arrives in England’s north-west. The City Football Group has grown recently as Melbourne, New York and (partly) Yokohama were added with persistent rumours that China will be the next addition to a stable that also includes Al Jazira from Abu Dhabi.
A Melbourne-Manchester Mooy move may sound exciting but in reality, it’s far from it. The reason is simple – it is highly unlikely that he is going to get any kind of regular playing time.
City are aiming to win back the English Premier League title next season with the most in-demand coach in the world at the helm. It would be hard enough for Mooy to break into the team as is, but after a summer of spending, he’d be better off elsewhere.
At this stage, Mooy’s star is still rising but he is approaching what should be the peak of his career and that means playing time is paramount. If there is little chance he is going to play on a regular basis then there is no point in wasting away on the bench or even further from the action.
A lack of minutes on the pitch would mean his national team spot could be in danger with the 2018 World Cup approaching. There are some national coaches who will persist with favourites even when not playing but Ange Postecoglou does not seem to be one who tolerates a situation like that for too long.
There was a time when players from Asia would go gooey-eyed at the chance to join a big European club but that is slowly changing.
I remember well when South Korean international Park Chu-young joined Arsenal in 2011. It was huge, if surprising news in his homeland but he would play just seven minutes of English Premier League football in three seasons.
The only thing his inaction achieved was to make a talented player a laughing stock in England while eventually damaging his reputation back home.
When he moved he was Korea’s top striker and perhaps, at the time, the best in Asia. Going to London though, basically ended his international career. Only now, back at FC Seoul, is he starting to play football again and it just goes to show the lure of a big club can be a dangerous attraction.
Signing and then not using Mooy wouldn’t be in the best interests for Manchester City either, given the relationship that exists between them and Melbourne. It simply wouldn’t be a good look if the first player moved between the two was one of the most sought after players in Australia and then left on the sidelines.
Mooy has plenty of options and more will come.
Manchester City may be attractive but is not the best place for him. It’s not the quality of the club but the quantity of the playing time.
Go to Europe by all means but pick a place where you will play.
Mullo
Guest
*bump*
steve h
Guest
Why not to a club regardless of the wage.you only get 1 life use it wisely
Mullo
Guest
Precisely.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
I think that's a fair enough perspective. It's a bit of a numbers game, and you need to have your name in the hat to at least have a chance. Once in, you are at the whim of managers, club administrations, assorted vagaries - but you at least need to get that far to give yourself a chance - that's the way it has always been. It's silly for anyone to think that Mooy should ignore his one last chance because it might diminish his worth as a socceroo. Mooy would be thrilled to sit on the bench of a major club for the next five years if it meant he kept a chance of keeping the dream alive.
Stephen Martin
Guest
The struggles of the AFC Asian Cup's last Player of the Tournament to establish himself in the Championship (30 appearances, 0 goals) will hardly have English Premiership clubs scrambling for Mooy, particularly given his own lack of impact in Scotland.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Fair play Waz :) And this: https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/sep/09/chelsea-loan-players-change-rules-wild-west-football However whether the loan system is entirely a bad option in every instance is not clear cut. If Mooy establishes himself on loan (with player wages picked up by the loan club) then he becomes a valued target for many clubs. If he doesn't perform well then that's that. As long as he gets game time in a decent league he'll be doing well. The fact that a club may use this approach to balance it's books to help achieve FFP can be debated as to whether its in the 'spirit of the regulation.'
Waz
Guest
Stevo - a quick search turned up hundreds of results but I couldn't find any of the articles I was looking for however there's this one from the BBC that highlights the abuse taking place: http://m.bbc.com/sport/football/34125476
steve
Guest
Pep Gaurdiola wouldn't have the foggiest idea who Aaron Mooy is, much the same way as Manuel Pelligrini was saying who the hell is Luke Brattan.
Mark
Guest
By lower tier I did mean 10-20 on the table in the top division, not the lower divisions. I think Mooy would be wasting his talent at a Championship club unless it is one with clear promotion prospects. The Spanish and German second divisions would be a total waste.
Caltex & SBS support Australian Football
Guest
Yes, I agree Mark!
Caltex & SBS support Australian Football
Guest
Top tier EPL standard means above Championship league.. Next time, be more specific first up... And why did you not mention Leicester City etc..? ;)
Fadida
Guest
Read again Qantas, I said "top tier" ie Man C, Man U, Arsenal, Chelsea etc. I have no doubt he can play in the EPL, but he won't play at the big clubs
Mark
Guest
Agreed. I think the decision comes down to whether the player has aspirations to further improve their game and play at a higher level. If they don't and are happy to take the big pay cheque, by all means go to China. If they do, and to Juric's credit he clearly does, then they can't play in China.
marcel
Guest
Is there any genuine talk of a move to City...or us that just the easiest fiction to concoct in the off season?
Mark
Guest
Spot on. Mooy could get game time at a lower tier English, German or Spanish club and most Dutch, Portuguese and French clubs. He should look to these areas for the next step in his career. Man City would be a total waste of his talent. He would end up in the same situation as Brattan.
Waz
Guest
The FFP rules encourage clubs to do this, they take an Aussie player in on the cheap and if they move them on for a profit it increases their FFP rating. The numbers at some European clubs are staggering with several having 40+ players out on loan. I'll dig an old article up on it if I can but it's driving poor behaviour to bend UEFAs rules.
R King
Guest
Well said Commissioner, some of these managers need their arses kicked. Maybe it's them who have the $ signs in their eyes. But if a player says get me a club in Europe no matter what, then they too can not expect fans to remain loyal to them back here in Australia.
Caltex & SBS support Australian Football
Guest
If Mile Jedinak, can captain Crystal Palace, then surely Mooy, can find an EPL club to kick start his EPL career. China, is for desperates, towards the end of their careers.
AGO74
Guest
Yeah his injury at Breda didn't help, but in terms of his alternate offers I think that Breda was the only one he received (besides China). I think this goes to my point too that you may only get one opportunity at a big pay day and that its be hard to resist. Anyway, let's hope that it all works out for mooy - and juric!
Mullo
Guest
Mooy deserves his chance just like those before him have. If anyone from the A-League can make it it is him. He will go into it in full knowledge of the risks and rewards. This is the system.