This man is the Socceroos’ next big superstar
Aaron Mooy is the dynamic footballing weapon that Australia has been waiting for.
A heavy portion of our 2018 World Cup qualification hopes rest on his slight shoulders, such is his class.
After Thursday night’s 3-0 win over Kyrgyzstan in Canberra, there are 13 games left on the qualification path to Russia, if the Socceroos progress from the third round, and Ange Postecoglou should hope Mooy is there for every single one of them.
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He’s kind of crept up on the Australian public – although has been playing superbly for Melbourne City in the A-League – while we heaped our creative midfield hopes on Massimo Luongo and Tom Rogic.
While both Luongo and Rogic are wonderful prospects with boundless potential, Mooy is clearly the more rounded package as it stands.
We saw that all too clearly in Canberra.
The Socceroos dominated the first half, seething from a 2-0 loss away to Jordan last time out.
And at the forefront of almost every single attacking surge was Mooy, providing piercing runs, deft passes and even shots on goal.
He had four shot assists in the first half alone.
Mile Jedinak marked his Socceroos return with a goal. Photo: Getty
It was his incisive pass to all-time leading goal scorer Tim Cahill out of midfield that led to Nathan Burns being fouled in the box, and Mile Jedinak slotted the resultant penalty that put the Socceroos 1-0 up in the 40th minute.
Other men to impress in a dominant first half were debutant left-back James Meredith, Jedinak, Burns and Luongo, who is currently struggling at Queens Park Rangers in England’s second tier.
Meredith will hope his performance might see an extended run in the position, given both full-back spots have been on an Australian Prime Minister-style revolving door spin since Postecoglou became coach.
But Mooy didn’t want to be upstaged.
In the 50th minute, he received a pass in between Kyrgyzstan’s lines, and flicked a ball as he turned, through to Cahill, who smashed home the Socceroos’ second goal.
Then, in the 69th minute, his vicious corner skidded off the head of a hapless opposition defender for an own goal to make it 3-0.
It’s understandable that some people still might not be sold on Mooy – yes, it was only Kyrgyzstan and yes, he only plays in the A-League.
But a move overseas should only be a matter of time, and he can only perform against the international opposition that comes before him.
Remember, these Asian teams are not as bad as you might think they sound. Plus, Postecoglou (rightly) backs men in form no matter what level in the world they play.
Again, Tim Cahill scored for the Socceroos, this one of his earlier acrobatic efforts. Photo: Getty
On all measures – A-League and the Socceroos – he is one of, if not the best-performed player of any Australian in the world right now.
Since he moved to Melbourne City from the Western Sydney Wanderers in 2014, he’s clearly been the A-League’s most impressive attacker.
His ability to pull tricky passes, hit long-range shots and provide perfectly-timed attacking runs prompted City to sign him as its marquee player for the 2015/16 season.
But expect that contract to be broken, because if Mooy continues on this trajectory he should not and will not be hanging around City’s Bundoora HQ much longer.
There’ll be a range of overseas clubs lining up to get a hold of the attacking midfielder.
Mooy’s form tops off what looks to be an attacking Socceroos’ mix that is in healthy shape.
While Cahill hangs around (seriously, Frank Lowy must have some sort of special machine that keeps the superhuman spring in those 34-year-olds legs) and Rogic, Luongo, Burns, Mathew Leckie, Tommy Oar, James Troisi and Tomi Juric continue to develop, the front half of the pitch is in good knick.
It’s down back where the Socceroos lack reliable cattle, evidenced by the unsettled wide positions, and relatively inexperienced central defensive options.
But again, Bailey Wright, Trent Sainsbury and Matthew Spiranovic will continue to develop in maturity and stature as the long qualification campaign rolls on.
Sterner tests than Kyrgyzstan will be coming, that’s for sure.
The Socceroos remain second in Group B, one point behind Jordan in the second round of qualification.
The next stop on the WCQ tour, all things going to plan, will be against Bangladesh, slated to be played in Dhaka on November 17.
However, as the Australian cricket side cancelled a recent Test series there due to terror threats, Football Federation Australia is still trying to have the match moved to a neutral venue.
Wherever it ends up, let’s hope our attacking spearhead, Mooy, is fit and firing for the ride.