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Aaron Mooy Might Not Be The Universal Choice, But For Celtic He’s The Right One.

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About a fortnight ago, I wrote about the prospect of this club moving for Jordan Larsson and Aaron Mooy. I thought Mooy was the more likely of the two and that there was probably a deal to be done. I wasn’t in the least bit surprised last night when it was his name who emerged as one of our two likely deals in the coming week.

This has been met with a lot of “meh” online.

I understand, in part, why. He’s 31. He’s available free. He’s not played in a while. But this is a guy who had offers in England. A guy who’s had a great career. More importantly, he is a guy who Ange knows well, and the boss knows what he would bring to us.

Aaron Mooy brings qualities to this team which Ange understands and recognises. He’s not a long term solution to a problem area, he’s being brought in to firm up one area of the pitch where all of his experience and ability will make us stronger.

I long ago ceased caring about “net spend” or any of that crap. The manager built a title winning team last season on a transfer surplus; that’s virtually unheard of in the modern game. He knows his business, and if he thinks this guy fits the picture then great. Mooy will add some steel to the midfield, and he will give us something different.

Those knocking him on account of his age forget that Scott Brown was still playing at his peak when he was several years older than Mooy is now. The media will not dare bring it up because they have cheer-led Ibrox re-signing players who are three or four years older.

Besides, they’ve learned that Ange knows his stuff.

They’ve seen that this manager has a keen eye and will get the best out of the player.

And to me that’s all that matters.

Ange is not coming into this one blind. He’s well aware of how Mooy is, and what he can do and he reckons he can come in and do that for Celtic, for a couple of seasons. It’s a logical, smart piece of business.

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  • Somehow says:

    Worries me, is Mooy a replacement cheap option rather than Ange’s main targets in that area ie Souza/Vera?

  • Nick66 says:

    He also knows what the SPL is about having been with ST Mirren previously. Like you James I do think that he will give us something needed in the DM role.

  • Dando says:

    If he’s good enough for big Ange, then he’s good enough for me !!!!!!!

    HH

  • Kewell's Left Foot of Fury says:

    I’m Australian, and Mooy is one of the most technically gifted players we’ve ever produced, inclusive of our 2006 golden generation. He is your player that keeps the ball ticking over in your build up play, rarely loses it, makes good decisions with the ball. Australia rarely produce players like Mooy. Against the parked bus he will have a real role to play. When he is allowed to play forward he will provide assists from open play or dead ball situations. TBH Australia is a very poor footballing team when Mooy does not play, controlling play and tempo from the base of midfield. The national team feels his absence much, much more than Rogic. I think you will be pleasantly surprised how good he actually is.

  • Kevan McKeown says:

    Hopefully he can provide a bit of strength for us in mid. Sevco bossed us imo in the last 2 games, because they had a mix of tough midfielders and football players in that area, while we had mainly football players, nae dig. That was the difference, you need the mix. Hugely important we get a hard 1 or 2 players in there for this season. Teams will know how and where they can get at us if it’s not sorted.

  • john clarke says:

    Celtic, prepare to smash and head free-kicks into the net. Aaron is the dead-ball exponent.
    His drives, curl late and dip suddenly. His delicate dinks over defenders heads to assist on-running strikers are a thrill to see. Ange does not like this skill used. Aaron should be exempt. Aaron has not played a game for around 22 weeks.

  • jrm63 says:

    It looks like The Athletic was right on the transfer ceiling. He has not played since January. Championship sides wanted him. We saw the standard of their midfield cloggers on Saturday. This looks like another James McCarthy to me. I would have preferred Ben Davies any day of the week. CCV and Jota had to be bought but the 2 additional players we have bought are not impressive. We won the league by 4 points, We released Rogic who made a huge contribution to that.

  • JimBhoy says:

    He must have something if Ange wants him. Competition for Idegucci, hopefully keeping McCarthy on the bench.

    Hoping to see a CH and striker come in even if Loan to buy.

  • Effarr says:

    Maybe “meh” is how you pronounce his name.

  • Johnny Green says:

    I totally agree with you James, I think he will be a perfect fit.

  • SSMPM says:

    Its one to debate. Is it a risk? Is it progressive development? If its a stop gap why do we need a stop gap?
    Ange may know him well from the past but that was then, there’s no room for nostalgia. Reports I’ve read are contradictory one states that he’s slow with no bite in the tackle or that he’s quick to break down play so who knows from that. If he signs and plays in the hoops then he’ll get the support and I hope he’s a success, though given his age it can only ever be a short term success.
    At this stage who knows but for me it doesn’t feel progressive or inspiring. Was that not the promise or does that come with the next signing?

  • Jim says:

    The scepticism and head scratching seems reminiscent of the reaction to the appointment of Ange last season.

    Lets hope the lad leaves us as pleasantly surprised.

    Surely Ange wouldn’t have OK’d it if he was going to take us backwards?

  • Henriksgoldenboot says:

    Hello James. And also the rest of our faithful contributors. I do not often make comment because I like to leave that to the more knowledgeable among us and the more experienced.

    The signing of Mooy has me irritated in short. It smacks of shortsightedness. I remember watching him with Huddersfield and he was very one dimensional.

    Your comments on him smack of shortsightedness also. I remember you commenting on here exactly word for word about James McCarthy last season and where is he now?

    This is a signing for signing sake. A headline. Nothing more. As a TRUE and real Celtic fan I’m going to say what everyone needs to hear and know, no matter what you or any of our other bloggers say.

    We are significantly weaker than we were last year. No if buts or maybes. The signing of CCV and Jota were players we already had on our books effectively as a team. Siegrist was a free. Who are the board trying to kid.

    We are standing still in the hope that the undead across the city will die a thousand deaths again. This will not happen because this time there are too many people with money tied up in the undead whereas it was one man before.

    We are being sold short without doubt as usual. Let me know your thoughts on this?

    • Droopy McCool says:

      In what way are we significantly weaker? You failed to explain that. A free signing is still a signing therefore we’ve got better competition for goalkeeper. We’ve bought a left back, who went unmentioned. Ange has said he expects two signings this week. Maybe you’re talking about Rogic and Bitton? This gets on my tits because a lot of folk forget that Ange knew about this and sorted it in January, we’ve got a great choice in midfield.

  • Gerrard Duffin says:

    Another dmwhosyoungerchcf

  • Iljas Baker says:

    And if anyone needed more evidence to prove that James McCarthy wasn’t an Ange signing they should look no further than Aaron Mooy’s contract – one year with an option on a second year! And guess which of the two players will start the most games in the upcoming season.

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