DAILYTELEGRAPH.COM.AU MONDAY OCTOBER 10 2016 FOOTBALL 55 Massimo’s form hard to ignore Talk of the Town DAVID DAVUTOVIC Roo star Mooy also a huge MIDFIELDER looks set to be reward- hit with Huddersfield fans ed for last week’s role as an im- pact player with a start against Japan in tomorrow’s World DAVID DAVUTOVIC and have followed my prog- Cup qualifier. ress. Every week someone The 2015 Asian Cup player calls (usually CFG football of the tournament has started THE project is chief Brian Marwood). the past two qualifiers, both in one of the most intriguing ex- “It feels good to be with the Middle East, on the bench periments in Australian sport. (CFG), feels like I’m still part as struggles Owned by the world’s of City.’’ to fit in all of his in-form richest football firm City Winning promotion with midfielders. Football Group, which is Huddersfield, who are man- More than 45,000 fans are bankrolled by Sheikh Man- aged by Liverpool boss Jur- expected at Etihad Stadium, sour from Abu Dhabi’s ruling gen Klopp’s best mate David where the roof could be closed family, Mooy has been loaned Wagner, is the goal but Mooy because of rain. to an unfashionable English is reluctant to dream. Luongo scored and im- second-tier club. Terriers fans have fallen in pressed in his last start, the 2-0 Yet Huddersfield Town, the love with their new No.10, win over Iraq in a month birthplace of rugby league, is who’s style has been likened ago, and Postecoglou praised defying the odds and topping to Zinedine Zidane. his QPR and Socceroos form. the English Championship. “I’ve been surprised, I “We’re really strong (in Mooy, as his August nomi- didn’t know if they would like midfield),’’ Postecoglou said. nation for the league player- my style, but they seem to “Mass was unlucky not to start of-the-month award indi- enjoy it. Hopefully they like the other night. When he came cates, has been vital. me at the end of the season,’’ on again, as in the UAE, he His loan move was viewed Mooy said. really drove us forward. cynically in Australia after “I didn’t know what to ex- “He’s flying. I’ve watched Luke Brattan’s identical jour- pect, it’s still only 11 games in. QPR the last couple of weeks ney backfired last season. But Everyone’s talking like it’s the his deft touch and extraord- end of the season, I’m not get- inary game awareness led to ting carried away. SOCCEROOS at least 12 offers from four “There was a variety of v JAPAN European leagues, including (offers). Huddersfield was a World Cup qualifier Belgians Club Brugge. good fit, I met the manager Etihad Stadium At 26, Mooy is no kid. But (Wagner) and his high- Tomorrow 8pm his sudden impact at Hud- pressing, possession style was TV: Live on dersfield Town suggests he similar to the Socceroos and will be ready for the next has worked well for me. and he’s really going well and challenge. “There’s competition so I he’s another that can score. MOOY’S SEASON Mooy signed a three-year need to play well to keep my “He scored against Iraq, Club: Huddersfield Town deal with Man City, who spot. It’s good, puts pressure from midfield areas he gets League: English Championship bought him from Melbourne on me to perform. I always into good positions. Games: 11 (out of 11) City and loaned him to the believe in myself. “We’ve got some good Minutes: 956 (out of 990) Terriers for a season with a “That (promotion) would depth. We’ve got Jackson (Ir- Goals: 1 view to eventually selling him. be a fairytale. It’s good to be vine), he looks like every camp Assists: 1 A question that seemed at the top, it’s still early.’’ he comes in stronger and this Chances created: 20 implausible three months ago Mooy’s agent Paddy Dom- camp he looks even more con- Completed passes: 652 is now being asked. Is Man- inguez expects him to play in fident and stronger than last. Pass accuracy: 86% chester City boss Pep Guardi- the in 2017. “Again a midfielder who CHAMPIONSHIP TOP 6 ola watching Mooy? “He’s following a plan,’’ he can score goals. They are the P W D L GD Pt The midfielder reluctantly said. “The purpose of playing underlying things we’re look- 1 Huddersfield 11 8 1 2 +6 25 broaches the Sky Blues sub- for Huddersfield was to pre- ing at that for us is getting pret- 2 Norwich 11 7 2 2 +6 23 ject, not for a lack of confi- pare him for the Premier ty exciting. We’re going to 3 Newcastle U 11 7 1 3 +12 22 dence but rather a fear of League next season and by have some real strong options 4 Brighton 11 6 3 2 +7 21 looking beyond “project then I expect he’ll be 100 per in those areas.’’ 5 Bristol City 11 6 2 3 +7 20 Huddersfield 2016-17”. cent ready. Postecoglou hasn’t decided 6 Birmingham 11 5 5 1 +5 20 “The plan was to give me Melbourne City foresaw on his XI but the Socceroos yes- an opportunity to play in Eu- his emergence, quadrupling terday conducted a review of rope and see how good I can his salary cap wage to a covet- the 2-2 draw with Saudi Arabia. become.’’ Mooy said. ed $1 million-a-year plus a While there are no injury “I’m proud of myself. If marquee slot in 2015-16, concerns, Postecoglou said one day I was to play for Man when he went on to score 11 there would be new faces. City, I’d be happy and proud. and assist 21 times. “There won’t be a lot of “I’ll just take it one season Coach John van ’t Schip changes but we’ll make at least English fans are finding at a time and see how far I can expected Mooy to sign for a a couple because we’ve got an out what all the fuss is go. I’m not putting pressure Premier League team this opportunity to do that because about with Socceroos star on myself to do that, I’m just season. we’ve got some players in the Aaron Mooy. Picture: trying to become the best I “I saw Aaron every day squad who didn’t play in the Getty Images can be. and often he was at a different first game and have got a bit of “They (CFG) helped a lot level,” van ’t Schip said. energy about them,’’ he said. Fighting Jets push champions Adelaide all the way BARRY TOOHEY even secure all three points. Aleksandr Kokko to an achilles in the first half that would have NEWCASTLE 1 “Probably a little disap- injury in the first half and de- put his side 2-0 up and a late pointed in the end,” he said of fenders Jason Hoffman (calf) chance that was snuffed out THEY lost their coach a ADELAIDE 1 the stalemate. and Daniel Mullen (knee) after after he had keeper Eugene month ago and their goalkeep- “We didn’t dominate the the break. Galekovic beaten. er during the build-up to the taking the reins from sacked whole game but I thought we The setbacks didn’t put the The Jets started nervously, opening round. former coach Scott Miller little had the better of the opportun- home side off. were under early pressure and But the Newcastle Jets lost more than a fortnight ago. ities and we hung in there when Wayne Brown and Andrew forced to scramble defensively no admirers after holding A- But his players showed things were against us. Nabbout, in particular, were in the box a number of times to League champions Adelaide to plenty of ticker and more than “We were a little sloppy on a impressive in their Jets debuts. keep the Reds at bay. But the a 1-all draw at McDonald enough enterprise to suggest few occasions but we had the was another first real chance of the game fell Jones Stadium yesterday. they won’t be easybeats this opportunity to score goals.” to stretch the Adelaide defence to the home side after an em- It wasn’t the win new coach season. Jones believed his side Adding weight to the per- but will rue a missed oppor- barrassing lapse from Galeko- Adelaide’s Benjamin Garuccio Mark Jones had craved after had done enough to possibly formance was the loss of striker tunity from point-blank range vic at the 16-minute mark. and Jet .

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