Seventy-eight. That’s the number of days between Aberdeen’s final game of last campaign and the season opener at McDiarmid Park on Monday night – and quite a bit has gone on during that time.
New gaffer Jimmy Thelin finally arrived in the middle of June. Most Aberdeen fans were watching on with intrigue during the League Cup groups to see signs of progress, fresh thinking and new ideas.
So what have we seen? Four wins from four with the side hitting plenty of goals (15) and conceding only one. Lots to be positive about, then? In the main, yes.
The biggest concern so far is the slow starts in the last three games against East Kilbride, Airdrie and Dumbarton – although in each game the Dons could easily have been three goals up at the break, so perhaps we are somewhat nit-picking.
The big positive so far is the obvious ability of Thelin to calm things down at half-time breaks, to make tactical adjustments/tweaks and to get his side firing from that point on.
The Aberdeen support are also beginning to see glimpses of an identity. We are seeing less aimless balls lumped up the park and the idea of possession for possession’s sake is gone – this is a side always striving to move forward.
Of the 15 goals scored in the cup, no fewer than 10 players have got themselves on the scoresheet. For a side who were so reliant on the goals of Bojan Miovski last campaign, this is an immediate improvement.
Incomings have been limited so far. The general feeling is that the club are waiting to see the resolution of the Miovski transfer situation before sinking further funds into the squad.
Dimitar Mitov looks to be an astute piece of business, Gavin Molloy is finding his feet but appears to have earned the trust of Thelin, Peter Ambrose looks like a bit of a project player and Sivert Heltne Nilsen is a player well known to the manager.
Outbound, the Duk saga rumbles on and Miovski continues to be linked with a move away. Otherwise, there has yet to be a departure that feels like it’s weakened the starting XI over the summer months.
All in all, it’s going to be an interesting campaign with a keen eye on seeing how Thelin navigates his side through the early stages of the season and maintains the feel-good factor that appears to be emanating from the club.
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Predicted finish: Fourth
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Standout player: Leighton Clarkson
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Game most looking forward to: Scottish Cup final
Gary Scott can be found on the ABZ Football podcast.
Jimmy Thelin,McDiarmid Park,Bojan Miovski,Dimitar Mitov,Leighton Clarkson
