Aberdeen: What subsequent for Jimmy Thelin’s unbeaten aspect because the Dons’ put together to host Rangers? | Soccer Information

The noise round Pittodrie was deafening once more – aid, perception and pleasure all wrapped up in a single bellowing roar because the continuation of Aberdeen’s excellent begin to the season was confirmed amid the swirling rain whipping off the North Sea.

Jimmy Thelin’s aspect had been made to work for his or her newest three factors on Saturday as a cussed Dundee United workforce saved them at bay till substitute Peter Ambrose scored the one purpose of the sport within the 84th minute, a lot to the collective aid of a packed, however tense Pittodrie.

However there was little slowing down Thelin’s relentless Aberdeen currently. This victory was their 14th within the Swede’s 15 matches in cost – the one ‘blemish’ on his in any other case good report to this point is a 2-2 draw at Parkhead in opposition to champions Celtic.

It’s just about what they’ve been doing beneath their new supervisor – successful, successful, successful. Rangers journey to the Granite Metropolis on Wednesday, reside on Sky Sports activities, with designs on halting that momentum.

Pittodrie was packed once more in opposition to Dundee United and one other sell-out is anticipated when Philippe Clement’s aspect journey north in midweek. Conferences between these two are mouth-watering at the perfect of instances however Rangers gamers can count on the stadium to be rocking nicely earlier than kick-off once more with Aberdeen eyeing the chance to go 9 factors away from the guests earlier than October is out.

Wednesday thirtieth October 7:15pm


Kick off 8:00pm

They drove out of Glasgow with their unbeaten report intact earlier this month – will they carry that report into November after the go to of Rangers?

Whatever the consequence on Wednesday there may be little doubt that issues have modified. After a few years of near-misses, false hope and downright disappointment, Aberdeen followers have a workforce – and a supervisor – they consider in once more.

What a distinction a yr makes

A bit of over 12 months in the past, Aberdeen went to Ibrox and beat Rangers within the league for simply the third time in additional than 30 years. The win raised hopes of a Dons revival after a dismal begin to the league marketing campaign which had yielded simply 5 factors from the primary six matches. As a substitute, it merely masked deficiencies which might plague an underwhelming season.

That consequence value Michael Beale his job however Barry Robson didn’t final in his Aberdeen function for a terrific deal longer himself. Highs together with a League Cup last look and a win over Eintracht Frankfurt in a reasonably spectacular Europa Convention League marketing campaign had been offset by the aspect’s league frailties.

Robson was sacked in January of this yr. What adopted within the speedy time period advised Aberdeen wanted a reset; a re-evaluation of what the membership wished to be going ahead, and who they wished to guide them.

Thelin was appointed because the membership’s everlasting supervisor in April however didn’t arrive in Aberdeen till June, as he completed a six-year stint at Allsvenskan aspect IF Elfsborg. Previous to that, Dons followers had expressed misgivings over the size of time it was taking to herald a brand new boss after a considerably weird 34-day interim spell beneath Neil Warnock.

Up to now, it might seem as if the Swede has been definitely worth the wait. Solely Celtic’s superior purpose distinction is retaining the Dons from prime spot.

Victory over Rangers may additional cement Aberdeen’s ambitions on the prime of the Scottish Premiership.

Supporters consider that, after a collection of false dawns, Thelin could possibly be the appointment to re-position the membership inside Scottish soccer.

So, what comes subsequent for Aberdeen after Thelin’s quick begin and the way have they managed to show issues round so rapidly?

‘Embarrassed, humiliated and shocked’ – Why Aberdeen performed the ready sport

Thelin is now the tenth boss, together with interim appointments, to guide Aberdeen since Dave Cormack took over as Dons chair in 2019. Each he and CEO Alan Burrows knew they needed to get this appointment proper, irrespective of how lengthy it took.

In 2021 Cormack had taken the daring step to maneuver away from the dependable steerage of Derek McInnes – who had delivered the membership’s solely trophy in almost 30 years – to take the membership in a brand new path.

Stephen Glass, a former Dons participant and then-head coach of Atlanta United’s reserve aspect, was tasked with mapping that new path. He changed McInnes in April 2021 however lasted lower than a yr, departing with Aberdeen sitting ninth within the Premiership and out of each cups.

Robson served briefly as interim boss earlier than the appointment of Jim Goodwin.

Following the sacking of Glass, Cormack advised membership TV: “The vision and strategy is the right one, footballing wise. We have had a bad season but that doesn’t mean to say the strategy and vision is wrong.”

Goodwin’s departure – after 11 months, like Glass – was sealed after Aberdeen suffered 5-0 and 6-0 defeats at Hearts and Hibernian, respectively, both aspect of an embarrassing 1-0 Scottish Cup defeat at sixth-tier aspect Darvel.

An emotional Cormack spoke to Sky Sports activities Information within the aftermath of the Hibs defeat, with the membership saying Goodwin’s elimination simply 19 minutes after full-time, revealing he was “embarrassed, humiliated and shocked” by outcomes.

“I’m absolutely determined to get this right and we will double down with the board our vision and our strategy across the club, right through to moving stadium which is the right strategy,” he stated on the time.

“The most important thing and critical thing in any business – and football is a business too – is actually making sure you have the right people in place to execute on all aspects.”

Interim boss Robson was appointed on a full-time foundation after seven straight wins propelled Aberdeen to a third-place end. Nonetheless, his everlasting tenure wouldn’t final lengthy, with the previous midfielder sacked after simply 9 months in cost.

In an announcement on the time Cormack stated: “As chairman I accept responsibility, along with the board, for the managerial upheavals. It’s exhausting for everyone to go through, not least our fans and the managers who gave their all and lost their jobs.”

Warnock’s interim appointment was seemingly designed to present Cormack and Burrows area to recruit the precise man who may execute the membership’s imaginative and prescient, and to make sure that whoever got here subsequent bought the possibility to have fun a one-year anniversary at Pittodrie. His month-long reign felt surreal, nevertheless it did purchase the Aberdeen hierarchy a while.

There have been some grumbles from followers however in late March, CEO Burrows stated Aberdeen didn’t wish to “lessen ourselves because we’re under the pressure of time” however admitted the method was taking longer than anticipated.

“What I will say and want to reemphasise is that it’s absolutely important we get this appointment right rather than quick,” he stated.

“And whilst this whole process has gone on longer than anyone would have hoped or anticipated, the key focus for us is to ensure the accuracy of the appointment is right in the long term for Aberdeen Football Club.”

The method was prolonged by the character of Thelin’s appointment and delay in leaving Elfsborg. Cormack stated Aberdeen had been “prepared to be patient” to land the Swede, insisting they wished “this appointment to anchor the club for years to come”. Certainly, it’s understood that Aberdeen paid Elfsborg a six-figure compensation payment to safe his providers.

Following the tenures of Glass, Goodwin and Robson, which lasted simply over 30 months in whole, Cormack and Aberdeen wanted to spend money on the technique and imaginative and prescient Cormack had spoken about so ceaselessly in sacking statements.

They see Thelin as a “team-builder”, somebody who can incorporate a set fashion of play in addition to a contemporary footballing tradition all through the membership.

At 46 he’s a younger supervisor however just isn’t inexperienced. His six years at Elfsborg included two second-place finishes, along with his workforce lacking out on the Swedish title to Malmo on purpose distinction in 2023.

Elfsborg had been ninth when Thelin left in June, halfway by way of the Swedish season, however there may be little doubt he made his mark on the Boras membership. He has now been tasked with leaving a legacy in Aberdeen.

What did Thelin stroll into in June and what has he modified?

Aberdeen’s squad depth seems stronger after a busy summer time – which noticed Thelin make eight signings – regardless of the departure of Bojan Miovski for a report switch payment.

The striker scored 16 league targets final season, with Jamie McGrath chipping in with 9. After that, nevertheless, a smattering of gamers contributed three or 4 however there did appear to be an actual dependence on Miovski.

Pape Habib Gueye’s return from mortgage and to kind was proving to be exceptional earlier than damage dominated him out for greater than three months. The Senegalese ahead had scored 5 Premiership targets this time period after managing simply 75 minutes over 4 appearances final season.

Gueye has been ably supported throughout the frontline already by the likes of Shayden Morris and Ester Sokler, who has 5 targets within the League Cup and scored at Parkhead. Nonetheless, it’s the addition of Kevin Nisbet which may show to be most useful.

The previous Hibs striker has returned north from Millwall on a season-long mortgage and has already contributed, with a Ninetieth-minute winner in opposition to Ross County in August.

Aberdeen have been financially daring with incomings over the summer time. Dimitar Mitov commanded a switch payment to hitch from St Johnstone, Sivert Heltne Nilsen already seems to be having fun with a tremendous partnership with Graeme Shinnie, whereas the membership spent round £800,000 on Finland worldwide Topi Keskinen.

The 21-year-old has began brightly in Scotland, combining nicely with Nisbet in opposition to Dundee specifically, the place Thelin’s encouragement of lengthy passes (not long-ball soccer) uncovered the opposition in several areas of the pitch and created extra goalscoring probabilities.

Nicky Devlin’s first call-up to the Scotland squad earlier this month was testomony to Aberdeen’s defensive shows to date. The 30-year-old has been an ever-present for the Dons this season, whereas Jack MacKenzie and Nisbet had been additionally included in Steve Clarke’s squad for the video games in opposition to Croatia and Portugal.

Thelin’s begin is extra spectacular given how erratic Aberdeen’s performances and outcomes had been final time period. Additions and departures have modified facets of the workforce however the likes of Devlin and Shinnie had been a part of an inconsistent aspect, fighting being coached by three totally different managers all through the season.

Thelin has built-in the additions and re-energised those that had been already there. There’s a system in place – gamers are assured in their very own capability to make use of the ball beneath strain anyplace on the pitch. He has been versatile in personnel, formation and tactical strategy, together with when to drop and when to press, relying on opposition. It could seem as if everybody is aware of their jobs.

When staring defeat within the face at half-time at Parkhead, it was Thelin’s substitutes and tweaks that modified the course of the match.

It’s this flexibility and self-belief which can simply propel Aberdeen on to raised issues this time round.

Progress off the pitch?

The exit of Miovski felt inevitable this summer time and his departure, in a deal price £6.8m to Girona, adopted on from gross sales together with Calvin Ramsay and Lewis Ferguson which boosted the membership’s player-trading mannequin and allowed them to take a position closely on Keskinen.

Cormack has spoken usually about Aberdeen’s evolution off the pitch with out outcomes enormously enhancing on it. He is aware of the 2 should align.

After the dismissal of Goodwin in 2023 he advised Sky Sports activities Information: “I’m the chairman of the club and I’ve overseen, on the football side, the changes we’ve made. It’s no consolation for fans to hear how well things are going off the field commercially, with fan engagement or our youth academies.”

Likewise, when Robson was sacked, Cormack highlighted the industrial and monetary progress Aberdeen had made lately.

“The club, as a business, is in good shape,” he stated. “We have no bank debt, significant commercial growth, record season ticket and AberDNA membership sales. We also have an evolving player trading model that is allowing us to invest significantly more in the football operation than the operating income we generate.”

Cormack revealed final month that it was his intention to step again from social media output relating to membership enterprise. Earlier than he did, nevertheless, he stated that Aberdeen had been in a wholesome monetary place.

“Commercially the club is on a very good footing. We’ve doubled our partner income over the last few seasons,” he stated. “The player trading model, which means we plan to invest much more each season than our income from season tickets, retail etc, will have its ups and downs.

“This technique is being underwritten by the board. And at this time we now have no financial institution debt.”

What comes subsequent?

It might have been tongue-in-cheek when Aberdeen followers had been singing about their title aspirations at Dens Park nevertheless it has been some time since anybody round Pittodrie has even joked about successful the league. A six-point lead over Rangers has prompted questions on whether or not the Reds can break up the Outdated Agency.

Thelin has cooled expectations however it’s a signal the followers are with him and his workforce after a interval of uncertainty.

Nonetheless, with respect to Queen of the South, East Kilbride, Airdrie and Dumbarton, Aberdeen would have been anticipated to win all of their League Cup group-stage video games. Likewise, their knockout fixtures in opposition to Queen’s Park and League Two aspect Spartans yielded anticipated victories.

The Dons wanted late winners to see off Ross County and Queen’s Park and Dundee boss Tony Docherty insisted his aspect deserved to beat Thelin’s workforce. Regardless, Aberdeen did win these video games.

The toughest half for Thelin was at all times going to be what got here subsequent.

Celtic rued a number of missed probabilities as they let a two-goal lead slip in opposition to Aberdeen after the worldwide break however in years passed by the Dons would have capitulated within the east finish of Glasgow. The actual fact they did not this time suggests there may be loads of metal to this Thelin aspect.

Saturday’s hard-fought win over Dundee United has arrange the go to of Rangers very properly and closes out what could possibly be a really telling month for Thelin’s aspect.

After the purpose at Parkhead, Thelin was at pains to once more cool title discuss and expectations however, whether or not he lets on or not, come 10pm on Wednesday, the supervisor, and all of Scottish soccer, may have a greater concept about what precisely this Aberdeen aspect is actually able to this season.

Watch Aberdeen versus Rangers on Wednesday, reside on Sky Sports activities Soccer from 7.15pm.