Why Next Five Games Are Critical For Aberdeen

A location crippled against Livingston successful early September would not usually create nerves and anticipation astatine Aberdeen.

But arsenic Jimmy Thelin's broadside hole to return to convention action, anyone pinch an liking successful nan nine is hopeless to spot really they respond aft a winless start.

Three games, 3 defeats, and nary goals is simply a mediocre beginning, moreover pinch reliable games distant to Heart of Midlothian and astatine location to Celtic factored in.

But it becomes worse erstwhile you see nan truth they person won conscionable 5 Scottish Premiership games successful 30 since November 2024.

The signings of Kevin Nisbet, Stuart Armstrong, and Bologna winger Jesper Karlsson connected indebtedness astatine nan extremity of nan transportation model person brightened nan temper since nan conclusion by Falkirk.

But they besides intends it is now clip to deliver.

Livingston, Motherwell successful nan League Cup, Dundee United, Motherwell successful nan Premiership, and Dundee are Aberdeen's adjacent 5 home fixtures.

They already consciousness for illustration must-win games for Thelin, contempt his position arsenic a well-liked Scottish Cup winning-manager.

Thelin's first play astatine Aberdeen was marked by an unthinkable commencement - 13 consecutive wins during a 16-game unbeaten tally - and a glorious end, arsenic they upset Celtic astatine Hampden to assistance nan Scottish Cup.

The spot successful nan middle, though, was acold gloomier, arsenic nan commencement of this play has been.

The past 10 months successful nan convention person been characterised by nan concession of sloppy goals mixed pinch a deficiency of spark successful nan last third.

Only now-relegated Ross County and St Johnstone person scored less goals than Aberdeen successful nan Premiership since nan commencement of nan past campaign, discounting Falkirk and Livingston, who person played 3 top-flight games successful that time.

Unsurprisingly then, they besides rank very debased for conversion complaint and nan number of large chances they score.

That deficiency of a slayer touch has been compounded by nan truth they are besides down nan Premiership rankings erstwhile it comes to expected goals and crosses. They conscionable do not trial guidance defences capable and, erstwhile they do, they discarded opportunities.

Meanwhile successful defence, only Dundee and Kilmarnock person conceded much goals. None of these grim statistic are greatly astonishing erstwhile a squad has won 5 of 30 convention games.

So what mightiness beryllium causing them?

It is difficult to pinpoint immoderate 1 issue, but nan turnover of players is thing often overlooked.

Twenty-four players person arrived successful nan 3 windows nether Thelin, pinch plentifulness besides heading successful nan different direction.

In January Aberdeen efficaciously signed a brand-new defence, and past had to switch left-back Jack Mackenzie this summertime too.

Last season's first-choice goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov missed agelong spells pinch injury.

When they won 13 consecutive games, nan Bulgarian started down nan aforesaid backmost 4 for virtually each of them.

But it is not conscionable a deficiency of continuity astatine nan backmost which whitethorn person contributed to mediocre defending, but an evident deficiency of physicality and aggression astatine times.

Aberdeen person mislaid much challenges, according to Opta data, than immoderate broadside successful nan Premiership since nan commencement of past season.

That could besides beryllium down to players not reacting quickly enough, aliases being successful nan correct positions, but either measurement it is simply a concerning statistic successful a convention for illustration nan Premiership, wherever winning tackles and 2nd balls are vital.

A deficiency of continuity whitethorn besides beryllium holding backmost nan attack. Of Aberdeen's forwards, only Topi Keskinen (35) has started much than 22 of their past 41 convention matches.

Jamie McGrath, Pape Gueye, and Shayden Morris were cardinal creators and scorers for Thelin past word and person now near nan club.

Overall, only Celtic and Rangers person made much line-up changes than Aberdeen.

The nine person created a successful subordinate trading exemplary since president Dave Cormack took complete stewardship of nan nine successful November 2019.

That intends looking for worth from younger players playing successful immoderate of Europe's less-heralded leagues. With that comes risk, and plentifulness of those who person arrived are yet to beryllium themselves.

Keskinen, 22, is simply a bully example. Signed for a patient interest from HJK Helsinki, nan winger has had agleam moments, but has only produced 2 convention assists and 5 goals successful 39 games.

Under a head who sees his wingers arsenic cardinal to his system, that return is not enough.

However, Keskinen is acold from nan only culprit.

"Jimmy Thelin's sewage a batch to deliberation about," erstwhile Aberdeen skipper Willie Miller said connected Sportsound aft nan Falkirk game.

"He's brought a batch of task players successful and, arsenic yet, we've still sewage to spot nan fruits.

"There are truthful galore caller players coming successful and it's a very young squad arsenic well. There are a batch of them 23 and under. They don't person a awesome woody of experience.

"All these players request to person that they are bully capable for nan club."

Aberdeen's flurry of signings astatine nan extremity of nan transportation model suggests nan nine were acutely alert of nan deficiency of experience.

Nisbet, Armstrong, and Karlsson are not conscionable squad players but acquisitions who could spell consecutive into nan starting squad to play Livingston.

Nisbet, having returned permanently aft his indebtedness from Millwall past season, was Aberdeen's apical scorer pinch 14 goals past term.

Midfielder Armstrong has struggled since leaving Southampton but has Premier League and world credentials, arsenic good arsenic acquisition successful Scotland.

The summation of Karlsson looks a existent coup. A Sweden subordinate who Bologna paid astir £10m only 2 years agone would usually beryllium beyond Aberdeen's reach.

However, his struggle to make an effect successful Serie A and his narration pinch Thelin from his clip astatine Elfsborg person made it a reality.

Karlsson scored 46 goals and laid connected a further 33 successful 129 appearances astatine AZ Alkmaar, truthful if Aberdeen tin get nan champion from him he will beryllium 1 of nan astir talented players successful nan league.

If nan caller trio tin travel successful and make an effect it besides reduces nan load connected immoderate of nan younger players who person been struggling.

There are different recruits, for illustration striker Marko Lazetic and left-back Emmanuel Gyamfi, who person had disrupted pre-seasons and could now person much influence.

The process of improving needs to commencement swiftly, however, and location is overmuch to beryllium for nan players and manager.

Thelin has been backed much than immoderate Aberdeen leader successful his 3 windows and, though he will ever beryllium remembered fondly for nan Scottish Cup triumph, shot moves connected quickly.

The nine person a winnable tally of games and it is now complete to nan head to show he tin section a accordant broadside which turns successful regularly bully performances.

With nan rigours of Conference League shot to juggle arsenic good arsenic home matters, that will beryllium nary easy task.

That's why location will beryllium a operation of nerves and excitement astatine Pittodrie connected Saturday erstwhile Livingston arrive.