In November, Aberdeen fans were daring to dream about a title tilt. Jimmy Thelin’s unbeaten side had won 10 of their first 11 league matches and were joint-top of the Scottish Premiership.
However, the stuff of dreams soon turned into a nightmare run. Since their 4-1 victory against Dundee, the Dons have not won a match. Seven defeats in their last 10 outings has seen the club drop to fourth in the table and fall 22 points behind Celtic.
Every fan and Thelin himself would have expected a bump or two in the road at some stage, but no one would have imagined such a dramatic drop-off in results – so what has gone wrong at Pittodrie?
Sunday 12th January 2:30pm
Kick off 3:00pm
One of: injury woes, defensive issues or a lack of goals would be an issue for most teams – but the Dons seem to be experiencing all three, leaving Thelin with “problems” to solve.
Thelin: We have to improve
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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin discusses the club’s winless run, January transfers and facing Hearts on Sky Sports on Sunday
Even when the Dons were demolishing all that came in their path, they were still failing to keep clean sheets. Just three came during that unbeaten league run and none have followed since.
Once top goalscorer at the time Pape Gueye was ruled out with injury and the regular flow of goals from Jamie McGrath, Kevin Nisbet, Topi Keskinen and co stopped – those defensive woes were highlighted, as was the lack of a cutting-edge up-front.
Aberdeen – who sold prolific striker Bojan Miovski for £6.8m in the summer – have had more of the ball in their last 10 games compared to their first 10 but have created fewer clear-cut chances, scored fewer goals and not won any matches.
Added to that he’s got some big injuries to deal with. Gavin Molloy, Vicente Besuijen, Ester Sokler and Dimitar Mitov have all joined Gueye on the sidelines.
However, Thelin – who has been in the job for six months – is refusing to panic despite their poor form.
“It’s football, sometimes we have some problems we have to solve – in the team, in our game, and in our performance,” he told Sky Sports News ahead of facing Hearts on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.
“We have to improve. Even when we were winning games we saw some things we have to improve in the long run to be a stable, consistent team to fight for the European spot.
“Then we get some injuries, but still I think we have a good squad and it’s going to also give an opportunity to other players.
Pape Gueye scored five league goals in as many matches before picking up an injury
“I didn’t expect to not lose in 11 games, and I didn’t expect not to win in 10 games so we have to find the balance there, try to get better, keep believing in what we’re doing and don’t lose sight of the long term.
“You need to try to hide your weakness and show more of your strengths. We have some parts that we have to improve as a team and as a collective.”
January signings to boost the squad?
Thelin has been quick to add to his group in the January transfer window, with winger Jeppe Okkels and Kristers Tobers arriving and more could follow.
“You always have an ambition to improve the team,” he added. “It can be through training. The time will help the players to grow to be better.
Latvia captain Kristers Tobers sealed a move to Aberdeen this month
“Also sometimes you need recruitment to find the right profile, so I think it’s a never-ending story. You always have to try to get better every week in training, but also build a team for the long term with recruitment.
“Okkels I know from the past of course. He’s a good winger, he has capacity to run a lot and can go behind the back line. Tobers has good leadership and is also good on the ball, but he can also help other players to grow.”
What is the view from the stands?
Speaking to Sky Sports, Aberdeen fan Gary Scott from the ABZ Football Podcast said:
“What you see now is a team who are shorn of confidence and belief and that is manifesting itself in performances and results.
“What we saw at the start of the season was results covering up obvious deficiencies in the squad and team.
“We were still conceding silly goals at the start of the season during that winning run but it was glossed over because we were winning. It is only natural to get caught up in the fanfare but now scoring goals has dried up too.
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Aberdeen lost their last Scottish Premiership outing 2-0 at Motherwell
“It comes down to fine margins in games. In this 10-game run we have been on top in some matches but failed to convert and then there has been a spell when the opposition is in control and they make us pay.
“We’re not taking chances and still shipping stupid goals. No matter what anyone says, from second to 12th this league is competitive and you will not get points if you don’t take chances.
“I think Thelin knew all along how big a challenge he faced when he came into the club in the summer. If nothing else, the last 10 games have crystalised that for him. He’ll know who the characters are with the mentality to cope with the demands. He will now know who will be on the journey that we have all heard about.
“Looking at the bigger picture, at the start of this season I would have taken a comfortable top-six finish as a sign of progress. As it stands now, every fan would have taken being joint with third place and the Scottish Cup to come.
“It becomes galling when it opens up for you. There’s Rangers who look like they want to gift second spot away but we shoot ourselves in the foot. However, we would all have accepted this start were it offered to us in the summer. Hopefully, we can get back to winning ways and continue to improve the squad in January.”