Aberdeen: What has gone mistaken for Jimmy Thelin's facet as record-breaking begin turns right into a 10-game winless run? • The Tycoon Herald

In November, Aberdeen followers had been daring to dream a couple of title tilt. Jimmy Thelin’s unbeaten facet had gained 10 of their first 11 league matches and had been joint-top of the Scottish Premiership.

Nonetheless, the stuff of desires quickly became a nightmare run. Since their 4-1 victory towards Dundee, the Dons haven’t gained a match. Seven defeats of their final 10 outings has seen the membership drop to fourth within the desk and fall 22 factors behind Celtic.

Each fan and Thelin himself would have anticipated a bump or two within the street at some stage, however nobody would have imagined such a dramatic drop-off in outcomes – so what has gone mistaken at Pittodrie?

One in all: damage woes, defensive points or a scarcity of targets can be a difficulty for many groups – however the Dons appear to be experiencing all three, leaving Thelin with “problems” to unravel.

Thelin: Now we have to enhance

Even when the Dons had been demolishing all that got here of their path, they had been nonetheless failing to maintain clear sheets. Simply three got here throughout that unbeaten league run and none have adopted since.

As soon as prime goalscorer on the time Pape Gueye was dominated out with damage and the common circulate of targets from Jamie McGrath, Kevin Nisbet, Topi Keskinen and co stopped – these defensive woes had been highlighted, as was the shortage of a cutting-edge up-front.

Aberdeen – who bought prolific striker Bojan Miovski for £6.8m in the summertime – have had extra of the ball of their final 10 video games in comparison with their first 10 however have created fewer clear-cut probabilities, scored fewer targets and never gained any matches.

Added to that he is received some large accidents to take care of. Gavin Molloy, Vicente Besuijen, Ester Sokler and Dimitar Mitov have all joined Gueye on the sidelines.

Nonetheless, Thelin – who has been within the job for six months – is refusing to panic regardless of their poor type.

“It’s football, sometimes we have some problems we have to solve – in the team, in our game, and in our performance,” he informed Sky Sports activities Information forward of dealing with Hearts on Sunday, stay on Sky Sports activities.

“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 accidents, however nonetheless I believe we have now squad and it is going to additionally give a possibility to different gamers.

“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.

“It’s essential to attempt to cover your weak spot and present extra of your strengths. Now we have some elements that we have now to enhance as a crew and as a collective.”

January signings to spice up the squad?

Thelin has been fast so as to add to his group within the January switch window, with winger Jeppe Okkels and Kristers Tobers arriving and extra may observe.

“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.

“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 do know from the previous after all. He is winger, he has capability to run quite a bit and might go behind the again line. Tobers has good management and can be good on the ball, however he may also assist different gamers to develop.”

What is the view from the stands?

Talking to Sky Sports activities, Aberdeen fan Gary Scott from the ABZ Soccer Podcast stated:

“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 noticed initially of the season was outcomes masking up apparent deficiencies within the squad and crew.

“We had been nonetheless conceding foolish targets initially of the season throughout that profitable run however it was glossed over as a result of we had been profitable. It’s only pure to get caught up within the fanfare however now scoring targets has dried up too.

“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 probabilities and nonetheless transport silly targets. It doesn’t matter what anybody says, from second to twelfth this league is aggressive and you’ll not get factors should you do not take probabilities.

“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.

“Wanting on the larger image, initially of this season I might have taken a cushty top-six end as an indication of progress. Because it stands now, each fan would have taken being joint with third place and the Scottish Cup to come back.

“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.”