Slow Progress
Aberdeen and Hearts, are playing a different game (or at least trying)
There was a moment in Sunday’s game. Hearts Australian midfielder Cammy Devlin dropped in between the centre-backs, the full-backs pushed on, the wide midfielders move inside, the ball circulated around the back three. then into midfield. Then back to the centre-backs and Devlin.
As the maroon players rotated, Aberdeen in their mid-block 4-4-2 shape shifted from side to side, not committing too hard but willing to make a move if the opportunity presented itself. The front two see-sawing to try deny central passes. One team probing trying to find the space, the other denying it. Both teams adjusting to the other. Two boxers shadow dancing around the ring.
It was, a scene that would have been reflected across Europe last weekend. Two teams following the ‘rules’ of modern football. Move, counter-move and counter-counter move. Straight outta your UEFA Pro course. Neither could land a knockout punch. The Dons were saved by the bell (and Ross Doohan) right at the death.
Aberdeen (474) and Hearts (488), attempted 962 passes. Close to 1000. The ball was ‘dead’ for 41 minutes which seems a lot but was a full 19 minutes less than the SPFL match the day before - at the SMISA , Dundee Utd on 34pts defeated St Mirren on 27pts. At Pittodrie it was 34pts v 22pts. In Paisley, 591 passes were attempted.
Yet the major disparity in the two games, relates to where the passes happen. If we’re just looking at the opposition half, there’s not a great difference.
There were four shots on target at Pittodrie, and the best chances all came from set-plays.
All of this is intended to illustrate, not that the approach of Goodwin and Robinson and their respective clubs is better, I know what I prefer to watch, but rather that Aberdeen and Hearts, both in the pursuit of improvement, are focusing on a more expansive and progressive brand of football. That takes time. In games and over a season. And a lot of passing in your own half…
Slick Passing
Speaking of which, the ‘highlight’ of the game for me, was a sublime passage of play from the Dons after only five minutes. After a few back and forth’s around the back, the ball found its way again to new signing Tobers. A small gap appeared and the Latvian captain punched a sharp first time ball into Ante Palaversa. It was a pass that breaks a press and is not one that Slobodan Rubezic would typically make. A sign of what Tobers should bring to the team and some of the qualities that are valued by Jimmy Thelin.
Palaversa then laid it off first time to Nilsen who played it forward to Nisbet.
Nisbet lays it off to Clarkson who plays a through ball for Keskinen…
Which unfortunately hits the heels of the Finn, with both him and Jeppe Okkels clean through on goal.
It was sublime football and a nice return to some of the combinations centrally that seemed to have disappeared since the start of the season. Hearts were ripped apart. Unfortunately such instances were few and far between on Sunday.
Striking Out?
As noted in the above clip, Kevin Nisbet provided a deeper focal point at the weekend, as the wingers moved inside and higher up. This is not uncommon (see pic from last time the Jambos visited) and it certainly seemed more effective than when Duk came on in the second half.
The Millwall man seems to have fallen out of favour with the support, but I thought he had a solid game on Sunday. Admittedly these have not been frequent enough and it wouldn’t be a shock to see him head down the road before the month is out.
Accordingly with a lot of talk about a new striker coming in and the suggestion he may provide the missing link, I do wonder what profile the club is looking for? A link-man? A fox in the box? A pacy, back-line stretcher? Mixu Paatelainen?
A combination of more than a couple might be tough. It’s a vital role and the club need to get it right as its probably going to be a big expense. It’s this quality in the final third where ‘possession-based’ teams have failed in the past. Have all the ball you want, if there’s no one to open the can of beans you get what you got on Sunday. Tin openers are expensive.
The ideal man would appear to be playing in La Liga. He has pace. A great touch, can link play and a cool finisher. Should we just spend the Miovski cash, on Miovski?
Whoever it is, and it won’t be Bojan, I’m not certain it’s going to be a 25 goal a-season-man. A quick scroll of the stats sites seems to suggest that this was not a hallmark of Elfsborg’s teams with a big chunk of goals coming from the wide men, one of which is now at Pittodrie. The type picked will give us more insight into Thelin’s plans.
It was Keskinen on the other flank who, made some smart runs in behind to get on the end of two wonderful passes from Palaversa and Nisbet. If only to have had the aforementioned North Macedonian on the end of that second chance. A touch out of his feet would have been taken, before a wee dink over the onrushing Gordon to put the Dons one ahead. Sigh.
Pressing
I didn’t really elaborate on the first image. Hearts seemed to pull Aberdeen about a bit with rotations and shape changes. Aberdeen’s structure is pretty well established so it’s easier to prepare for. I’m slightly concerned about Ibrox tonight.
Starlizard v Starman
The signing of players is another area where the approach of Aberdeen and Hearts has similarities. Both are casting the net wide to identify talent but there is one major difference. As has been covered extensively, Hearts have access to Brighton owner and betting guru Tony Bloom’s ‘best in the business’ Jamestown analytics algorithms.
The Dons meanwhile (also adopting a data focused approach) have given Jimmy Thelin the keys to the kingdom (and the safe). Nuno Almeida may be the Head of Recruitment but he’s a Jimmy appointment. Despite recommendations to install a sporting director, Aberdeen, appear to be going down a more old-fashioned route in regards to the power Thelin wields compared to Critchley who it seems is firmly considered a first-team coach,
None of this is necessarily a bad thing. Advocates for a more ‘modern’ structure often ignore that sporting directors can be bad at their jobs too, that the game changes, that someone has to coach the team. BUT, and I know we don’t want to go looking for negativity, we’ve a lot riding on Jimmy getting it right, on and off the field.
New Lads
Big Tobers looked good and I’m keen to see more of him. He seems to have pace which should in theory, alongside Dorrington, allow the back line to play a bit higher, condense the space to allow for more pressure on the ball and hopefully generate more turnovers.
Jeppe Okkels got some stick and it’s fair to say it wasn’t a debut for the ages. Yet, one miscued shot aside, everything he did do was neat and tidy as his 22/24 passes completed suggests. I think he’s going to be a good ball retainer in the final third and hopefully provide the team with some much needed creativity.
For those two and Jensen, and Dorrington, the verdict for me always is that we’ll just have to wait and see. It shouldn’t take too long before we figure out whether they are either the best, or worst players , that have ever lived.
Building it Up
It’s certainly been an impressive window so far and kept spirits high/eyeballs diverted from the 11-game winless run. This is a big week and will be a test of all our resolve given recent memories in the Scottish Cup.
Confidence on my end for a result tonight is very low. But now we’ve got the 11-game unbeaten/unwinning out of the way, maybe it’s time to start a new phase. There would be nowhere sweeter to get back on the saddle.
COYR