Stephen Robinson's First Full Season at Aberdeen Begins
In 10 days, Aberdeen will face Brora Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup, marking the official start of Stephen Robinson's tenure as the club's manager at Pittodrie.
Robinson, who took over in March with the primary goal of maintaining Aberdeen's status in the Scottish Premiership, successfully achieved that target despite the club's underperformance. Now, with eight new signings and a full pre-season to implement his vision, expectations for the team are rising.
This raises questions about the composition of Robinson's Aberdeen squad and whether the numerous issues from the previous season have been effectively addressed.
Physical Presence as a Central Focus
Robinson's successful four-year spell at St Mirren was built on assembling squads capable of handling the physical demands of Scottish football. His teams were known for effective pressing, physicality, quick transitions into the final third, and posing a significant threat from set-pieces.
These qualities contrasted sharply with Aberdeen's performance last season, where the team had the lowest duel success rate in the league and conceded the most goals from set-pieces. Observers noted the team's difficulties in controlling games both without and with possession.
Robinson and sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel have prioritized addressing these weaknesses immediately.
The club's first summer signing, Austrian midfielder Alexander Briedl, developed in the RB Salzburg academy, has been highlighted by Robinson for his speed and pressing capabilities.
Additional midfield reinforcement came with Brad Lyons, valued for his mobility and experience in Scottish football, while centre-back Lewis Mayo, a former Kilmarnock teammate of Lyons, has been among the top ball winners in his position in recent seasons.
Defensive solidity has also been targeted with the acquisition of Dan Happe from Leyton Orient, a centre-back standing approximately 6ft 6in tall, brought in to enhance Aberdeen's presence in the penalty area.
After pre-season fitness testing, Nicky Devlin remarked that the squad is as fit as he has seen in his three years at the club, suggesting the team will be physically prepared and capable of increased running throughout the season.
Addressing the Goal-Scoring Challenge
Aberdeen's offensive struggles were notable last season, with only St Mirren scoring fewer goals. The Dons managed 40 goals in 38 league matches, with an even poorer record away from home. Resolving this issue is critical for the club's ambition to return to the top half of the table.
Robinson's St Mirren teams were characterized by frequent long passes and a high volume of balls delivered into the opposition's box, with formations often involving three centre-backs and wing-backs, sometimes deploying two strikers or two advanced midfielders flanking a lone striker.
It remains to be seen if Robinson will replicate a similar formation at Aberdeen. He did implement such a shape upon his arrival last season to bolster defensive stability.
However, the recent addition of winger Tony Yogane from Dundee, the return of Toyosi Olusanya, and efforts to maximize the potential of Kenan Bilalovic suggest that a 4-3-3 formation could be effective. This setup would leverage Aberdeen's full-backs, none of whom perfectly fit the wing-back role.
Yogane's statistics from last season underscore his attacking threat; only Sebastien Tounekti, Alexandros Kyziridis, Mikey Moore, and Djeidi Gassama created more chances from dribbles than him.
While Dundee often operated with three at the back and wing-backs, Yogane benefited from more space to exploit, and Robinson has frequently emphasized the importance of utilizing the team's pace more effectively.
Up front, Kevin Nisbet was Aberdeen's top scorer last season with 11 goals despite limited service. With Marko Lazetic potentially departing, the club recently signed Moroccan striker Ayoub Mouloua, who scored 19 goals in 53 appearances for FUS Rabat.
Like Nisbet, Mouloua does not fit the traditional target man profile, which may indicate a shift in Robinson's tactical approach.
The upcoming friendly against FC Twente, following a week-long training camp in the Netherlands, is anticipated to provide further insight into Aberdeen's playing style under Robinson.
Setting Realistic Targets for the Season
With early signings and a comprehensive pre-season, Aberdeen appear committed to rectifying the errors of the previous year, which saw the team fail to score a league goal in their first seven matches. This poor start set a negative tone for the entire campaign.
Robinson has emphasized the importance of leveraging the absence of European football, which often challenges Scottish clubs outside Celtic and Rangers.
He has also acknowledged that reshaping the squad will require more than one summer, signaling the need for patience among supporters.
The team faces a challenging start to the season, with fixtures against Hearts, Celtic, and Rangers within the first month.
Nevertheless, the League Cup group stage has historically served as a positive launchpad for top-flight teams, including Jimmy Thelin's Aberdeen squad two seasons ago.
Given the club's budget, a top-six finish is expected as a minimum from Robinson and his players, although Aberdeen's recent history shows this is not guaranteed, having missed the top six in three of the last five seasons.
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