2013/14, simply put, has been the best Aberdeen season in a generation. Craig Reid’s disputed, last-gasp winner at Pittodrie may leave a sour summer taste on the Dons’ campaign, but it should not be allowed to draw focus away from the positive broader perspective. A League Cup triumph, a confident 3rd-place finish but, more importantly, a sea-change of mentality and fresh injection of belief in the Granite City have made this a refreshingly enjoyable twelve months under the stewardship of Derek McInnes. As such, criticism of the individual players involved should be set against that mitigating backdrop of having played their part in a tremendous season. John Callan writes.
GOALKEEPERS
Jamie Langfield – By common consensus, it has been Langfield’s best season for Aberdeen. His shot-stopping continues to excel and he is clearly an important figure in the squad. Reservations surrounding his capability to perform in big games have been well and truly exorcised too, his save from Lee Croft in the League Cup semi-final was so, so important, arguably even more so than stopping the first penalty in the final. He is capable of matches, most recently in the 3-0 win at Tannadice, where he looks virtually unbeatable.
As ever, his distribution and inconsistency with crosses are weaknesses, as is his propensity, less frequently than before admittedly, to produce the odd howler, most commonly in the form of letting the ball slip beneath an outstretched boot. McInnes has said he wants to sign a ‘keeper to challenge for the number one jersey next season, a move which will hopefully benefit everyone in red, ‘Clangers’ included.
Nicky Weaver – Made two appearances – off the bench against Celtic in August and from the start at Tynecastle the following week – and looked uncomfortable in both. While not many Premiership teams could call on a back-up with the same high-level experience, he never looked like entering a fight for a starting berth. Departing this summer.
DEFENDERS
Mark Reynolds – One of the division’s finest centre-halves, Reynolds has had a phenomenal season. He is quick, composed and positionally excellent, while still being more than adequately stocked in the raw defending necessities of tackling and heading. Played the most minutes of any outfield player, missing only one match after sustaining what he described as “a wee cut” (read: sizable gash to the lip) against Inverness. Justifiably recognised with the club’s Player of the Season award and an overdue Scotland call-up.
Russell Anderson – 2012/13 seemed to hint that Anderson’s career was beginning to draw to a close. This season suggested the exact opposite. Anderson’s multiple defensive qualities are still there, but his leadership traits continue to grow and grow – he gets the very best out of Mark Reynolds through constant instruction, for example. Though it is fair to say he isn’t the player he once was, as shown in his struggles against Kris Boyd back in January, his one-year contract extension is merited and sensible.
Joe Shaughnessy – Shaughnessy himself would perhaps look at the last twelve months as worryingly stagnant. He went into the first game as the Dons’ first choice right-back, but he has started just five games in 2014. Whether or not the 21-year-old intends to continue as a right-back or attempt to forge out a career as a centre-half, his more natural position, may dictate his future.
Andy Considine – Much like last year, injury and stints at left-back have impinged upon the reputation of a very able defender. When called upon, Considine was enduringly reliable, and is even beginning to look less out of place at full-back, but understandably is eschewed for Anderson and Reynolds in the centre. He remains the most logical successor to Anderson, if he is prepared to wait around long enough.
Shaleum Logan – The loan signing from Brentford made his debut at the Tynecastle semi, and has rarely put a foot wrong as an ever-present since. He looks equally comfortable defending and attacking and benefits from being a comfortable right-back, rather than one shoe-horned into the position, a rare distinction in recent years at Aberdeen. Out of contract with his parent club this summer, every effort should be made to keep him up north.
Clark Robertson – A nasty knee injury in the heroic 2-0 win at Fir Park in October put paid to Robertson’s season, in which he appeared just 11 times, the last featuring an inauspicious error against St Johnstone. As such, McInnes’ plans for him are still largely unclear and will depend on whether he sees the left-back position as a transfer priority.
Alan Tate – Played seven times as defensive cover while on loan from Swansea, but seldom impressed. Wasn’t a viable option at full-back, as exhibited by some textbook centre-half attacking of the ball rather than watching the back post runner at home to Inverness, and looked a little slow and clumsy in the middle thereafter. Could perhaps be dependable given a run of games in central defence but, without wishing to sound as if perched loftily on a high horse, not for Aberdeen.
MIDFIELDERS
Ryan Jack – One of the best qualities Jack possesses is the way he keeps the ball moving. If a game is dull, as was sometimes the case towards the season’s limp tail-end, watch the midfielder drop deep, collect passes and move it on quickly, always looking for space, always looking to start attacking moves. He continues to play with energy, maturity and no small amount of skill, making him very important to this Aberdeen side.
Willo Flood – A serious compliment to Flood is that, after an impressive debut season, it feels as if he’s played for the Dons for years. His qualities are already widely-known, and he continues to make opponents’ lives difficult with sustained and tenacious pressing. Aberdeen fans have concerns though, that playing each of Flood, Robson and Jack can leave the midfield a touch one-paced and predictable, which is something the management may need to address for next year.
Barry Robson – Some were sceptical of signing the 34-year-old in the summer, a view which seemed astute by the time December rolled around and Robson had managed just a single start due to injury. Since then however, he has shown himself to be a cut above most in the league, with ability and a passing range that makes him one of the first names on the team sheet. Small wonder, therefore, he has been kept on for another season. If only he had arrived earlier.
Peter Pawlett – If you’ll excuse the navel-gazing, let’s take a wee look at this very piece from this time last season for some context: “…some would have concluded that the 22-year-old had used up the last of his chances at Aberdeen…remains a source of frustration…needs to make a mark, and sharpish.” Well, it’s good to see he’s taken my advice on board.
A year on, he’s moved confidently from the flank into the middle of the park, he’s looked physically fitter and stronger, he’s slain numerous top-flight defences, not least Celtic at Parkhead, and he’s even found time to propel a Human League song to the summit of the charts. Oh, and become one of the most attacking, pacey, exhilarating players to pull on an Aberdeen jersey in years.
Jonny Hayes – Another who has developed into a very important player. Hayes’ combination of trickery and pace has elevated him in the eyes of Dons supporters, many of whom we’re unconvinced prior to this season. His versatility is another strength, playing effectively on his preferred right hand side, but also contributing on the left and even at the turn of the year at left back without a noticeable drop in quality. Certainly, the team always wants for creativity when he is absent.
Nicky Low – Awarded a one-year contract extension for some telling contributions across the midfield, highlights among which include an exquisite free-kick against Ross County and a nerveless penalty in the League Cup final. For all that his performances have been good, characterised by energy and a decent left foot, it is perhaps ominous that McInnes has trusted the 22-year-old with just four starts in all competitions, perhaps due to the fact he hasn’t quite found consistency in a single position. Will need to make a greater impact next season.
Cammy Smith – The only teenager who featured consistently for the Dons, Smith never looks physically or technically out of place in the first team. Has a lot of potential to become a big player, perhaps as an understudy in the Pawlett role behind the striker, and McInnes clearly rates him highly. Is it too demanding to say that an 18-year-old needs to add more goals and assists to his game, particularly one afforded a lot of time on the park? Who knows. I’m doing it anyway. I’m not typing it all out again though.
FORWARDS
Niall McGinn – Following on from last season’s relentless exploits was always going to be difficult, especially when it became clear the new management team were not planning on building the side around McGinn in the same way Brown did. He has toiled too since Rooney’s arrival, as this coincided with McGinn switching wings with Jonny Hayes – while Hayes isn’t discernibly worse on either side, taking the opportunity to cut inside from the left and shoot from the Northern Irishman neutralised his threat. A chalk-booted winger he ain’t, and he appears something of a passenger at times when stationed on the right.
That said, he has continued to chip in with an impressive goal tally and remains one of the club’s best players. If McInnes feels playing him out wide is better for the team, then that is his call, but it is curious that he wasn’t at least tried through the middle when the Dons were struggling for goals at various points this campaign.
Adam Rooney – In the seven games prior to Adam Rooney’s debut against Motherwell, Scott Vernon failed to score from seven starts. Rooney scored eight in the following eleven games thereafter and all of Aberdeen’s goalscoring problems looked to have been banished for ever and ever. Well, not quite.
Although it’s unwise to place undue prominence on misleading runs, be it the aforementioned hot streak or the single goal in his last seven, there is an argument to be made that an unselfish target man, with the remit of getting the best out of Aberdeen’s other attacking talent, would have been a better fit than an out-and-out goalscorer. Depending on your viewpoint, the lack of goals coming from midfield during this campaign is either a symptom of this problem, or a failing of others to assist the lone striker, whoever it may be. Rooney, however, is clearly a talented option to have up front, and it would hardly be a burden to go into the new season with the Irishman leading the line.
Calvin Zola – A signing which has not worked. During his debut against Kilmarnock, he looked a strong physical presence who could perhaps be useful once he got up to speed. He was up to speed. Add into the mix a general lack of goals (a few useful tap-ins aside) and a propensity for conceding daft fouls, and it was quickly clear that the Zola Project wasn’t working.
It is to McInnes’ credit that he hasn’t persevered unnecessarily with one of his own purchases to justify the outlay, however it leaves a player, undoubtedly taking up a higher than average wage, stuck on the bench for another season unless he can be offloaded. One of the knock on effects of this is the release of Scott Vernon, a more than capable back-up striker at this level.
Scott Vernon – After four years of service Vernon ‘Crespo’ will be moving on this summer. This season, he will be fondly remembered for two hat-tricks, one at Falkirk in the League Cup, and a second in the penultimate league match at Tannadice. Unfortunately, these have accounted for two thirds of his goal tally this year and the decision to move him on was probably taken prior to the second treble.
He had a good run of games up front around the turn of the year, starting nine consecutive times in the buffer zone between Zola and Rooney, and scored just once. While you could argue that he contributed to seven Dons wins in that spell, it isn’t quite enough. Overall, he has served the club with tremendous effort, a creditable goal haul and even survived being horribly misused in central midfield by Craig Brown, like asking a horse to do your taxes. But, ultimately, a team chasing second needs more dynamic options.
THE DEPARTED
Loan signing Michael Hector was an unequivocal success, playing at right-back and more impressively at centre-half during his six month spell. He was raw, but clearly has all the attributes to be a very good defender – even scoring a technically brilliant thunderbolt against Thistle – and was missed in the second part of the campaign. Greg Wylde made a single positive substitute impact at Easter Road before being offloaded to St Mirren, McInnes cutting his losses and citing an ‘appetite’ problem. Figuratively, I imagine. Finally, a third consecutive manager couldn’t quite find a role for Josh Magennis, and the affable sprinter will be heading to pastures new. I’m sure he’ll make another team very happy. The kind of exasperated happiness you get when a young child finally calms down and draws a picture.
THE YOUNGSTERS
If there’s one curiosity about Derek McInnes, it is that he’s afforded little pitch time to teenagers, conspicuous in a league flooded with youngsters. After a couple of seasons pulling up trees in the under-20s, striker Declan McManus and full-back Craig Murray got just 18 and 19 league minutes respectively. Whether this is down to a desire for consistency in team selection or whether the boss does not think they’re quite good enough, it is unclear, but the side looked jaded towards the season’s close and could certainly have used some youthful invigoration. Craig Storie made a fleeting appearance against Partick Thistle in September, and looks like a midfielder capable of playing at a level greater than his 18 years of age would imply.
If you want to read more from John Callan and about Aberdeen in general then be sure to read the article detailing his favourite Dons goals from each of the past 15 seasons.
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