Aberdeen: ‘Huge concern’ as poor league start continues

Aberdeen’s model under chairman Dave Cormack has been to invest money in young players in undervalued markets who can then be re-sold.

It is the strategy lots of clubs now employ and, with a trophy to show for it and more money in player sales than any club outside Celtic and Rangers since 2018, Aberdeen could easily say it is working.

However, the challenge is, with every departure, there needs to be adequate replacements, while young players always come with a risk.

This season, Aberdeen have fielded squads with an average age of 25, among the youngest in the country.

New recruits like Nicolas Milanovic, Adil Aouchiche and Yengi are still finding their feet and some of those recruited last season are still yet to catch fire.

Time should be afforded to fresh recruits, particularly those from abroad as they settle in a new country.

However, players such as Ivan Dolcek and Zac Sapsford have hit the ground running for Dundee United, as have Claudio Braga and Alexandros Kyziridis with Hearts.

Sapsford, who has three United goals this season and has been a standout, came from the same Western Sydney Wanderers side as Aberdeen’s Milanovic.

With Aberdeen spending, relatively speaking, a lot of money along with Hearts and Hibs, there is greater expectation on a lot of these players.

“Jimmy Thelin’s got a lot to think about,” Miller added. “He’s brought a lot of project players in and, as yet, we’ve still got to see the fruits.

“There are so many new players coming in and it’s a very young squad as well. There are a lot of them 23 and under. They don’t have a great deal of experience.

“This game [against Falkirk] was one I felt Jimmy Thelin had to win to settle things down after a rocky start in the league. But he’s going to be tested, the squad are going to be tested.

“All these players need to convince that they are good enough for the club.”

It all means Thelin and Aberdeen face a big few weeks.

First, fans will expect action on deadline day, while games against Livingston and Motherwell after the international break feel significant already.

Even for a Scottish Cup-winning manager.