This way, Aberdeen can play under Stephen Robinson this season

In ten days' time, Aberdeen will open the season against Brora Rangers in the Scottish League Cup (Premier Sports Cup). This really begins Stephen Robinson's reign in Pittodrie. The Northern Irish trainer stepped in in March with one assignment: enforcement. That worked. Now, with eight newcomers and full preparation to implement his vision, expectations are rising.

What can we expect from Robinson? His successful four years at St Mirren were built on teams that could cope with the physical demands of the Scottish competition: intense pressing, power in duels, quick to the last thirty meters and dangerous from set pieces. Exactly the qualities that Aberdeen lacked last season. The Dons had the lowest duel percentage in the competition and conceded the most goals from standard situations. Both with and without the ball there was a lack of control.

Together with sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel, this weakness was immediately addressed. The first acquisition, midfielder Alexander Briedl, comes from the training of RB Salzburg; Robinson praised his speed and pressing figures. Fellow midfielder Brad Lyons strengthens the running and duel strength with proven experience in Scotland. At the back came Lewis Mayo, one of the best ball conquerors in the center in recent seasons, and Dan Happe (approximately 1.98 m) to increase the aerial duel and the box presence. According to captain Nicky Devlin, the selection is at the cutting edge after the fitness tests - fitter than in his three years at the club.

The biggest challenge lies up front: only St Mirren scored less last season; Aberdeen was stuck with 40 goals in 38 league games, even less. That has to be better. Robinsons St Mirren played the most long balls in the competition during his period and, after Celtic and Rangers, pumped the most crosses into the box. Tactically, a three-man defense with wingbacks was the basis, sometimes with two strikers, sometimes with one striker and two attacking midfielders around it.


Does he copy that in Aberdeen? At the end of last season, Robinson opted for extra defensive solidity with three at the back. At the same time, the arrival of winger Tony Yogane (Dundee), the return of Toyosi Olusanya and the desire to get more out of Kenan Bilalovic also provide ammunition for 4-3-3. This also suits Aberdeen's backs, who are not necessarily natural wingbacks. Yogane was among the best dribblers last season in terms of chances created; at Dundee he often took advantage of space to run into instead of overlapping backs, and Robinson has often emphasized that he wants to make the team faster and more direct.

Kevin Nisbet was the top scorer at striker last season with 11 goals, despite limited supply. With a possible departure of Marko Lazetic, Moroccan striker Ayoub Mouloua (FUS Rabat) was brought in last week, good for 19 goals in 53 matches. Like Nisbet, he is not a classic striker, which could indicate a different, less predictable attacking approach.

The practice match against FC Twente, at the end of a training week in the Netherlands, should reveal more about the intended style of play. With early reinforcements and full-fledged preparation, Aberdeen wants to avoid something at all costshappened last year: seven competition matches without a goal, which immediately set the tone for a bad year. Robinson pointed out that the lack of European football can actually be an advantage, although he also emphasized that reshuffling the squad will take longer than one summer. Patience remains necessary.

The start is tough with matches against Hearts, Celtic and Rangers in the first month. Traditionally, however, the group stage of the League Cup offers a useful stepping stone, as was also evident two seasons ago under Jimmy Thelin. Given the budget, a place in the top six is ​​an obvious minimum target, although Aberdeen has shown in three of the last five seasons that this is not a given.

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