Aberdeen’s concerning defensive frailty in the defeat to Motherwell must be fixed quickly.
I had hoped the defensive problems which dogged the Dons last season would be sorted after manager Jim Goodwin’s summer rebuild – but they haven’t been.
Aberdeen have conceded six goals in the opening three Premiership games, which is not good enough.
The foundation for any successful team is a reliable and solid defence.
I believe there is still need to sign defensive cover in the summer transfer window.
A centre-back would be high on that list.
Regardless of whether the manager brings another defender in or not – one thing is clear.
Work is required to blend the defence to get an understanding.
That is needed to ensure they are not exposed again in the manner they were against Motherwell.
Let’s face it, Aberdeen conceded three goals to Motherwell, but it could have been five or six.
That is something I’m sure will be causing the manager concern, as well as other aspects from the performance.
You have to cherish shut-outs and we are three games into the new Premiership season with the Reds yet to register a clean sheet.
Defensively that is not a good sign.
Back-up is needed, especially when you also factor in the situation that Aberdeen will be without Liam Scales for games against Celtic this season.
That is due to the terms of centre-back Scales’ season-long loan agreement from the Hoops.
A club like Aberdeen should look to measure themselves against Celtic.
However, the Dons will be without a key centre-back for those games against the Premiership champions which is an issue.
The option for those games is to put Ross McCrorie into centre-back in place of Scales.
However, Aberdeen then lose McCrorie’s presence from midfield. So it is not an ideal situation.
Up until the Motherwell defeat, the season had looked very positive for Aberdeen with everything quickly falling into place.
Should we be surprised at the defeat? Probably not.
The surprising aspect of this season prior to losing to Motherwell is how well it had initially gone.
When a team has so many new signings, it normally takes time to gel.
It takes a period of time for players to get to know one another and find an understanding of individual strengths and weaknesses in game situations.
Up until the loss to Motherwell that wasn’t the case as all the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle appeared to have fallen into place.
However, the new-look Dons came up against a determined and aggressive Motherwell, and I don’t mean that in any derogatory way.
It was a top-class performance from the Fir Park side from the outset and they thoroughly deserved the victory.
Motherwell blew away Aberdeen with their approach, energy, determination and aggression.
However, ‘Well also played some slick football in a game where I felt Aberdeen never had any control.
A huge Motherwell away win… with a customary goal against the Dons for @kevinvanveen 👀#cinchPrem | @MotherwellFC pic.twitter.com/3BCi4bihAN
— SPFL (@spfl) August 15, 2022
There have been so many new signings this summer, yet the Dons had started so well in the Premier Sports Cup and in defeating St Mirren 4-1.
Manager Jim Goodwin has done a fantastic job in signing 11 players in the transfer window as they all look as though they can play.
Even after Saturday’s defeat, there doesn’t look to have been any bad signings.
Dropping three points to Motherwell will hopefully be a one-off.
Aberdeen should be confident of taking something from every game at Pittodrie, even against Celtic and Rangers.
Next up is St Johnstone away on Saturday. No disrespect to the Perth club, but Aberdeen must look to take three points.
Then there is Livingston at home, which is a game the Reds should look to win.
August was set up well for Aberdeen to build up some momentum.
Motherwell was a set-back and now it is vital they bounce back quickly on Saturday.
Actions will speak louder than words with SPFL review
The plan for Scottish Premiership clubs to increase the SPFL’s annual distributable income to £50m by 2029 should be commended.
That would be well up from the current level of £28.4m.
Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibernian, Dundee United and Dundee commissioned a “critical and transparent” independent review by Deloitte in the bid to secure a financial boost to the Scottish game.
The clubs should be applauded for trying to bring change.
Getting the finances up is key to allowing clubs scope to invest in the areas they need to.
However, when you get one of these reviews, it is not about it being written down on paper.
It is about the action points being delivered going forward.
We have had too many reviews into Scottish football in the past where everything proposed sounded good.
However, the actual actions haven’t been strong enough. This new plan is just the beginning of the story.
The real optimism will happen when we see results and watch that financial figure rising up to the £50 million target set.
Making that happen will be the telling point if this review will be more successful than others in Scottish football.
Almost doubling the annual distributable income from £28.4 million to £50m by 2029 is an ambitious target.
If they can raise the finance to that level, it will provide a real tonic to Scottish football. It will allow clubs to recover from the financial hit of the coronavirus pandemic.
That money will help SPFL clubs move forward.
If there are more funds available for youth development that is also a major positive.
The member clubs involved in the review say they want to make Scottish football the “most dramatic, passionate and exciting” in Europe.
That is great to hear.
Clubs should be looking at all aspects to improve the game. That even includes things such as the Red Shed at Aberdeen where they build that enthusiasm from the supporters.
Engagement with fans is really important and Aberdeen put a lot of effort into that.
They try to create an atmosphere that makes it exciting to go to a game.
Solid debut from Shayden Morris
Recent Aberdeen signing Shayden Morris made a promising debut when coming off the bench in the 3-2 loss to Motherwell.
The winger joined Aberdeen from Fleetwood Town on a deal until summer 2026.
At just 20 years old, he has a lot of potential and the hope will be he reaches that at Pittodrie.
Aberdeen now have a youthful team full of pace and energy.
Morris fits right into that.
He came on for a debut when replacing the injured Matty Kennedy after 30 minutes against Motherwell.
Morris has good movement, pace, quick feet and is difficult to pin down.
He looks as though he has real potential.
However, although Morris got into good, positive areas, he didn’t create that much.
But he still looked very dangerous in that final third.
Prior to the loss to Motherwell, all the players signed in the summer have all shown up well.
The summer additions have proven they are players with quality and have something to offer Aberdeen.
The optimism I felt about the season was on the back of watching these new signings play.
Morris is another one that gives good options in the forward area.
He brings pace and attacking intent.
Although he has only played for an hour, Morris looks to be a summer addition that can excite fans going forward.
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