Splashing the cash to sign striker Bojan Miovski is already looking to be a very wise investment by Aberdeen.
The Dons spent £535,000 to sign Miovski from Hungarian club MTK Budapest this summer.
It was the largest transfer fee spent by the Reds in an extensive summer rebuild.
The early signs are that the 23-year-old is a very good player who has the potential to hit the 20-goal mark this season.
North Macedonian international Miovski has a cool finish, great positional sense and the ability to lose defenders.
Miovski has scored six goals in his opening six games for the Dons.
That could have been seven as he is the Dons’ penalty taker.
However, he selflessly gave the ball to Vicente Besuijen to take a spot kick in the 5-o defeat of Livingston.
Ultimately that decision cost Miovski the chance of his first Aberdeen hat-trick.
If he continues to score at this rate there is no doubt Miovski will move onto the radar of other clubs.
That is something that could potentially happen in the future and bring a financial bonus for the club.
However, the focus for this season at least is for Miovski to continue scoring.
Signing a goal-scoring striker is the most difficult aspect of recruitment.
To find a striker like Duncan Shearer who can score 20 plus goal-scorers every season.
Aberdeen have not had that many strikers who can do that over the years.
Miovski will definitely hit 10 goals this season and I think smashing the 20 mark is more than achievable.
He made an explosive impact when scoring within minutes of his debut in the 3-0 Premier Sports Cup defeat of Raith Rovers.
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Bojan with our fourth yesterday at Pittodrie. #StandFree | @bojanmiovskii pic.twitter.com/t6ZRW5ay9M
— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC) August 28, 2022
Miovski has kept that momentum going and looks capable of scoring every time he plays.
The striker brings a potent threat and at only 23-year-old is already an established senior international.
He played in North Macedonia’s shock 1-0 defeat of Euro 2020 champions Italy in the World Cup play-off semi-final.
North Macedonia knocked out the Italians before falling to Portugal in the play-off final, where Miovski also played.
He has a good pedigree.
Miovski was arguably the marquee signing of the summer and is already making his presence felt in Scotland.
Aberdeen’s recruitment team deserve real credit for the players signed during the summer transfer window.
Head of Recruitment Darren Mowbray has overseen the capture of 11 players who all have qualities that will enhance the squad.
The Dons have a real threat in the final third and also pace and craft in midfield.
Jonny Hayes’ pass though for Miovski to score in the 5-0 defeat of Livingston was superb.
There is also Vicente Besuijen who can offer a lot creatively and also on loan Liverpool midfielder Leighton Clarkson.
Ross McCrorie from midfield also brings an attacking threat.
The two-full backs Hayden Coulson and Jayden Richardson’s attacking threat cannot be discounted either.
They are both more than capable of adding to the creative side in the final third.
That can only be positive for Miovski because a striker is no use unless he is getting the service.
Aberdeen are well placed to service Miovski and push him towards the 20-goal mark.
Centre-backs starting to look solid
Aberdeen’s centre-backs Liam Scales and Anthony Stewart are forging a solid partnership.
They were aggressive and strong in the 5-0 defeat of Livingston.
Striker Jon Nouble is strong, good with the ball at his feet and powerful in the air.
It was a challenge to see how Scales and Stewart would cope with Nouble.
They dealt with him particularly well.
Stewart is used to facing powerful strikers from his time in the English lower leagues with Wycombe Wanderers.
Dons captain Stewart seems to enjoy that physical battle and we saw the best of him in being able to control Nouble in particular.
Nouble can be a handful if you don’t address the physical challenge he poses.
Aberdeen’s centre-backs certainly did that.
Nouble had one chance in the first half but other than that was dealt with effectively.
Keeper Kelle Roos also deserves praise for his superb save at Ayo Obileye’s header when it was 0-0.
It was a really difficult effort to save as it was from close range and coming off the surface.
Summer signing Roos has been impressive.
Anything keeper Roos has been asked to do so far Roos has done particularly well.
That save against Livingston came at a crucial time when it was all square.
Saves of that importance can turn games for you.
Roos effectively covered the defence there because for Obileye to get that free header from six yards out at a set-piece was concerning.
Obileye is so tall and physical so he must be taken care of at set-pieces.
The two centre-backs dropped their guard there but keeper Roos came to the rescue.
The rest of the match the centre-backs did well and embraced the physical challenge to come out on top.
It was a back-to-back clean sheet which is also important.
Cup success pivotal to Aberdeen
Aberdeen need to deliver a successful cup run this season, and ideally silverware.
That must begin away to League Two Annan Athletic in the Premier Sports Cup tonight.
Let’s face it. Rangers and Celtic are so far ahead of the rest of Scottish football that over the course of a full season it is going to be almost impossible to catch them.
They now have up to a £40 million boost from reaching the Champions League group stages.
It is very difficult to compete with that financial muscle in the Premiership.
However, that’s not to say Aberdeen shouldn’t be looking to take on Rangers and Celtic in a one-off.
There must always be positive vibes coming from Aberdeen when facing Rangers and Celtic over 90 minutes.
That is very important in cup games.
Former manager Derek McInnes delivered League Cup glory in 2014.
He also managed to get the club to a number of finals but unfortunately couldn’t overcome Celtic in those games.
It is important to get to finals. Lifting trophies should be the target.
Aberdeen cannot afford to take tonight’s cup tie against Annan Athletic lightly.
They must realise how important a successful cup run is for the club and supporters.
Fans want the hope that the club can lift a trophy.
There is a lot of positivity around Aberdeen at the moment.
Almost 14,000 supporters were at Pittodrie for the Livingston win and were full of enthusiasm and hope.
The Dons need a cup run to keep that enthusiasm going.
If you have the fans behind you, believing in you that can inspire the team on the pitch.
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