Aberdeen’s signing of Kenny McLean has understandably been hailed the coup of the month but what exactly will the former St Mirren man bring to the Dons squad?
McLean has been outstanding for the Buddies this season, with many Saints fans regarding him as their only chance of beating the drop.
He has largely played in a free role for the Buddies and will certainly add further to Derek McInnes’ attacking options.
Welcome to the club @kennymclean66. Another tremendous signing by the club, keeping the best scottish talent in scotland.#superb
— Jamie Langfield (@jamlang22) February 2, 2015
Could McLean be the perfect partner for Ryan Jack?
Undoubtedly Jack and McLean differ in playing styles. While Jack is calm, composed and far from flashy, McLean enjoys the more glamorous side of midfield life.
Jack has built his reputation on winning the ball and playing the simple pass, McLean on the other side is praised for his range of passing, his vision and his lethal shot.
Jack has scored just twice this season while McLean, playing for a team struggling at the bottom of the league, has found the back of the net seven times.
With these differences in mind, McLean and Jack could prove to be a dream partnership and this could allow Jonny Hayes to push further on.
Could McLean offer a change of Dons tactics?
Managers often talk about the need for their team to develop and change (a squad standing still is a squad going backwards and all that).
The signing of McLean not only alters the personnel in the Dons squad, it also gives Derek McInnes the opportunity to slightly alter his tactics. While he currently employs a 4-2-3-1 with Jack sitting alongside Jonny Hayes, the signing of McLean gives McInnes the chance to play a slightly more attacking formation, a 4-1-4-1.
Although many Dons fans won’t want to think about Dundee United right now, Aberdeen could well follow in their footsteps tactically.
Last season United played with two holding midfielders (Rankin and Paton), just like the Dons have done this season. However this campaign United have played with only one holding and the others pushing forward to support Nadir Ciftci.
The signing of McLean would allow Dons to implement a similar tactic with Jack sitting and McLean playing in an attacking four behind Goodwillie alongside three from Niall McGinn, Jonny Hayes, Peter Pawlett and Adam Rooney.
What the St Mirren support have to say on the move, with Buddies fan Craig Ritchie
In Kenny McLean, Aberdeen have managed to bag themselves one of the hottest young prospects in Scottish football at present.
Member of a much maligned St Mirren midfield this season, McLean has been the sole source of excitement for Saints fans this season. The fact that he leads the club’s scoring charts is no fluke, he has shown the strikers how it is done, and if it wasn’t for his endeavor going forward some might say Saints would already be as good as gone through the relegation trapdoor.
He brings with him to Pittodrie a flair and finesse that is sadly lacking from other young Scots breaking through into the SPL first team ranks.
What makes him stand above the rest is a sense of maturity about his play. The fact that he has now been a regular for St Mirren for over three seasons sets him apart from others attempting to make the grade.
If given the chance, unlike his predecessor Ricky Gillies who made the same journey to Aberdeen in 1997, McLean could flourish into a Scotland regular within no time. He possesses all the necessary attributes to succeed, and most importantly his head is screwed on right. Shooting, passing, vision and tackling, McLean has the lot.
Some Dons fans may be asking if he could fill the defensive midfield gap left if Ryan Jack moves on in the summer. In my opinion this wouldn’t suit McLean’s style of play.
He works best whilst running at the centre backs. This season has been his most profitable because of one reason – he has been given a license to roam. McLean has taken on the role of playmaker, aided by John McGinn and Isaac Osbourne holding in midfield and this has allowed him to drift forward.
Recent strikes against Tayside pair Dundee and United show what McLean is capable of when he feeds off the scraps left by the strikers, and if he is to become a success story I believe Derek McInnes must allow him to continue in this role as trying to stifle this young talent would be to the detriment of both the Dons’ latest investment and McLean himself – we should be encouraging young Scottish talent, not harnessing it by playing a youngster out of position.
