As the first chance to pause and catch breath in the new Scottish season approaches this weekend, Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes can justifiably be delighted with his side’s flawless start to the campaign.
Four games played, four games won, one goal conceded. It’s about as good as you could hope for if you are a Dons fan.
A fifth win in a row at Partick Thistle on Saturday would see the Dons equal their best start in the club’s history of season 1984-85; a campaign which ended with the Dons crowned champions.
It’s a measure of how much football has changed in the 30 years which have followed that no team since the Dandies’ side of 30 years ago has managed to finish ahead of either half of the Old Firm in the race for the league championship.
The Red Army believe this season could be when that galling statistic comes to an end and while no doubt title talk will be played down by all and sundry at Pittodrie, is a Dons championship challenge a fanciful notion? Absolutely not.
I’d go further than query whether the champions Celtic are as good as they were a year ago too and if Virgil van Dijk is sold before the window closes at midnight on Tuesday it will add to the unease among the support at Parkhead following the club’s failure to make the group stages of the Champions League.
We cannot underestimate how much of a knock-on effect the loss to Malmo will have in the east end of Glasgow. The bread and butter of the Scottish Premiership is far less palatable than the millionaires’ playground that is European club football’s premier competition and no amount of Thursday night football in the Europa League will make up for it.
The irony of all this, of course, is that the Dons would have loved the Hoops’ consolation prize of the Europa League group stage but it is not to be.
But however fleeting Aberdeen’s European runs have been it is clear the Dons are learning quickly.
Saturday’s first goal against Dundee at Pittodrie was a great example. With some uneasy fans calling on their team to get the ball up the park the Dons kept possession, probed and pressed, pulled Dundee across the pitch then found the gap for Jonny Hayes to exploit.
The 19 pass build-up was a lesson in control with the 20th pass, Hayes’ cross to Adam Rooney, matched by the forward’s fine header to break the deadlock.
A fitting end to a build-up which was devastating in its simplicity and execution.
Europe remains a challenge which has been put on hold for another year but domestically, is there any doubt the current Dons squad is stronger than the one which finished runners-up last year?
The performances of Danny Ward in goal and Graeme Shinnie at both left back and central midfield would suggest not while Paul Quinn’s arrival has given McInnes another defensive option and no lack of experience at the back either.
Welsh international Ward has been the surprise package so far for the simple reason nobody knew what to expect from him. But the fact Liverpool were prepared to give him a five year contract in the summer before sending him on loan to the Dons shows how highly he is rated by the management at Anfield.
Add in the fact that he has fitted hand in glove, if you will pardon the pun, into the starting 11 at Pittodrie and it’s clear the Dons have landed a hugely promising young talent for the season.
The other two summer recruits’ pedigree speaks for itself. Shinnie and Quinn were the respective captains of their clubs last season and their arrival is in keeping with the type of character which it seems McInnes places as much stock in as ability at the club.
Ryan Jack is the new team captain but it is apparent there are leaders throughout the side in Shinnie, Andy Considine, Quinn, Willo Flood and the currently sidelined Mark Reynolds.
Had any one of them been given the skipper’s armband no fan would have batted an eyelid at the manager’s decision.
Firhill is the venue of the Dons’ attempt to equal a feat achieved just once in the club’s 112 year history this weekend.
There’s no crystal ball to tell if it will happen but Aberdeen supporters have a spring in their step when it comes to their team at the moment. And so they should. They believe something is stirring at Pittodrie and on the evidence of what we’ve seen so far they could be right.
