SPFL Premiership preview - Aberdeen

ABERDEEN

LAST SEASON: 8th, 48 points

NOTABLE INS: Willo Flood (Dundee United), Barry Robson (Sheffield United), Lawrence Shankland (Queen's Park), Nicky Weaver (Sheffield Wednesday), Gregg Wylde (Bolton Wanderers), Calvin Zola (Burton Albion), Michael Hector (Reading, loan)

NOTABLE OUTS: Jordon Brown (Peterhead), Rory Fallon (St. Johnstone), Mitch Megginson (Dumbarton), Rob Milsom (Rotherham United), Gavin Rae (Dundee), Stephen Hughes, Gary Naysmith, Isaac Osbourne, Dan Twardzik

LAST SEASON'S BEST XI (departed players crossed out): Langfield, Shaughnessy, Anderson, Reynolds, Considine, Jack, Rae, Hughes, Hayes, McGinn, Magennis

THE SQUAD (u-21 players in italics)
Goalkeepers: Jamie Langfield, Nicky Weaver
Defenders: Russell Anderson, Andrew Considine, Michael Hector, Craig Murray, Clark Robertson, Mark Reynolds, Joe Shaughnessy
Midfielders: Chris Clark, Willo Flood, Jonny Hayes, Ryan Jack, Nicky Low, Jamie Masson, Peter Pawlett, Barry Robson, Gregg Wylde
Forwards: Josh Magennis, Niall McGinn, Declan McManus, Lawrence Shankland, Cammy Smith, Craig Storie, Scott Vernon, Calvin Zola

IF HE GETS INJURED, THEY'RE SCREWED: Hopefully NIALL MCGINN will have a better supporting cast this season; Craig Brown's decision to convert the Ulsterman to a centre forward role was about the only good thing to happen at Pittodrie last year.

STAR OF THE FUTURE? If RYAN JACK can stay fit, he can either add plenty of energy to the midfield area, or play as an attacking full back.  He seems the most likely to next follow former teammates like Ryan Fraser and Fraser Fyvie by moving south.

THE SEASON AHEAD: The king is dead - or, rather, has moved into semi-retirement as a club director - long live the king!  Craig Brown's replacement, Derek McInnes, has overseen a huge turnover of players this summer and appears to have made some shrewd signings.  Whilst many of the teams who finished above them have been weakened, the Aberdeen squad look stronger.  The midfield in particular has been revamped.  The defence looks solid.  Niall McGinn should be a reliable source of goals.  A fifth consecutive bottom six finish would surely be inexcusable, but, going on past experience, you wouldn't be all that surprised if the Dons were a let-down once more.  But if McInnes can get the best out of his new charges, it could be a very special season at Pittodrie.

THE BEST XI?

 

McInnes used 4-4-2 at St. Johnstone, and may prefer partnering Zola with McGinn in a big man-little man combo, or finding a place for Vernon, but he's likely to need someone with plenty of legs in midfield as Flood and Robson aren't all that mobile.  Jack could provide the energy in the centre of the pitch, but the lack of a natural right-back means he could be deployed there; Clark has also played there in pre-season, and utility defender Shaughnessy did okay on the right of a back four last year.  Considine is a natural centre-back, but is a more reliable option at left-back than Robertson.  Anderson and Reynolds seem the obvious central defensive duo, though loanee Hector may be in the reckoning.  Who would you pick in goal?  I'd go for Weaver, but the Dons may stick with the longserving Langfield initially.  Hayes and Wylde offer width and pace, with Pawlett an alternative to either.  Magennis can also play wide or through the middle.  Young forwards Smith and McManus may see more action this season.

THE BOSS: Derek McInnes is the latest man tasked with restoring the Dons' glory days.  His business in the transfer market looks promising, and he did very well in his last SPL job (at St Johnstone).  But we've said that about plenty of recent Aberdeen managers.  Compared to the previous incumbents, he may be given a bit more breathing space by the fans if results are mediocre, if only because the last few years have filled the Red Army with overwhelming apathy.

CLICHE YOU'RE MOST LIKELY TO HEAR: "Underachieving"

PREDICTION: Could this be the year that Aberdeen can finally call themselves 'the best of the rest' again?  I say it could be - and I fancy them to finish SECOND.

L.