I know, there’s one more game for Aberdeen to come but as exciting as the Scottish Cup final is going to be on Saturday, the efforts of Derek McInnes and his players in the Premiership this season should not go unnoticed.
The league campaign drew to a close on Sunday and it’s been a memorable one for so many reasons.
James Maddison’s sublime last minute free kick against Rangers which, as good as it was, was bettered by his replacement Ryan Christie in the 7-2 drubbing of Motherwell.
A quick corner, a dummy and a dink over the goalkeeper. It was a stunner right enough.
Incredibly it was not the only time the Dons scored seven this season as Andy Considine scored a hat-trick on the eve of his 30th birthday in a 7-0 demolition of Dundee at Dens Park.
Add in a Scott Wright treble in Sunday’s finale at Firhill to wrap up a 6-0 thrashing of Partick Thistle and another 20 goal season for Adam Rooney and you have more than enough memorable moments from those matches alone.
But the season was about more, much more, with the Dons setting a new club record tally of 76 points for the campaign. That’s some going but even more impressive when you consider they also had Rangers to contend with this season.
The Gers had to settle for finishing a distant third behind the Dons and they haven’t enjoyed it at all.
It hasn’t all be rosy though. There was a wee wobble before the split and an alarming spell of shipping goals in a short period of time, but the Dons came through it and have finished the season as they have played for much of it – too good for everyone bar the unbeaten champions.
There’s no disgrace in that. Celtic have been top-drawer but Aberdeen can take great encouragement from their performance across the season and they can still be better.
It’s a measure of Aberdeen’s superior squad and performances that Pedro Caixinha is now trying to pillage Pittodrie for Dons players to bolster his side for next season.
The Aberdeen manager should take it as a compliment. It’s yet another piece of evidence he has in his ranks that which Rangers crave – better players.
If Ryan Jack does leave for Ibrox, and it looks at this stage as if that move is certain, then he’ll make Rangers stronger in midfield, but I’m not sure Aberdeen will that much weaker for his absence.
Sure, Jack is a fine player, an interceptor who reads the play and cuts out danger before it starts, but he is no irreplaceable. Greg Tansey, with seven goals this season for a Caley Thistle team that has been relegated, is a different player but one who will bring set piece quality, height, and goals to the side.
In short, the Dons can cope.
But the future can wait. There’s a cup to be won and Aberdeen is the only club which can stop the invincibles.