What else is there to talk about this week, or should I say WHO else, but Stevie May?
The 24-year-old Scotland international bagged his first goals for the Dons in a 2-1 win against Dundee at Pittodrie on Saturday – his home debut and only his second appearance for Derek McInnes’ team.
The most important thing for a striker is an ability to score goals and, in a game where he didn’t have too many chances, Aberdeen’s latest acquisition proved he can do just that.
His first one was a great delivery from fellow new boy Greg Tansey, who has shown he’s capable of doing that time and again at Inverness.
May’s movement off of his marker was impressive and the header he put past Scott Bain in goal was perfect.
The No83’s first goal also came in the 11th minute – May 11, 1983, being the date the Dons won the European Cup Winners’ Cup in Gothenburg, so maybe it was written in the stars.
For his second, May had to think quickly after Kevin Holt blocked Graeme Shinnie’s powerful low shot from range.
The shot May let go when the ball dropped to him was superb, putting his foot right through the ball and generating the back lift to find the very top corner of the net.
It was a crucial moment for the attacker to come back into the game in the second half.
At 1-1, I thought the game could go either way, but that’s what makes the difference in games – that type of quality.
May showed different sides to his game in both halves of the encounter.
In the opening 45 minutes he was running off the last defender’s shoulder, dropping deep to collect the ball, running the channels and, at times, was the one crossing the ball in to Ryan Christie or Kenny McLean.
My memory of May from his St Johnstone days – a poacher having chances teed up for him by Steven MacLean – was what he showed in the second half.
Where May comes alive and is most dangerous is in and around the box and, if the players around him can provide the service to him, he’ll invariably finish those opportunities.
Aberdeen’s strength and depth is also impressive at the moment.
While May was out scoring two on the pitch, the Dons had their fit-again star striker of the past few seasons Adam Rooney waiting to come on, while McInnes had recently also thrown Nicky Maynard on as well.
It all looks to be stacking up for a good season for Aberdeen, as the selection dilemmas this abundance of striking talent will throw up for McInnes is a nice problem to have.
You’ve got to remember the Dons boss has Jayden Stockley waiting in the wings as well, and it will be interesting to see what combinations of players are used as the campaign progresses.
It is quite strange to think Aberdeen have four recognised strikers now and you look at the Dons’ bench generally and it’s quite a strong one, filled with other attacking players like Scott Wright and Greg Stewart.
In contrast to this, you hear Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers saying the Hoops can’t have three good strikers, which is a role reversal of recent times.
If McInnes can keep all of his goalscorers fit and engaged with the task at hand – pushing Celtic harder than they’ve pushed for over five years – then it’ll be a great season.
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