Aberdeen should use the rest of the season to give fringe players and young talent an opportunity.
The 1-0 defeat of Dundee all but ended the threat of the relegation play-offs.
It is now a case of playing out the remaining three games and trying to build a sense of optimism for next season.
However, this could be an opportunity to find out more about fringe players and emerging young talent.
There is scope to experiment a little, although obviously not to silly levels, as the Reds still need wins to finish the season positively.
Aberdeen can give valuable game time to fringe players such as Dante Polvara.
Midfielder Polvara arrived from the United States during the January transfer window.
However, he has only made two late appearances off the substitute’s bench.
Polvara is contracted until summer 2024, so game time could be valuable for him.
The remainder of the campaign also presents an opportunity to give more youngsters a taste of first-team action.
Obviously, it is ultimately manager Jim Goodwin’s decision.
But I don’t think there is any real merit in finishing seventh, top of the bottom six.
Just finishing in the bottom half of the table is a statement that everyone knows is unacceptable.
There are much more important jobs to be done before the end of the season than focusing on finishing ‘best of the rest’.
One of those is the chance to test out some fresh faces.
To test them at a high level and make an assessment ahead of next season.
Manager Jim Goodwin will have the ability to do that because any nerves of being dragged into a relegation play-off fight are now gone.
Although it is still mathematically possible for St Johnstone, who occupy the play-off spot, to catch the Dons, it will not happen.
Aberdeen are eight points ahead of the Perth Saints with just three games remaining.
The Reds also have a far superior goal difference which is effectively as good as another point.
Manager Goodwin will make big changes to his squad during the transfer window.
Before then the pressure should be off his players now that the play-off threat has all but gone.
Although I thought it was unlikely they would be dragged into a relegation scrap, the danger was still there before beating Dundee.
All the pressure and speculation about the possibility of a relegation scrap will inevitably affect players’ mental attitude.
It was imperative the Reds extinguished that threat as soon as possible.
The defeat of Dundee has now wiped that danger and pressure.
The Dons looked nervous and disjointed in the first half against Dundee, but ultimately got the job done.
Also, for the first time this year, Aberdeen registered a clean sheet in the Premiership.
Shut-outs should be cherished by defenders and teams.
I know modern football seems to be all about the build-up and expansive play.
Yet being ruthless at the back should still be key to the plans of any manager.
Shut-outs should be treated as being precious and something to be proud of.
I don’t think football has changed so much that being conscious of notching up shut-outs shouldn’t still be a prize for any club.
It is important that managers and players see that.
Defenders must also insist securing clean-sheets is a vital part of the remit.
If central defenders need help from the full-backs, they must demand it.
Aberdeen have lost too many goals from set-pieces this season.
Clean sheets is a prize that is rarely talked about in the modern game.
However, it is a very important prize – and I would certainly like to see Aberdeen get back to the situation where they cherish them.
Keeper Joe Lewis regaining top form
Aberdeen captain Joe Lewis has rediscovered his high level of form in recent matches.
Captain Lewis’ return to form has arrived at a key point as manager Jim Goodwin will be looking towards next season.
The manager will be trying to formulate an opinion on what his strongest side will be -which players he wants to keep and the positions he wants to fill by bringing new players in.
Lewis suffered a dip in form earlier this season and was briefly dropped to the bench in October.
He quickly regained that No.1 spot and is now showing good form.
Aberdeen needed Lewis to have an excellent afternoon against Dundee in a very important match.
He produced a great save to deny Danny Mullen’s curling shot.
Lewis had a number of important saves in that victory at key moments.
Although it was a clean sheet, Dundee created too many chances in my book.
Their play in the first half in particular merited them scoring a goal.
Lewis kept them out to secure a huge three points.
The Dons keeper was positioned properly and showed his athleticism throughout.
He was agile in his movement and his defenders can thank him for the saves.
Obviously his job is to make those saves, but they were proof of his return to form.
No surprise top teams want Ramsay
Aberdeen teenage right-back Calvin Ramsay is reportedly a summer transfer target of quadruple chasing Liverpool.
Being linked with a huge club like Liverpool is great for the player and Aberdeen.
Ideally, a product of the youth system would have more game time in the Aberdeen first team before being sold on.
However, if big clubs come in it is a fact of life that you just have to maximise the return.
When young players do hit the top then you have to get the most you can in terms of the financial return.
You also have to let the player chase his dream.
If that dream is Liverpool or Italy then you have to wish him all the best and be proud you played a part in his development.
The youth development programme is expensive, so part of any potential transfer fee has to go back to help produce more players.
Aberdeen are not going to produce a player like Calvin Ramsay every year.
You hope that over a period of time enough are produced to justify the work and expense of developing them.
Ramsay was a worthy winner of the SFWA Young Player of the Year award.
He has been superb this season and his qualities are there for everyone to see.
At 18-years-old he is still young and there are certainly areas he can still polish up on.
However, he deserves all the attention he has received in recent months.
The club’s youth system is certainly producing exciting players.
If Connor Barron had been introduced to the first team earlier, he would have been in contention for the award as well.
Jack MacKenzie has also made his breakthrough and is now over recent injury problems.
It is really important for the club to produce their own players and they are doing that.
The Scotland international team has three Aberdeen Youth Academy graduates.
Scott McKenna (Nottingham Forest), Ryan Jack (Rangers) and Ryan Fraser (Newcastle) are all key players in Steve Clarke’s international squad.
They are prime examples of what a club should be doing.
Now the next batch of Ramsay, Barron and MacKenzie are coming through.
It is all good news for manager Jim Goodwin, knowing he has raw material in these exciting young players to work with.
Also it is good for the club that the development system is producing exciting players.
Ramsay is a great example to any young player with ambitions of hitting the top in football.
