Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin insists he has secured athletic, energetic summer signings that will bring pace and a dynamic intensity to the team.
As the new season looms Goodwin will demand his rebuilt team deliver that intensity for an entire 90 minutes- in every game.
There will be no running out of gas late on in matches on Goodwin’s watch.
Six players have been signed as part of a summer squad rebuild with more still to come.
Goodwin has splashed out almost £1 million in transfer fees on three signings alone.
Fees have been paid for striker Bojan Miovski (£535,000, MTK Budapest), Ylber Ramadani (£100,000, MTK Budapest) and Jayden Richardson (£300,000, Nottingham Forest).
Also secured were Anthony Stewart (Wycombe Wanderers) and Kelle Roos (Derby County) following the expiration of their contracts at their former clubs.
Celtic defender Liam Scales has also joined on a season long loan.
Dons boss Goodwin recently confirmed he aims to move to sign Scales on a permanent transfer in the January window if, as expected, he impresses.
In his first transfer window as Pittodrie manager Goodwin is confident he has constructed a dynamic Dons.
Goodwin said: “There have been a lot of really energetic, athletic players come into the club.
“My belief is that you need to sign players with good athleticism, pace and energy.
“In the modern day game you need all of that.
“Obviously you need them to be good technically as well.
“The new signings are also all good footballers.
“The players we are bringing in athletically are in a better place than what we were last year.
“That’s the big thing for me.”
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A first training session for Bojan with his new teammates. ✔️ pic.twitter.com/XGV85dJC2i
— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC) June 29, 2022
Dynamic Dons for entire 90 minutes
Goodwin is putting his squad through their paces in the Spanish sun in preparation for the new season.
The Reds have been doing as much as three sessions daily as the mercury exceeds 30 degrees.
Based at the La Finca resort on the Costa Blanca, the Dons’ pre-season preparation has ramped up.
Aberdeen begin the campaign with a Premier Sports Cup tie away at Peterhead on Sunday, July 10.
Goodwin’s side have been drawn in a group also containing Raith Rovers, Stirling Albion and Dumbarton.
The Reds begin the Premiership campaign with an away clash at league champions Celtic on Sunday, July 31.
The Dons boss is determined to keep pushing his players for constant improvement and athleticism.
He wants a dynamic Dons from the first whistle to the last.
And he will demand that intensity from the opening game of the campaign against Peterhead to the season closer in May.
He said: “I think we can always get fitter and we can always get stronger.
“Athletically we can always improve.
“We reduced the age of the squad significantly.
“Hopefully that will show in the performances in the weeks and months to come.
“I’m not ageist in the slightest though.
“I was that 34-year-old player who wanted to extend his playing career.
“And was always very frustrated when managers spoke about players being the wrong side of 30.
“I believe that you need to have a certain number of good, experienced pros in the team and I believe we have that with Jonny Hayes.”
‘I train at a certain intensity’
As part of a summer transfer window rebuild manager Goodwin has not only delivered new signings.
There has also been an exodus from Pittodrie with 14 players leaving the club since he was appointed manager in mid February.
Goodwin delivers an intensive training regime – and feels some players weren’t able to handle that last season.
He said: “I’m always reluctant to talk about fitness levels because it seems as if you are having a dig at the previous regime.
“That’s not the case at all.
“I train at a certain intensity that the guys need to get used to very quickly.
“Some maybe last season weren’t used to it and weren’t able to handle it and that’s why they’re not here now.
“You need to be able to go far into games and last.
“There shouldn’t be anybody running away from it this season.”
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