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Willie Miller: Aberdeen defence now looking solid after summer shake-up

Aberdeen captain Anthony Stewart.
Aberdeen captain Anthony Stewart.

Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin’s decision to overhaul his defence this summer already looks to be paying off.

I did not expect Goodwin to change his defence to the extent he has during the ongoing transfer window.

The back four and keeper in the Premier Sports Cup defeats of Peterhead and Dumbarton are completely different to last season.

Keeper Kelle Roos has been given the No.1 spot ahead of Joe Lewis, while summer signings Anthony Stewart, Liam Scales and Jayden Richardson have all slotted straight into that back-line.

Peterhead striker Ola Adeyemo tussles with Aberdeen captain Anthony Stewart
Peterhead striker Ola Adeyemo tussles with new Aberdeen captain Anthony Stewart

Teenage left-back Mason Hancock was also handed his debut against Peterhead and retained his starting slot against Dumbarton.

The extent of the changes is a measure of what Goodwin thought after the club slumped to a 10th-placed finish in the Premiership last season.

He has shaken the club up and, with his changes, made the clear statement last season wasn’t good enough.

And in particular the defensive department.

Aberdeen’s Achilles heel last season was the inability to secure a clean sheet.

Peterhead’s Ola Adeyemo and Aberdeen’s summer signing Liam Scales tussle in the air in the Premier Sports Cup group tie.

In 47 games last season the Reds secured just six clean sheets which is simply not good enough.

Defence was a department that needed radically changed and Goodwin has done that.

Aberdeen have aspirations to perform at the top level of the Premiership and you cannot do that if you leak goals nearly every game.

In a bid to fix that defensive problem, Goodwin has rung the changes.

It is still very early in the campaign, but indications are that the Dons will be more secure at the back than last season.

Aberdeen’s summer signing Jayden Richardson in action against Peterhead.

The defence has been commanding in the opening two games of the season, although granted it has been against lower league opposition.

When you take in new players it takes a little time for them to settle in and get to know one another.

The summer signings are obviously still doing that, but they look to have settled and got an understanding very quickly.

Newly-appointed captain Stewart is a player who wants to take on that responsibility of leading the club.

The former Wycombe Wanderers defender talks to his team-mates throughout the game and commands that penalty area.

Aberdeen captain Anthony Stewart leads out the team against Peterhead in the Premier Sports Cup.

Stewart at right-sided centre-half and Scales on the left have forged a strong partnership with good balance already.

Scales, who is on a season-long loan from Celtic, looks to be a very accomplished player.

Right-back Richardson, signed from Nottingham Forest, has done really well getting forward in particular.

He has a lightning fast burst of pace and is keen to attack on the right side.

Keeper Roos, signed from Derby County, didn’t really have much to do against Peterhead and Dumbarton – and that is a sign the back four are doing their job.

On the rare occasions Roos was called upon in those games, he produced very good saves.

Keeper Kelle Roos during the 2-0 Premier Sports Cup defeat of Dumbarton.

It is important for a keeper to have that concentration level to pull off saves after long periods where the goal is not under real threat.

Sometimes it can be easier for a keeper when under constant pressure, as they do things instinctively.

Roos’ saves in the cup games were vital, because if the opponents had got a goal back things could potentially go a bit wobbly.

Keeper Kelle Roos in action against Dumbarton.

Although Aberdeen were playing Dumbarton and Peterhead, these teams still needed to be given respect.

It doesn’t matter who the opposition are – a clean sheet has to be cherished.

The inability to secure shut-outs was a major issue last season and fundamental to the Dons unacceptable league finish.

Being solid at the back is the foundation of a successful team.

Young Hancock has started the first two games of the season at left-back.

Mason Hancock during Aberdeen media access last week.
Aberdeen defender Mason Hancock

And that further underlines Aberdeen are a club willing to give youth a chance to impress.

The Premier Sports Cup is an important tournament for Aberdeen and they have been taking it very seriously.

It also offers the opportunity to build up confidence for the opening Premiership game at champions Celtic on July 31.

Aberdeen’s new-look defence will really be tested in that match.

The more performances and understanding they can get together as a unit before Parkhead will only bode well.

The signs so far are that the defence is looking solid.

Luis Lopes another exciting signing

The signing of striker Luis Lopes from Benfica is another exciting addition to the Aberdeen team.

At 22-years-old Lopes is a great age and he has had a strong footballing education at the Portuguese giants.

Aberdeen have also signed him on a three-year deal, so there must be a real confidence there that he can deliver goals.

The hope is that Lopes will bring the sparkle that is required up top.

Benfica forward Luis Lopes is set to join Aberdeen. Picture by Shutterstock

Last season, it was left to midfielder Lewis Ferguson, now at Italian club Bologna, and Christian Ramirez to score goals.

Manager Jim Goodwin now has three strikers at his disposal, having also signed Bojan Miovski from MTK Budapest.

I was disappointed when Aberdeen came out of the January transfer window without signing any support for Ramirez.

Aberdeen relied far too heavily on the United States international striker.

The attack was a department that needed strengthened this summer.

Now Goodwin now has the opportunity to choose from North Macedonian striker Miovski, Lopes and Ramirez. He now has options up top and real competition.

It is vital for a club of Aberdeen’s size to have that strength in depth in such a crucial area.

Miovski has yet to make his Dons debut as his Visa application is still being processed.

There is much excitement about Miovski, who has signed a four year deal.

Aberdeen splashed out more than £500,000 to sign him from Hungarian club MTK Budapest.

There are now three vying for that normally sole striker slot, which can only be encouraging news for Aberdeen fans.

Bright future for teen defender Milne

Securing highly-rated centre-back Jack Milne on an extended contract until summer 2025 is another positive move by Aberdeen.

Milne made his first team debut in the 2-0 defeat of Peterhead and is tipped as a star of the future.

It is great that Milne has been given the security of a longer-term contract and the chance to prove to manager Jim Goodwin he is one for the future.

Aberdeen’s Jack Milne during the 2-0 Premier Sports Cup defeat of Peterhead.

Aberdeen are also in talks with teenage midfielder Connor Barron over an extended deal, so hopefully that can be completed soon.

The whole point of the development programme is to bring players through from an early age and give them an opportunity.

Last season we saw academy graduates Calvin Ramsay, Jack MacKenzie and Barron all become first team regulars.

Ramsay ultimately went on to seal a multi-million move to English giants Liverpool.

The Dons had wisely secured Ramsay on a long-term deal in January 2021 until 2024 to maximise his value.

The emergence of young talent is testament to the youth academy and the training facilities at Cormack Park.

Jack Milne scores while on loan at Highland League Brechin City.

Those facilities give the coaches and players the best possible chance to develop talent into first team players.

There should always be a batch of academy-developed players in the first team squad.

You need half a dozen coming through the development programme at any given time.

Over the years, that programme has worked well. At the moment it is producing a really strong group of youngsters.

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