Boss Jim Goodwin has warned no-one will bully or outmuscle his rebuilt Aberdeen team this season.
Goodwin has completely overhauled a squad that last term crashed to a 10th-placed Premiership finish.
Rebuilt at a cost in excess of £1 million, the first real test of the new Dons will come at champions Celtic on Sunday.
Goodwin insists he has built a squad to play attacking, entertaining football.
However, if clubs want to ‘mix it’, the Reds are also more than capable of winning a physical battle.
Goodwin, who made his ninth summer signing with the loan capture of Middlesbrough left-back Hayden Coulson on Tuesday evening, said: “There is no team that will outmuscle or outfight us this season.
“We have leaders in the group and real quality in the attacking areas where we can hurt teams.
“We can play good football if it is on.
“However, if teams want to mix it, we have boys in the team that are ready to do that as well.
“That is the way it has to be going forward.”
Aberdeen build strong defensive line
The Reds have started the season with a 100% record in the Premier Sports Cup group stages.
While clicking in attack with 12 goals, the Reds have also registered four clean sheets.
Last season Aberdeen managed just six shut-outs in 47 games in all competitions.
Goodwin said: “I don’t think you can ask for a better start to the competitive games from our point of view.
“Clean sheets were a real problem last season and defensively we look solid.
“Anthony Stewart and Liam Scales have struck up a decent partnership.
“Keeper Kelle Roos, albeit he hasn’t been tested a great deal, has brought reassurance and confidence to the back line.
“Ylber Ramadani reads the game so well in front of them.
“There has been a lot of work behind the scenes to get these signings, it doesn’t happen easily.
“Not just from me, but the recruitment team and the Director of Football (Daren Mowbray).
“Also the board of directors and chairman (Dave Cormack) have to give me the finance to go and do it.
“We have done good business up to now.”
‘I want to have a competitive squad’
Goodwin’s extensive squad rebuild will be tested when facing Celtic in the Premiership opener.
Centre-back Liam Scales is ineligible to face Celtic due to the terms of his season-long loan deal from the Parkhead club.
Goodwin aims to move to sign Scales on a permanent contract during the January transfer window.
While the focus has been on the incomings to Pittodrie, there has also been speculation on who could yet leave.
Striker Christian Ramirez has lost the number nine jersey to new signing Bojan Miovski.
A £535,000 capture from MTK Budapest, striker Miovski made a scoring debut in the 3-0 defeat of Raith Rovers.
Ramirez had worn the number nine shirt in the opening three games of the season.
However, the United States international now has the No.99 shirt.
Meanwhile, Scotland international centre-back David Bates has yet to feature this season.
Goodwin said: “Christian has had a very good start to the season.
“He’s scored three goals in the League Cup competition.
“David Bates is probably a little bit more frustrated than Christian will be, because he hasn’t played a minute yet of competitive football.
“I want to have a competitive squad. I think that was one of the major issues last season when I came in.
“We were relying heavily on individuals and when those individuals went out of form or got a bit tired, we weren’t able to change it up.
“That’s why we’ve strengthened in the way that we have.
“We’ve got a number of players now in each position.
“And, if the guy in that position isn’t performing to the way that he should be, then we can make that necessary change.”
Goodwin wants players who buy into his vision
Bates, who has two years left on his Aberdeen deal, has been linked with a move out of Pittodrie.
Ipswich Town, Derby County and Championship side Bristol City have all been linked with Bates.
Ramirez has one year left on his Aberdeen deal and has been linked with a potential return to Major League Soccer (MLS) in his homeland.
Goodwin said: “I’m not going to stand in any of the player’s way. Especially the senior players.
“One or two of them are coming into the final year of their contract and want to be playing regularly to go and earn themselves another contract somewhere else.
“If they do come and kick my door down and demand to leave then I’m not the type of manager who’s going to stand in anybody’s way.
“I want players who want to be here and want to buy into what we want to do.
“If there are ones here who don’t want to be, then that’s fine, we’ll let them go.”
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