Jimmy Thelin doesn’t shout his mouth off. He doesn’t have to.
His Aberdeen team are doing the talking for him. Nonetheless, the Dons’ doubters are still piping up with plenty to say. So this is Thelin’s perfect opportunity to slap them down and silence them. You simply can’t fault what the Swede has done since walking in the doors at Pittodrie. I don’t care what level of the game in which you are operating, 13 wins out of 13 in all of your competitions is outstanding work. Yet the cynics are still lined-up out there and, in some respects, I get their point.
Without European football participation, the acid test for the Dons are matches against Celtic and Rangers and, until now, they haven’t had one. It stands to reason that people will reserve judgement until events unfold this afternoon in Glasgow’s East End. That’s nothing against Thelin and his team. That’s just common sense. However, if you go to the home of the champions and do some damage, there will be no more whispering behind their backs.
No more quiet sniping about them being flat-track bullies ready to get found out when faced up to a test from Glasgow’s pair. In general, there’s an upcoming spell full of opportunity for the Reds.
If it doesn’t go to plan at Celtic Park, there’s another opportunity against Brendan Rodgers’ side in the semi-final of the Premier Sports Cup. I’m not writing off Aberdeen as title challengers, but I’d be honest and say that, right now, that last-four match does feel even bigger for them.
Success at the National Stadium would surge them a game from a trophy, whereas regardless of the outcome today, there’s still 30 games left in the Premiership. Sandwiched in between the Celtic fixtures are two massive home games against Dundee United and Rangers.
Seriously, if they win even one of the trio of matches against the Old Firm and take care of Jim Goodwin’s boys over this next massive fortnight, you can’t do anything else but treat them as the real deal. Yet, looking at the task in hand today, that’s one very big if.
Let’s be honest, Celtic are a different class to anyone in the league at this moment, regardless of points totals. Aberdeen would do well to note the way Rodgers’ team took Rangers apart and they have, basically, also done that to the rest.
Let’s be clear about a couple of things. I’m not going to sit here and suggest that Thelin’s team are moving into position to rip off Celtic’s crown.
My old side has far too much strength in depth and ability to be overcome by any of the challengers outside of their own city. Not even a Dons victory today would change that notion in my head, although it would give me food for thought in terms of their ability to split the Old Firm and get ahead of Rangers if the Ibrox side can’t properly sort themselves out.
Let me also confirm something else, I am massively excited about the actual match. It’s so refreshing to be assessing a top-of-the-table game in the Scottish Premiership which does not involve only the Old Firm. I’ve heard the comments about how it should be screened across the nation on live TV and I get that fans not at the stadium desperately want to see it.
As someone who also works on the TV, I’d also have been happy enough with that scenario. But, at the same time, have a thought for the season-ticket holders. They are shelling out big money every year and are getting a reward for that with a Saturday 3pm.
The huge majority inside the stadium will be desperate for Celtic to trample all over Thelin’s team. Stamp their status as the kings of the country. To be honest, that could easily happen because, if Rodgers’ side hit their highest level, they will be impossible for the Dons to live with.
But Aberdeen have their own weapons. They are doing so much right and I really enjoy their style, just as much as I enjoy Thelin’s manner. There’s no fuss about him. No silly talk. He seems like a straight-shooter who keeps his big words for inside a dressing room.
No question he’s getting a tune out of his team and the recruitment has been excellent. Players such as Kevin Nisbet are classy. Dimitar Mitov is an excellent goalkeeper, Topi Keskinen clearly has ability, Sivert Heltne Nilsen has been excellent and there is backbone with the likes of stalwarts Nicky Devlin, fresh from a Scotland debut, and Graeme Shinnie.
They’ll all need to be at their very best and, even if they are, it still might not be enough. Yet defeat doesn’t just mean they will have failed. It might be that Celtic are too good on the day, but what offers Aberdeen the most encouragement?
Well I would say that, generally, the bigger teams do tend to find it tough to attain instant cohesion when returning from international breaks.
There’s already evidence from one sample this term. Rodgers’ men were not at their normal level against Hearts after the last national-team shutdown, even if they got the job done with relative comfort in the end.
Thelin’s team are certainly in better fettle than Steven Naismith’s shambles were at that point in time, so that offers some promise for the visitors. Like I say, this is a massive opportunity for Aberdeen.
Thelin has done superbly so far, but this is where it matters. It’s a bit much to expect the Dons to go toe-to-toe with Rodgers’ team over an entire campaign. But they need to be dishing out some 90-minute bloody noses. There would not be a better time than now.