Pressing, passing & coaching - Thelin's Aberdeen revolution

If nan pre-match pyrotechnics show astatine Pittodrie connected Saturday was thing to spell by, nan Aberdeen religious are wholly sold by Jimmy Thelin, pinch nan scenes resembling a title statement alternatively than nan 5th convention crippled of nan season.

The Swedish head extended his record-breaking, winning commencement to life arsenic Aberdeen leader to 10 games pinch nan weekend's Scottish Premiership triumph against Motherwell, but insists he is simply "taking it crippled by game".

Some sections of nan support can't thief but get caught up successful nan buzz though. From suggestions nan Dons will divided nan Old Firm to Pape Gueye being pipped for nan Ballon d'Or, assurance is precocious successful nan northbound east.

And while JJ Bull, Aberdeen instrumentality and shot expert for The Athletic, did not rather person nan convention emblem flying down him successful his quality connected nan BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, he waxed lyrical - and offered tactical penetration - connected nan "fun" Aberdeen broadside we've seen ray up nan Scottish Premiership astatine nan commencement of nan season.

"The measurement they are playing, you tin spot location is simply a early successful it, it is really working, location is simply a clear style of play successful it," Bull said.

"You request to get nan wins successful for group to bargain into it. The measurement we are playing, location is simply a batch of energy, they want to get nan shot backmost and I deliberation that resonates good pinch nan fans."

When Thelin officially sewage to activity successful early June, contempt being announced successful April, he said he was "here to create thing special".

It raised eyebrows fixed Aberdeen had conscionable vanished nan play successful nan bottommost six, sacked Barry Robson erstwhile nan nine were eighth and suffered a 33-day saga pinch Neil Warnock successful charge.

When Warnock called clip connected his short stint, immoderate perceived nan nine to beryllium successful chaos.

Peter Leven steadied nan ship, again, and near a healthier looking handover for Thelin.

Still, it was expected Thelin would request clip to galvanise a group of under-performing players debased connected confidence.

Instead, Aberdeen person generated momentum for illustration a steam train pinch nary upcoming stops.

But what precisely are nan fans loving astir Thelin's management?

"There is existent bravery connected nan ball," Bull said. "They don’t conscionable motorboat nan shot forward, they play tons of agelong passes erstwhile location is nan clip to do it, they don’t conscionable do it instantly to get rid.

"When there’s pressure, they judge nan unit and effort to play done it.

"The property changes to wherever it needs to be, they're each very bully astatine pressing. They're forcing teams into making errors they don’t want to make, and past they're besides counter-pressing really well.

"That intends they tin past play nan shot guardant agelong erstwhile they want to because they cognize location will beryllium bodies successful nan correct positions.

"The squad looks really good coached by a very bully coach."

The early signs propose they are conscionable that. Not only has Thelin recruited well, pinch nan likes of Finland world Topi Keskinen and Norwegian Silvert Heltne Nilsen, but he has rejuvenated Reds players already successful nan building.

Gueye is nan improbable starring scorer successful nan Premiership, while Shayden Morris and Graeme Shinnie person besides shone nether their caller manager.

"You're seeing players who abruptly look really, really good," Bull added.

"Thelin has brought thing somewhat different to what we've seen truthful far, but crucially, it's conscionable worked from nan start."

It's been nan dream start, but nan acerb trial is conscionable astir nan area pinch past season's apical three, and Dundee United, each waiting successful October.

It is simply a tally which will inquire questions of Thelin's masterplan, but he's had each nan answers truthful far.