An incredible 30 points spanned the breach between Celtic and Aberdeen when the Scottish Premiership ended last season. It was an unprecedented gulf between the leading two clubs in the league and highlighted the ongoing superiority of Brendan Rodgers’ side in domestic competition.
The Dons, though, have established themselves as Scotland’s second force during Rangers’ time away from the top flight, finishing as runners-up in each of the last three campaigns. They even threatened Celtic’s domestic invincibility by getting the opener in the Scottish Cup final in May only to see Brandan Rodgers side come good with Tom Rogic grabbing a last-gasp winner.
Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha might have goaded that the Dons’ were coming to the “end of a cycle” under the former midfielder as last season concluded, but it appears that he got his prediction spectacularly wrong.
For the 2017-18 season, they returned a side emboldened by the decision of manager Derek McInnes to spurn the advances of Sunderland this summer in order to stay at Pittodrie and the promise of a new stadium in the west of the city.
McInnes took charge in March 2013, but while the fortunes of the Dons have been revived, he must add to the League Cup he won a year into his reign if he is to be considered a complete success.
Aberdeen look well placed to do just that, having emerged for the new campaign stronger, apparently ready to launch a more credible challenge to Celtic. The aim should not merely be to close the 30-point gap that opened last season, but to finish the term having made tangible progress by making inroads into the champions’ giant advantage from last term and by claiming silverware in one of the two cups.
With their summer transfer window having been managed shrewdly, it should not be considered an acceptable state of affairs at Pittodrie to see Celtic sweep the board domestically again. Rangers are apparently unable to challenge the dominance of their city rivals, so the onus will fall upon McInnes’ side to do so instead.
Lying second in the league and into the League Cup quarter-finals, in which they tackle Motherwell on Thursday, it has been a positive start to the season.
Over the course of a 38-match league campaign, matching Celtic will realistically be beyond them, although halving the massive deficit from last season is a fair target. Through the first six fixtures of the campaign, they remain undefeated, albeit having stalled somewhat over the last fortnight with draws against Hearts and Dundee.
Already they have shown they have quality throughout their side, from former England Under-21 player Joe Lewis in goal through to striker Stevie May, who willingness to wear No.83 jersey, thereby harking back to the date the Dons won the European Cup Winners’ Cup, has made him a cult hero in the stands.
The £1.3 million that was made when Johnny Hayes was sold to Celtic in the summer has been smartly reinvested, mitigating the damage caused by the departure of the winger as well as midfielder Ryan Jack and striker Niall McGinn, who left for nothing to Rangers and South Korean side Gwangju respectively.
May’s arrival from Preston was a particular coup. Although the 24-year-old was considered damaged goods in England following a serious knee injury, he is a proven scorer in the Premiership and is already on course for his best season ever after scoring three times in his first five outings. His aerial strength and physical power is perfect for the league.
Recruiting midfielder Ryan Christie on second loan spell from Celtic, meanwhile, was perhaps the highlight of the summer transfer campaign.
McInnes has made it his mission this season to pick up players pushed to the fringes of their clubs for one reason or another. While it is a strategy not without risk, there are hints that his strategy will pay off, although the likes of Gary Mackay-Steven and Greg Stewart, on loan from Birmingham, are yet to fulfil their potential as yet.
Consistency is the greatest hurdle Aberdeen must overcome, particularly in the offensive sector. Their chief actors in that area may not be experienced, but with a bunch of players approaching or in their peak years, they need to be capable of showing their best form for more sustained periods of time.
It is an aspect of their play that needs cultivated over time but faces an immediate test in midweek, when they visit Motherwell, the side that lies fifth in the Premiership.
In an era in which Celtic are indisputably the dominant force, if the McInnes era is to be recognised as a rousing success, it needs to be decorated with more silverware.
Aberdeen have built a foundation of a strong side and have shown the promise to suggest this is a challenge within their wheelhouse, but until they have beaten Rodgers’ side to silverware they will not get the respect they deserve.
