Funso Ojo has had a pretty decent start to life in Aberdeen, proving to be a decent replacement for the departed Graeme Shinnie.
Ojo has featured in nine games for the Dons, impressing with his shrewd screening of the back four and passing qualities.
Ojo arrived in the summer. (Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)
He is a link that Derek McInnes needs for his Aberdeen side to be successful.
Ojo connects all areas of the park at Aberdeen
One of McInnes’ big tasks this summer was replacing Shinnie. The captain was a brilliant passer of the ball, bringing leadership and defensive nous to the engine room.
Whilst he perhaps can’t fill the leadership void Shinnie has left, Ojo has managed to replace everything else pretty well.
A decent replacement. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
The Belgian sits the deepest out of McInnes’ chosen midfield three. He can provide a passing outlet for almost anyone out on the park. At times last season, the likes of Scott McKenna would look 30 or 40 yards for their first pass from the back.
Now with the ex-Scunthorpe man, they only have to look five. He drops deep to collect the ball, before proceeding to the halfway line with it. From there, he will always have six or seven players to pass to.
Is he ever going to get fans off their seats? No, he is an unspectacular player but a very effective one. Hibs for example lost their Ojo characters in Mark Milligan and Marvin Bartley over the summer. Now their midfield is the weakest area of their team.
Milligan was quietly brilliant for Hibs. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
They have conceded 14 in four games, largely down to a lack of aggression in the middle. Ojo brings that to Pittodrie, but not only that, his ability to support all areas of the park is very useful.
It’s the type of player McInnes has needed for a while now. He might not have the most glamorous job, but Ojo’s is vital to the success his side have.
After a rocky start to his Dons career, where he gave away a penalty and was sent off in games against Chikhura and Rijeka, Ojo is proving to be one of Aberdeen’s most effective players.