Aberdeen slaughtered as ‘questions need asked’ of Jimmy Thelin amid Barry Robson comparison

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Sorry Aberdeen are in the doldrums and their dream start to the season is now a distant memory.

The Dons slumped to their 12th game without a win last night as they were put to the sword by Rangers, finishing 3-0 but the hosts showing a profligacy in front of goal and missing the chance to rack up a bigger scoreline.

Jimmy Thelin’s men were mooted as potential surprise title challengers after their unbeaten sequence to kick off the campaign but it has gone in the opposite direction and are now far from even being favourites for third.

It is Dundee United who now hold that spot and if Aberdeen’s slide continues they could even drop out of the top six.

Thelin was hailed at the start of the season for seemingly transforming the side from the one that struggled under Barry Robson and then Neil Warnock last season.

He still has credit in the bank from that but some people are starting to ask questions.

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Kris Boyd slaughters Aberdeen

Former Kilmarnock striker Kris Boyd insists things are getting embarrassing for Aberdeen now and that scrutiny must be on the manager.

He felt the team were passive at Ibrox, so far removed from the intensity they had set earlier in the campaign.

“This run is now getting to the stage now where you are going to ask some serious questions. You look at Barry Robson,” Boyd told Sky Sports. 

“He won four out of 14 and lost his job. This is no wins in 12 now for Jimmy Thelin and because you started the season really well.

“There might be an acceptance for the Aberdeen fans to sit and clap their team off but that was embarrassing. You come down here, it is a big game and you want to fly into tackles. Aberdeen were so passive.

“I am not just saying that tonight. It was the exact same on Sunday against Hearts. There is a lack of intensity about this Aberdeen team.

“That was one thing at the start of the season. Teams struggled to deal with them because of intensity. They were winning second balls and didn’t allow teams settle.

“I don’t know what is going on but there is something not right at Aberdeen right now. They look so passive and you can say about confidence, I get it, but confidence doesn’t stop you running about.”

A case for the Aberdeen defence

There are mitigating factors at play. Aberdeen’s squad was always light on depth and there was a feeling that could catch up on them, and it has.

Gavin Molloy and Ester Sokler have both been ruled out long-term and that adds to injuries to Jack Milne, Vicente Besuijen, keeper Dimitar Mitov and early-season goal machine Pape Gueye.

The Dons are trying to rectify this in the transfer window and made their first signing of the window in winger Jeppe Okkels on loan from Preston.

They’ve also added defenders Kristers Toberts, Alfie Dorrington and Alexander Jensen. More activity is expected and we revealed they were trying to bring in Kal Naismith on loan but it wasn’t clear if the player would accept.

Aberdeen also want to add in the forward areas.

Club legend Andy Considine insists the manager will get time to turn things around.

He said: “I think everybody is fully 100 per cent behind him. The players are and clearly the chairman.

“Alan Burrows and Steven Gunn are working extremely hard behind the scenes, backing him and spending some serious money which they haven’t done over the past number of years to try and bolster the squad. It will take time for these guys to bed in.

“But the longer this run goes on, you know, I don’t think there is any issue really. I do think we’ve got a really quality squad and some good individual players. They are just not having the impact they did a month and a half or two months ago.”