The contrast between Aberdeen last season and this is striking.
There is a genuine good feeling around Pittodrie just now after Jimmy Thelin was unbeaten for his first 16 games in charge, winning 15 of those.
The Dons moved two points clear of Celtic with victory over Dundee yesterday, although the champions will hope to pull level again when they face Kilmarnock today.
Last season Aberdeen were plodding around the bottom six and were forced to sack Barry Robson before interim replacement Neil Warnock didn’t even manage to see the season out.
The fayre on offer was nothing to enthrall fans but the opposite can be said of the current campaign so far.
Dimitar Mitov is biggest Aberdeen upgrade
Thelin has changed a lot around the place, playing a more attacking style of football and trying to go toe-to-toe even with Celtic and Rangers.
They’ve managed a draw and victory over those two respectively and have blown some of the other teams away.
The result is the fans are loving every second and the team is roared on by a raucous sell-out Pittodrie every second weekend.
On the pitch, Thelin has made a number of good signings and attacking players like Topi Keskinen and Kevin Nisbet will take the headlines.
However goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov saved a penalty yesterday and pundit Stephen McGinn picked him out as the biggest upgrade.
The former Hibs and St Mirren midfielder told BBC Sportsound: “If you’re looking at it, penalties are there to be scored but Mitov has been a brilliant signing.
“I think that’s been one of their biggest upgrades Aberdeen have made is in the goalkeeping department.
“Mitov’s having another brilliant season in Scotland.”
Jimmy Thelin hailed Mitov after Aberdeen win
McGinn isn’t the only one noticing Mitov’s impact as the manager picked him out after the Dundee win also.
Thelin hailed the ‘spirit’ around Pittodrie that helped his side to victory but also his number one’s part in it.
He said: “Him and also other goalkeepers and Craig (Hinchcliffe), the goalkeeper coach, are doing good work, and they prepare the goalkeepers so well.
“They have a good cooperation and a good teamwork, so again, I think the staff and the players, and the collective support, it’s a good team right now, and everybody supports each other, so it was nice to see. Dimitar’s a good goalkeeper.”