Aberdeen's Thelin under mounting pressure as slump continues

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin is facing mounting scrutiny as the club endures a troubling run that has left the Dons on the fringes of the Scottish Premiership’s top six and searching for any sign of life in front of goal. Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat at Dundee United at Tannadice marked the latest setback in a stretch that has seen four losses in five games and just one win in nine competitive outings. Aberdeen have failed to find the net in five league matches, a statistic that compounds the sense of stagnation around Pittodrie.

The difficulties come after a summer spent investing in a squad intended to compete on multiple fronts. Thelin’s preferred 4-2-3-1 system has been criticized for being too easily read by opponents, with critics noting a reluctance to vary shape or approach when results dry up. The issue, however, goes beyond tactics. There is a perception that many of the players who were hand-picked by Thelin are not delivering, or at least not delivering consistently, even as new signings bed in. The Dons have displayed flashes, but they have not translated into sustained performances or goals.

The capitulation in midweek followed a Premier Sports Cup quarter-final exit to Motherwell, a result that left supporters venting their frustration at full time and questioned whether the reins should be handed to someone else. The club’s Twitter and fan forums have been awash with talk of accountability across the squad, but the voices heard most consistently have been aimed at the collective performance and the sense that leadership on the pitch is lacking.

Dimitar Mitov summed up the mood when he urged his teammates to “look at themselves in the mirror” if there was to be any chance of turning things around. Mats Knoester delivered the same line, word for word, after Tuesday’s defeat, adding that it was “crazy” to blame the manager for Aberdeen’s current plight. The two players’ comments reflect a broader belief within the dressing room that responsibility should be shared and that leaders must emerge from within the group, not simply be assigned from above.

This is not an inexperienced squad; it features players who know what pressure feels like, and some who have faced stiffer tests in the past. Yet the absence of a spark from wide areas, a lack of improvisation in attacking moments, and an inability to sustain pressure in the final third have all contributed to a pattern of unimaginative football. Regan Charles-Cook’s late first-time strike for Motherwell, which sealed the cup tie, was a stark reminder of how one moment of opportunism can decide a game when the home side are short of ideas.

New arrivals, including Jesper Karlsson, have yet to make the kind of impact supporters were hoping for as the season develops. Karlsson, among others, was brought in with the aim of providing creativity and a cutting edge, but the start has been underwhelming rather than explosive. The club’s investment suggests a commitment to competing on multiple fronts, but the required immediate returns have not yet materialized.

There remains a sense that Aberdeen are in a transitional phase, but the clock is ticking. The slump comes with a heavy calendar, including a European trip that looms large on the horizon. Shakhtar Donetsk will visit Pittodrie on Thursday in the Conference League opener, a match that represents not only a chance to restore some pride but also a test of the team’s character and the manager’s ability to respond under pressure. The prospect of group-stage football offers incentive, but it also raises the stakes for Thelin and his squad as they look to rebound from a string of disappointing performances.

Thelin was backed by the club’s hierarchy in the window, with funds allocated to elevate the squad’s competitiveness. The question now is whether the new arrivals will begin to justify that trust in short order. There have been signs of potential from several players, but nothing sustained enough to change the trajectory of the season. Hearts, Dundee United, and Motherwell have shown stronger early runs, underscoring how far Aberdeen are lagging behind their rivals after a turnover-heavy pre-season. The season is not yet beyond repair, but time is increasingly scarce for a manager who has now presided over a period of results that have tested his tenure.

Where the issue ultimately lands remains to be seen. The club’s supporters have made their expectations clear, and the pressure on Thelin will only intensify if results do not begin to turn. The forthcoming fixtures, including the European opener and the domestic calendar, will prove decisive in determining whether Thelin remains at Pittodrie or whether a change in leadership becomes unavoidable. For now, the focus remains on turning the tide, finding goals, and restoring belief across a squad that, on paper, is capable of more than it has shown this season.