The Window is the Window was the Window

Grading Aberdeen's Recruitment Part II

Last summer, when I was just starting out at the afc1903.com head office, time spent mainly making cups of tea for the head honcho, I got my feet wet writing about Aberdeen FC’s recruitment over the previous three seasons.

It was not a scientific an approach, just a score built around my own options but I found it fun and as a result here’s 2025’s version.

The rules:

• A score of 1 through 5. This is based on the players' contributions to the team, but also considers the financial outlay/return. It’s not a perfect system.

• No loan signings. Sorry Jeppe and Oday*

* I’m going to make an exception for Kevin Nisbet given he his now a permanent signing for the club and will include him in last year’s assessment.

Historical Numbers

This is the score I gave each window last time:

However, in light of some of the turnarounds, some scores should be reassessed. I’m going to take the moral high ground and refrain from penalising players for poor career and life choices. You know I was tempted.

Revised Gradings

Downgrades:

• Dante Polvara: I downgraded Polvara, not to be controversial but to consider he’s hardly kicked a ball (not necessarily his fault) in the past 12 months, and I don’t think he’s done enough to land in ‘solid signing’ grade 3 territory.

• Slobodan Rubezic: He regressed over the course of last year and he’s now left the club at a loss.

• Richard Jensen: A future quiz answer. Didn’t deserve his 2.

• Others: Some were just graded too high, and this scale does not allow enough to differentiate between Jack Gurr and Gary Woods.

Upgrades:

• Greame Shinnie: Plays a ton, gives his all, and captained the club to a Scottish Cup triumph. How can we not say his return has not been positive?

• Leighton Clarkson: I wrestled with this one but I’ve given him the push from 3 to 4. Mainly because I may have had him a bit low to begin with, he’s probably a 3.5. Likewise, Nicky Devlin.

• Shayden Morris and Pape Habib Gueye: Happy to hold my hands up here, I wrote both off, but delighted to be proven wrong. Morris gets a 4 in terms of his contributions last year and the sale value. It might be a tad generous. Gueye moves from 1 to 3 which I think is fair enough.

Revised Window Assessments

So I’ve got 2023/24 as an above-average Transfer Window now. A few hits and misses. In many ways, a tribute to Derek McInnes and Russ Richardson.

2024/25 Season

I’m only grading these guys on 2024/25 contributions. It really is too soon to make major judgements, especially with some of these players only coming in January. I gave it a go, but I look forward to increasing some scores next summer.

Mats Knoester (4) - Knoester played virtually every minute since arriving on a free from Ferencvaros. His grade is a reflection of this. Expectations were not too high but he’s certainly been a good addition to the side and had a great game in the Scottish Cup final. Still some defensive question marks and I could see this being revised in future but for now, based on his efforts in 24/25 its a 4.0 from me.

Dimitar Mitov (4) - Dimi could lose points for his absences from the team, a major blow for the side, and not a surprise that our form suffered. Will give him the benefit of the doubt. Forever etched in our memories - ‘Alistair Johnston - simply must score’ (Go on treat yourselves).

Kevin Nisbet (4) - I think it’s hard to look past his goalscoring return last season. Getting to 20 goals pretty much guarantees you a 5. He hit 11 in the league and based on minutes played it was one every other match. 14 in total, and a few screamers in there.

Topi Keskinen (3) - I’ve gone into greater detail on Keskinen so check that out. In short, good money, done some nice things, never injured, but we need more end product. Big season for him.

Alexander Jensen (3) - Jury is out a bit but more on this season as opposed to last, in which he started well and added a lot with his energy and crossing. However, it was a big fee in a position that it didn’t seem to be a priority. It will be interesting to see how this one develops. He’s probably a good candidate for a ‘deeper dive’.

Sivert Heltne-Nilsen (3) - I’m not sure there’s a way back for Nilsen with some members of the support but he contributed a lot last season, particularly during our amazing start. A 3-year deal and a transfer fee will do for him in the end but for now I’m giving him a 3.

Ante Palaversa (3) - Sometimes I think a victim of the positional discipline required in Jimmy’s centre-mids. A good player with a lot of strengths but I don’t quite know if he’s running the show yet. I’m on the fence, he’s been solid but I’ve gone for a 3.

Gavin Molloy (2) - I think he exceeded expectations initially, but he did seem to always have a bomb scare moment in him, and nothing this season has suggested that has changed. Young lad though, still developing. Will probably join St. Mirren next summer.

Kristers Tobers (1) - A hot take, and maybe we can’t blame the guy for being injured, but this is about contributions to Aberdeen FC. He actually played more than I thought - 770 minutes but in his time on the pitch the Dons conceded 1.98 goals per 90. 10 games, two wins, six defeats. He also cost according to €950,000.00 according to Transfermrkt. I think this is an easy one to move up, I thought we saw some good elements in the build up but the defence continues to be an issue, and we really need him to step up this year. Probably a 2 but I’ve written it now.

Peter Ambrose (1) - Seems a lovely lad and to be honest, it’s hard to judge him given limited minutes. I don’t think he’s a lost cause, to be truthful, but he needs a loan to a Championship team to allow him some room to develop.

Recruitment Season Comparisons

The Dons have made 39 permanent transfers in these four windows, with only 13 players still at the club, only four of those (Polvara, Clarkson, Shinnie and Devlin) were not signed in season 2024/25.

Kanban

I think we can see some elements of building for the long-term and creating a next man-up situation with the purchases of Kjartansson, Bilalovic and maybe Lazetic too. Jimmy had a knack for doing this at Elfsborg and was able to turn profit on a consistent basis.

But the things is those $350K signings start to add up. I’d like to see a few more $100K - $200K bargains coming in.

Livingston

This will be a fun one. It’s time to bring the feel-good factor back to Pittodrie. Let’s hope the class of 2025/26 gives us some reason for optimism.

COYR