One of Aberdeen’s biggest problems this season has been an inability to progress possession upfield in a sustainable way. We are seeing plenty of the ball in sustained phases of possession in our own half, but often cannot find line breaking passes

Too often the players are selecting safe passing options rather than playing through the lines when the opportunity arises. This likely stems from the glaring lack of confidence within the team due to the woeful run of form and mounting pressure from the fans

This was particularly evident in Tuesday's 2-0 loss to Dundee United at Tannadice where I saw countless examples of more positive forward passing options being ignored, with players instead choosing the easy pass

The players often appear unwilling to attempt more risky progressive passes, which are crucial to moving the ball forward. This results in the team playing a succession of ‘safe’ sideways passes, which invites more pressure from opponents and often pushes the team backwards.

Once all safe passing options are exhausted, the team is forced to clear their lines, typically in a rushed fashion which gives the front line little to feed off. Below are a series of examples of this from the defeat at Tannadice, but this has been a prevalent issue for weeks

In the first example, Dorrington has the option to play a line breaking pass into the feet of Nilsen who is demanding the ball. If this relatively simple pass is executed under minimal pressure, the midfielder can either carry the ball forward or play quickly into the frontline

Instead, Dorrington elects to pass sideways to Jensen who is quickly closed down. The Dane has little option but to clear his lines and the ball is easily recovered by the Dundee United defence. The pass to Nilsen is possible, but far more difficult under pressure

Shortly after, Jensen looks to play a one-two with Dorrington. The defender has invited the pressure from Dundee United winger Amar Fatah and is now well positioned to collect a return pass and exploit the space which has opened up

Dorrington hesitates and holds onto the ball for too long which allows Fatah to recover. By the time the ball is played to Jensen, he is closely marked and the opportunity to play forward is lost

This time its Armstrong in space but again the Dons don’t make that line breaking pass to progress upfield. This would cut through the Dundee United press and Armstrong would have the time and space to take the ball on the half turn and drive forward

There’s been a lot of criticism over Thelin’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation which I don’t fully understand. The double pivot here gives the defenders passing options and the fundamental issue is the forward pass is too often ignored. The ask should be more bravery in possession

Despite the wishes of large portions of the fanbase, I don’t see how a change to say a 4-3-3 resolves these issues. The players aren’t playing with enough risk and would continue to choose the safer pass regardless of what formation they are lined up in.

I understand why a formation change may be needed where we’ve fallen behind and looking to get back into a game. Perhaps Yengi could have been introduced to play alongside Nisbet on Tuesday, but I don’t see a formation change as the silver bullet that changes the team’s fortunes

The final example suggests to me the players are aware of what Thelin wants but just aren’t executing. Jensen plays back to Dorrington and urges the defender to find Armstrong in space. A simple passing triangle beats the press, but again we lack confidence and elect to go long

Thelin should take his fair share of the blame for this dismal run of form, but simply put, the players aren’t delivering on the pitch. In Tuesday’s game alone, there were opportunities to play forward but the players don’t appear to have the confidence or bravery to do this

If Thelin is going to have any chance of turning this around, he needs to somehow galvanise this squad and give them the confidence to be braver in possession. If the players continue to take the easy option, the same issues will persist, and results are unlikely to improve

@ally_begg and I discussed the idea of us playing safe and needing to be braver in possession on the ABTV review show yesterday. Link below incase you missed it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

@ally_begg Finally, I also recommend @jj_bull's thread below which analyses the numbers behind Aberdeen's *challenging* start to the season, and in a similar spirit, also highlights how infrequently we are progressing the ball forward https://x.com/jj_bull/status/1...

@AKBudge Saw a difference when Milne came on in the 2nd half. Thought he was braver on the ball and was getting the ball to Armstrong. Dorrington has been poor since coming back.

@AKBudge players all too often are not willing to to play the ball beyond the line as you describe it’s why our wingers look utterly hopeless. Jensen is criminal for this and has unwillingness to drive into space with/without the ball is criminal. He needs hooked for at least 3 games

@AKBudge I wonder if players like Bilalovic and Kjartansson( unfortunately injured) are what the team needs—players without the fears that exist with some others. Don't laugh, but Duncan, Lobban, and Frame fall into the same category. It is all about mindset.

@colingale Certainly wouldn’t be opposed to seeing the new guys and Lobban get minutes

@AKBudge They are pushing the fullbacks high and losing it, resulting in a huge gap in behind for the opposition to exploit. It's predictable and allows the opposition to set traps to make it happen more often. The striker is also isolated and not available to run channels. Its rubbish.

@AKBudge Clarkson dropping in between the CBs and utilising his passing ability is surely an obvious remedy? Can't do that when he's not even in the playing squad though!

@AKBudge Good analysis. Couple of observations? 1. For this to work it needs defender in possession to be braver and for the receiving player to want/demand the ball. What I saw on Tuesday was players hiding. Confidence the issue.

@AKBudge 2. It’s easy to look a still and see a gap to play the ball through. In the heat of the game, if players are in motion to close down the man in possession, that gap probably appears narrower. Key is our movement off the ball, which was really poor Tuesday.

@AKBudge Plus our press is non existent now. Too often we are dropping deep and allowing the opposition to advance too far into out half before pressure is applied. Our inverted wingers need to cross earlier or go down the outside as too often they run into traffic by cutting inside.

@AKBudge I think we can all see the passive play. Thr number of times I've seen a progressive pass shunned in place of a side ways or lay off back is huge. We're bringing pressure on our selves and being forced into the long ball to an isolated striker.

@AKBudge Great read that 👍. JT's team has barely put a full 90 together since he came here. Always been a side that looks good in spells & then drifts to this type of performance. Gave me hope, that once he had "his" players in we would see larger good spells. Atm it's worse

@AKBudge Agreed, although i wouldn’t even say safe passing options . Often terrible ones. Passing to wingers marker/surrounded and facing their own goal regularly. No playing in behind or into space, or driving with it. Just terrible dead end passes putting players under pressure.

@AKBudge Getting out worked doesn’t help either

@AKBudge I know you just picked examples but is this maybe why Dorrington got hooked at half time?

@craigdelafraser Absolutely - I like Dorrington but he had a tough game on Tuesday