Derek McInnes has brought in seven players so far this summer. Getting so many bodies in early is not something the Dons fans are used to. There have been acquisitions which brought a wave of positivity (Bryson), while others (Main) were greeted with a shed load of the traditional pessimism from the Red Army.
Aberdeen really struggled last season in a number of games to break teams down, and all over the park they lacked strength in depth when the injuries hit. While in previous seasons McInnes has went for quality over quantity it seems more bodies in the door is his strategy this campaign. McInnes believes he may have strengthened in all departments with signings in defence, midfield and up front, but who is going to have the biggest impact?
Craig Bryson
The signing that has got everyone talking, and for all the right reasons. The acquisition of Craig Bryson seems a very sensible one from McInnes after Graeme Shinnie departed for Derby County. He is one of a number of Scottish players who actually made it down south. His longevity at a club like Derby and in the relentless Championship will stand him in good stead for a long tough season at Pittodrie.
Bryson is seen as a direct replacement for Shinnie who fitted in well when the Dons adopted a high intensity, high press style of play. The former Killie man is used to this at Derby and his general fitness level will allow him to press opposition for long periods of time. If there is one problem with the signing then it’s his age – at 32 he is probably past his prime. McInnes’ over 30s signings haven’t been great in his time at Pittodrie with Barry Robson probably the one real success. Saying that, if McInnes uses Bryson sensibly then the Dons could get a good few years out of him. He may prove to be the signing of the window.
Age: 32
Ash Taylor
So big Ash Taylor is back at the club after two years in England with Northampton Town. The Taylor acquisition seems to have genuinely split the Red Army, with those in favour saying he is an upgrade on Devlin while the fans against believe there are better centre halves available. Regardless of what you think it gives Aberdeen strength in depth at the back, so when (not if) Devlin is injured for half of the season again it means Considine and McKenna (two left footers) don’t have to establish a makeshift pairing.
Saying all this, I am personally struggling to see what Taylor will bring to the side. He isn’t coming back as a continental ball playing centre back or a Fabio Cannavaro-esqe player who can read a game like George Orwell can predict the future. Maybe Derek McInnes knows something we don’t. I highly doubt it though.
Age: 28
READ MORE: Hit or miss: The over 30s signed by Derek McInnes at Aberdeen
Ryan Hedges
If there is one thing that Derek McInnes likes in his teams it’s fast tricky wingers. It used to be Hayes and McGinn, then it was McGinn and Mackay-Steven/Connor McLennan, now he’ll be hoping it’s McGinn and Hedges/McLennan.
Looking at his stats they aren’t great, however he does seem to have a very good left foot on him. At the age of 23 he is still learning the game and with three Welsh caps already he seems to be talked about favourably down south. After watching several clips of him he looks straight up McInnes’ street, a tricky winger who can deliver a good ball into the box for the strikers. McLennan had a very good breakthrough season last year so it will be interesting to see if McInnes goes for Hedges from the outset.
Age: 23
Curtis Main
If the signing of Craig Bryson was greeted with positivity, then Curtis Main putting his signature to a two-year-old at Pittodrie was met with a wave of negativity. I myself have been critical of the acquisition, but it’s clearly a signing which will allow Aberdeen to mix it up.
The Dons struggled at home on a number of occasions last season because teams sat back and attempted to hit them on the break. Aberdeen didn’t have the quality to break them down by their usual tactics of down the wings. Signing Main will allow McInnes to use the Englishman’s battering ram qualities to bully the opposition defence. It means a more eye bleeding style, but if the losses and draws at home to lesser opposition results in more wins then I’m sure the Dons fans will eventually see Main as a positive rather than a negative.
Age: 27
Greig Leigh
If there was one position Derek McInnes needed to strength in the close season then it was left-back. Having to rely on Andy Considine filling in is not what he wants. Instead he was looking for someone similar to Max Lowe who played so well last season in defending but also bombing on to support the wingers. The statisticians and analysts probably singled out a number of players for McInnes to pursue, so Leigh must be the best of the bunch, or the cheapest option.
The left-back position has never been a strong one for the Dons after Shinnie moved into midfield, therefore having a player who will be at the club for the long haul was probably on the manager’s mind. The option to sign Leigh on a permanent deal after his loan move is smart from McInnes as he attempts to fill the position long term. Given the need to fill the position Leigh could be the signing of the window if he can replicate and potentially surpass what Lowe achieved.
Age: 24
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Jon Gallagher
Gallagher, like Leigh, is a bit of an unknown but could also prove to be a very important signing for the long term. He predominantly plays at right-back but can play further up the pitch. It sounds as if he will like to get forward from the right-back position and support the wingers, but I suspect the bench will be his bestfriend this season.
If he can shows signs that he could be the long term replacement for 31-year-old Shay Logan then Gallagher might be a surprise package. He hasn’t played for Atlanta United’s first team which probably means he isn’t at the level required to compete at this level. Probably the poorest acquisition of the window.
Age: 23
James Wilson
The former Manchester United man has headed back to Pittodrie after an indifferent loan spell last season. For the majority of his time in the north-east he failed to impress, especially given the club he was on loan from and the wages Aberdeen were supposedly paying him. After the split Wilson seemed like a completely different player, the speed, the accuracy in his shooting and his fast feet were on show over the course of a number of games.
Wilson has something to prove, but signing him is a gamble. If he wants to enjoy his football again and get back down to England where he can earn the big bucks then needs to play at a high level week-in-week-out. He certainly has the ability so it’s down to him, but McInnes as well, to get the best out of him because Aberdeen could have a player on their hands.
Age: 23
Which signing will have the biggest impact?
James Wilson
The Forty Two 
Excellent post Peter
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