How Jimmy Thelin gambled on academy kids and revived Aberdeen’s season.

The reaction in Scottish football to Wilfried Nancy’s decision to switch from a four-man defensive to a back three in his debut game as Celtic manager last Sunday was, while rather hysterical, reasonable to some extent.

With Cameron Carter-Vickers out for the season, Alistair Johnston out indefinitely, Marcelo Saracchi injured, and Kieran Tierney still working his way back to full fitness, the Frenchman is not in the best position for centre-backs and full-backs right now.

Was it really prudent to change the formation in such a crucial match against William Hill Premiership leaders Hearts after only a few days in the country and a few of training sessions?

During a match that Celtic eventually lost 2-1, winger Yang Hyun-jun shifting to right-back when the visitors had control did not appear to be the wisest of options.

It also did not appear to be particularly effective in Thursday night’s 3-0 loss to Roma in the East End. It was little surprise that Nancy was asked if, in retrospect, he thought he had done too much too soon during the Europa League league phase outing.

It is far too early to conclude that his approach is foolish.

Before he can be judged, he needs to spend time with his players on the Lennoxtown training facility, play more competitive games, and bring in a few quality prospects during the January transfer window.

However, the Premier Sports Cup final versus St Mirren at Hampden on Sunday afternoon will be informative.

However, Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin is another foreign coach in Scotland who would wax lyrical about the benefits of switching to a 3-4-2-1 shape right now.

The Swede was feeling the heat when his team lost 2-0 to Dundee United at Tannadice in September.

They had lost their first five league games, failed to score a single goal, and were at the bottom of the top division standings.

Abandoning the 4-2-3-1 formation that he had favoured since arriving in this country last year, with the exception of the joyously celebrated Scottish Cup final win against Celtic in May, has been directly responsible for an improvement in form, results, and a rise to sixth place.

It took some time for it to become effective. Motherwell lost a 2-0 loss at Fir Park.

Since then, football has rarely been visually appealing. But, given Aberdeen’s precarious situation, winning games was all that counted, and St Mirren, Dundee (twice),

Kilmarnock, Hearts and Livingston have all been defeated. They are unbeaten in six Premiership games heading into Sunday’s showdown against Kilmarnock at Pittodrie.

Jack Milne of Aberdeen tracks Martial Godo of Strasbourg at Pittodrie on Thursday night (Image: Mark Runnacles / Shutterstock).

Deploying Nicky Devlin, Jack Milne, and Mats Knoester in a three-man backline, with wingers Dylan Lobban and Alex Jensen assisting with defensive tasks when they are on the back foot, has had the desired effect.

The new system has also been favourably received by their teammates.

Dante Polvara and Adil Aouchiche have formed a formidable midfield partnership, with club captain Graeme Shinnie sliding to the bench.

Ahead of them, Jesper Karlsson and Topi Keskinen have shone, while Stuart Armstrong has performed so well that he is expected to be called up to Scotland for the World Cup.

Armstrong was always expected to do well if his match fitness and sharpness improved, despite the fact that he only joined at the beginning of September and did not have a regular pre-season. However, his comeback to form has coincided with the new strategies.

Up forward, Serbian striker Marko Lazetic, who scored twice in a 3-3 tie with St Mirren earlier this month, and his Scottish counterpart Kevin Nisbet, who has contributed a number of late goals, provide a greater threat.

Chairman Dave Cormack stuck hard behind Thelin during Aberdeen’s bumpy start, and despite growing dissatisfaction in the stands, he never considered firing him.

After sanctioning ten new acquisitions this summer, he was aware that there could be some teething troubles.

The fact that 27 different players have been employed over the last four and a half months tells a narrative.

The former Elfsborg manager deserves immense respect for turning an apparently hopeless situation around – and for having the fortitude to put his trust in two academy graduates in the process.

Milne, a 22-year-old who was thrown into the cup final starting lineup out of nowhere, has performed admirably and is now being asked about representing his country.

Lobban, who has spent the past few seasons on loan at Formartine United, Forfar Athletic, and Cove Rangers, turned 20 in August, but has played with the confidence of a seasoned professional.

The duo’s climb to prominence should perhaps offer Scottish managers who are hesitant to give kids a chance in the harsh atmosphere in which they work some fuel for thought in the future.

Perhaps if they ventured a little more on potential young people with raw talent and a desire to prove themselves, they might reap large benefits. Thelin surely has. His charges are slowly but steadily turning on the style.

Wilfried Nancy might benefit from continuing to choose Colby Donovan and scouting the Celtic youth tiers to see if there is any talented prospect capable of making the move up to his first team as he works to get his views across and justify his appointment.

Read more on Straightwinfortoday.com