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Eoin Jess explodes with Aberdeen belief as icon raves about Thelin and predicts fate battling Celtic and Rangers
Aberdeen legend Eoin Jess has hailed the ‘incredible’ job done by Jimmy Thelin at Pittodrie and sees no reason why his old team cannot break up the Old Firm and finish second this season.
The Dons are only being kept off the top spot by Celtic on goal difference having won 10 of their first 11 Premiership matches, with the only blip on Thelin’s record so far coming in a 6-0 drubbing at the hands of the Hoops in the semi-finals of the Premier Sports Cup at Hampden. But Jess – who rose through the ranks in the Granite City to go on and score 94 goals in 380 matches and pick up one Scottish Cup and two League Cup medals – has been highly impressed with just how quickly the Swede has hit the ground running and reckons they can hold off Rangers and claim second spot.
He said: “I don’t see why not. They are in second at the moment and there is a long way to go but (they can) if they keep doing the right things. The pleasing thing for me is that when they have performed badly, they have actually got results and that’s the sign of a good team.
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“My belief comes from the way they have been playing this year. You are in the game to win things and to finish this season would be outstanding. There would not have been that expectation to split the Old Firm. It was hard for me to watch games against the Old Firm in previous seasons and not see full attendances at Pittodrie. But now the big crowds are back, the results are right and that means the fans are coming back in their droves. It’s a matter of maintaining that and from now until the end of the season, hopefully that will be the case.
“He’s (Thelin) been incredible so far. It’s been fantastic what’s been happening at Aberdeen and we can continue from now until the end of the season. It would be something else. It’s happened quicker than people expected, which is a great sign. There is room for improvement but they are getting the results.
“Obviously the semi-final was a stumbling block, but they have responded well to it which was a great sign. There has been another big change with a new manager coming in but he has hit the ground running. Part of his job is to get the best out of players and he is doing that. He is not afraid to make changes in games and at half time. If he needs to tweak things he does it and that is the sign of a good manager.”
Full back Jack MacKenzie was a standout player in a dismal season last year for Aberdeen and has taken on his game even further since Thelin’s arrival. The defender’s efforts were rewarded with a call-up to Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad last month, but with his current contract up at the end of the season, Jess admits he is desperate for the left back to sign on and continue the club’s tradition of bringing through young players and cement them at first-team level.
“Jack will have a big decision to make”, he added. “He’s a young boy and the season has started really well for him. He has got stronger and stronger each season he has played in the first team. Aberdeen will be in contract talks with him and he’ll know what he’s needing.
“Who knows what the future will hold for Jack MacKenzie but hopefully it’s at Aberdeen. We have been lucky enough to see some good young players come through and that’s’ always been the case at Aberdeen. That’s what Aberdeen has been renowned for in the past; giving young players a chance. It would be great if he signs a new contract, but we’ll just have to wait and see.”
Jess’ dazzling displays across his two spells at Pittodrie saw Dons fans christen him with the nickname “The Portsoy Pele”, in reference to the small Aberdeenshire town where he was brought up. Reds teenager Fletcher Boyd – who also hails from Portsoy – burst onto the scene with two goals in the Premiership at the end of last season, becoming the club’s youngest ever goal scorer at the age of 16.
The Scotland youth international has yet to feature under Thelin but Jess is in no doubt that big things await the talented youngster. He stated: “I’ve been delighted for him. I’ve never met him but I know his family well. Fletcher did really well at the end of (last) season. He is still young so has to be patient and wait for his opportunity again.
“He is a young boy who is still learning the game. He has to be patient and if he continues improving on what he did last year he has got a great future ahead of him.
“European football is totally different and he has experienced some of that (in the UEFA Youth League). That will improve him and make him a better player.”
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