Every new Aberdeen manager walks in the daunting shadow of Sir Alex Ferguson when they arrive at Pittodrie.
It usually takes no more than a game or two for fans and the outside world to conclude that the new man is not going to be the second coming of ‘Fergie’.
Then Thelin pitched up.
The Dons had chased the Swede for a long time before landing him and it soon became clear why they had been so patient. Ten wins from their first 11 Premiership games at the start of the season and a dramatic point at Celtic led to talk of a title challenge.
Thelin had somehow turned largely the same squad that saw off Neil Warnock within eight games into one that seemed poised to push Celtic into the new year.
His stock went through the roof and there was even gossip linking him with ambitious Birmingham City.
But if his stock rose rapidly, it has dropped even more quickly. Aberdeen have lost eight and drawn one of their past nine league games – as many defeats as in their previous 37 games.
They have gone from putting pressure on Celtic in second to fourth – just five points ahead of eighth. Thelin, incredibly, is under serious pressure for his job within two months of being touted as Fergie 2.0.
His tactics and style of play have been criticised, with suggestions other teams have now worked him out.
The good news for him is the Dons play Dundee next.
Aberdeen’s last league win was against Dundee, three months ago, and the last time they won an away league game was against Dundee, almost five months ago.
Tony Docherty’s side have conceded more goals (53) and faced a higher expected goals against total (46.1) than any other side in the Premiership this season.
They have won just two of their past 30 league meetings with Aberdeen and Saturday’s visitors have won both of their league meetings with Dundee this season.
Oh, and Dundee have been thrashed 6-0 in their last two games – the first side to suffer two six-goal margins of defeat in a season since Motherwell in 2015-16.
Aberdeen stopped the rot with a cup win last weekend but, a bit like Clement, Thelin is expected to win this game.
He will know that if he doesn’t, he then faces exacting matches against former Dons boss Derek McInnes’ new side Kilmarnock, Celtic and third-placed Dundee United.
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