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The Dons started with a 4-4-2, with Clark continuing in central midfield after his splendid performance there against Huntly and new debutant Barry Nicholson on the right. However it was in defence that the real experimentation took place, as Calderwood started with Considine at left-back, Richie Byrne at centre-half paired with trialist Henry McStay. With three first-choce defenders missing, one cannot read too much into this set-up, but for the record Byrne looked solid in the centre while the rest were all at sea. Considine is clearly not a left-back, and McStay, on this performance, is unlikely to be offered a contract unless he is very cheap.
Most worrying of all was that the healthy Dons support witnessed the latest chapter in the decline of Kevin McNaughton. He offered very little in defence or attack from his supposedly prefferred role of right-back. He will struggle to dislodge Michael Hart from that position next season, and in fact it is difficult to imagine where he will fit in the team at all. However, he is still young and may find that the pressure of expectancy will drop after a season in merely a back-up role - a role he is suited to considering his versatility.
Versatile is a word that describes many of the players on show, with new signings Smith and Nicholson able to cover a variety of roles on the park, as are Darren Mackie, Scott Severin, Richie Byrne and Chris Clark. This multi-tasking is a signature of what Jimmy Calderwood looks for in a player, and is vaguely reminiscent of the Dutch ideal of Total Football. While the calibre of player may not quite be at that level, the philosophy is there and with ever more flexibility introduced to the squad there is not such a pressing need for a large number of squad members, saving money in the long run without reducing quality.
One player that the Red Army will be keen to see added to the squad after last night's performance is Legia Warsaw trialist Piotr Wlodarczyk. The striker looked very sharp from the word go, and had a number of opportunities in the first half before tapping in the Dons second in the 63rd minute. It was particularly exciting to watch his ability and touch on the ball, linking up with players he had never met until Monday as if he had been alongside them his entire career. He also looked strong up against the neanderthalic lower-league defenders and an uncompromising referee, and comfortable on the ball, prepared to take on the Montrose players when faced with them.
But most gratifying for the support will have been his keenness to impress, which one would imagine is beneath an international footballer. Picture if you will the likes of England's Jermaine Defoe being asked to play a friendly against Montrose as a trialist, and you will see what I mean! Wlodarczyk's willingness to get stuck in was admirable, and while a year-long loan is not the most ideal situation, he would be an excellent addition to the squad if another more permanent striking solution can also be found. The latter is urgently required on the evidence of Budgie Stewart's showing yesterday evening, which only proved that the young lad still has a way to go before having a chance of becoming a permanent addition to the Dons front line.
Aberdeen's first goal came not from a striker, but from substitute Gary Dempsey. Dempo, signed to replace the creativity and goals of Steve Tosh, scored a Tosheresque screamer into the top right-hand corner of the net after a mazy dribble from fellow summer signing Smith. Gary will do well to get a regular game ahead of Severin, Nicholson, Clark and Smith, but the Ulsterman provides a composed, direct and hard-working alternative in the middle of the park.
Overall, a good work-out against a battling Montrose side, but there is only so much that supporters can take from friendlies. As long as Jimmy and his backroom boys got food for thought as far as formations, positions and player adequacy is concerned, then it has been a success.
Cms1903
Aberdeen: Esson, McNaughton, Considine (Muirhead), Winter (Dempsey), McStay, Byrne, Nicholson (Foster), Clark (Adams), Wlodarczyk, Stewart (Macaulay), Smith
Montrose: Reid, Donachie, Smith, Doyle, Stephen, Fotheringham, Dodds, Hall, Martin, Watson, Henslee