Ross McCrorie is a very McInnes type of signing, as these screengrabs I have stolen from FM database suggest. The picture on the right, from FM20, is why. Determination: 18

Aberdeen's success (alright, calm down) in last few years has been in recruiting/promoting captains. McLean, Devlin, Shinnie, Jack, McKenna, Ferguson (not yet but basically is), Lewis, Reynolds etc. McGinn, Hayes and Rooney basically captains as well when you think about it

Those mental attributes are the ones that winning players and teams tend to possess. It's very rare you get someone desperate to win at any cost who is also technically excellent and that pool is much smaller in Scottish football. Ferguson is technically good, mentally brilliant

McCrorie willing to leave Rangers at his age to make sure his career takes off is a good sign and he's definitely a talent. I see a lot of people saying Aberdeen need a 10 or a creative midfielder but it's more complicated than that for me, because...

Aberdeen always play wide. If building up from the back, the pass goes to full-back, channel ball, results in possession lost or a winger 1 v 1 with a full-back. OR, a centre-back looks for the most advanced player (which is just sensible attacking)

However, the style of pass the centre-back plays tends to be a hoof, and if the striker doesn't win the ball, or it's just lamped into space, possession is turned over. McInnes doesn't coach his players to lump it long. I honestly think it's about players taking responsibility

Ferguson drops deep even when he shouldn't because he's brave and takes responsibility. Brave players, those who want to win, take risks and don't fear the consequences. So rather than taking the ball in midfield and launching it, or as happens now, disappearing, he shows for it

McCrorie is a more defensive player, who could either play as a 6 in a 4-2-3-1 (and create that hallowed 10 position every Abdn fan on Twitter seems desperate to fill) alongside a ball-player. Dons need some aggression in midfield. Ferguson can switch between 8 and 10

Sure enough, Ferguson is not Riquelme. Nor is he Lampard. But he knows where to be and when, is committed, brave and makes things happen. He also scores big goals. So a midfield 3 with a defensive player, a ball player, and a box-to-box/attacker is balanced

Also, in FM19, McCrorie was a proper wonderkid, and as my three times Champions League winning Aberdeen team from that same game should serve to prove, the way you break the Scottish duopoly is signing high determination wonderkids

Even FIFA 20 thinks he's got a career coming. 67 overrall rating vs 78 potential (in Career Mode). Pro Evo says similar. Starts as a 69 rated and all going perfectly turns into an 83.

Note: I am fully aware these are video games and not real life