Right here's a little thread on Aberdeen's tactical deficiencies and why having brave/determined players makes all the difference.

Same problems seen in the Rangers game have been evident for a long time. Choice of pass. Decision making. Bravery. Risk assessment. Positioning.

Here McKenna has the ball. Abdn want to build play. Ojo is the 6 or 8. Orange pass is easy to Considine though Hagi will close him immediately. Progressive pass is to Ojo through the line. Risky because Morelos can snap to it. McKenna takes his time, rightly

If Considine were 5/10 yards higher, Hagi has to adjust his position either side of the white circle where the left-back could be. That frees up the pass (lower risk) to Ojo through the line. But Consi stays deep cos that's what he does. I Consi. McKenna doesn't play forward

Instead, the ball goes back to goalkeeper. Lewis is closed down. Ferguson drops to 6 and shouts for the ball. He wants it despite close attention of Rangers forward. Only sensible/safe option for Lewis is to punt it. Unless....

... the right-back is high and wide! He is! Hernandez is in space and receives a low pass. Aribo closes him down and with absolutely nobody free for the next pass, Ronnie hits a ball into space. This is progressive/attacking play. Put the ball in space, put pressure on Gers

That ball is sent into the channel, Anderson chases, Bryson helps out and wins a free-kick. The free-kick is meh. Goal kick. The goal kick goes short to Goldson, Goldson to Tavernier, Kennedy doesn't close him down (bad start position), Rangers score (bad defensive positioning).

This is just one example where both attacking and defensive positioning tweaks would change the entire outcome of the move. It can be coached, but if players don't show or make brave passes, or trust their touch, or cover each other, then play goes sideways, back, then long

Next in my love letter to Lewis Ferguson.

Ferguson attacks a 50/50 header and wins. Abdn's man to man system very clear (white lines tying defender to attacker). Left-back Considine is central midfielder to mark Ryan Kent. Seems a bit overkill to me but it works sometimes

Having won the header, Ferguson drops into space to start buildup. Ronnie should be 10 yards higher up the pitch, unless McInnes wants a diamond in this phase. I'm not quite sure. If Ronnie is higher, Abdn have 2 wide players on that channel with an advanced midfielder to support

Ferguson has no option but to wait, Rangers push him, he spreads play to Ronnie (who is now in position). Hayes is ahead. Bryson starts running towards goal. There are no workable triangles in this image whatsoever. Next pass has to either be flat vertical or very special

Ronnie finds Hayes, who is of course immediately closed down. Bryson is the wrong side of his man. Ojo is... well he's on the pitch. Look at the space between Bryson and the Abdn backline -about 30/40 yards. That part is usually called the 'midfield'

Bryson absolutely has to 1 of 2 things here. If he goes forward, Hayes can tuck the ball round the corner (red). High risk, difficult technique, likely not to work. Or he has to drop 5 yards into space to offer an easy sideways pass (blue). Hayes can then turn and it's a 1-2.

Bryson does NOTHING and so Hayes safely carries the ball back towards halfway then turns to face. Ferguson steps forward to receive the next sensible progressive pass and carry Abdn forwards.

Wtf is Ojo doing

Hayes doesn't choose or see the pass, so Ferguson drops 5 yards the other side to give another vertical/diagonal option. Hayes makes this safer pass. I have no idea if Ojo is even on the same pitch at this point in time. Bryson is still man marking a Rangers defender.

Ferguson takes the ball and looks for a teammate in space. None. Tbf, the centre-backs are free. Eventually the ball is switched to the left and Hayes (think I've got Kennedy mixed up with Hayes earlier) receives on the left.

Hayes hugs the touchline, so inverted full-back/central midfielder, part-time centre-back/master of life Considine moves into a new attacking midfield position. Hayes tries a pass/nutmeg and loses the ball.

Bryson, as ex-Derby captain, should be far braver and reading the game in a way which suggests he can control it. He shouts at others while pressing but hides in possession. Might be confidence cos there's a good player in there. Ferguson and Consi always asking for the ball.

McCrorie would be the guy who sits in front of the defence during buildup, which lets Ferguson move where he's needed, which leaves another (Ojo or Bryson) ((McGeouch???) to start showing for the ball. Then defenders don't have to always lump it forwards.

Playing the ball forwards is not a bad tactic, hoofing it because there are no other options is. The midfield needs to show but the ball does not always need to go through midfield. Having a midfield would definitely help keeping possession, creating chances, and with turnovers