Stephen Robinson has told the Aberdeen support that patience is the key with Ayoub Mouloua. The Dons signed the Moroccan striker from FUS Rabat earlier in the summer. His new manager knows it will take time for him to adapt to his new surroundings, team and to learn another language.
Robinson has no doubt that Mouloua will become a long-term success but just needs time to bed in and find his feet - like previous Moroccan Don Hicham Zerouali.
Robinson's plea for patience
Robinson, who will see his team open up in the Premiership at home to Hearts, claimed: “We sign players and expect them to hit the ground running in a couple of weeks.
“We buy players at Aberdeen and if they're not hitting the ground running within two weeks, we give up on them and that can't be the case. We have to be patient.
“It is a different culture and he is learning the language. We have an interpreter with him helping and we have seen a difference. He needs to get to the level of training and the fitness levels are different. We need to take our time with that one.”
The 23-year-old has made a few camera appearances off the bench in the Premier Sports Cup. He has gone close to opening Aberdeen account. Robinson reckons that it is clear for all to see that Mouloua is a goalscorer.
Confidence in Mouloua's ability
Robinson insisted: “I think you see from the small bits already that there is a really good player there, who is really sharp.
“What I like about it is that he is always in the right position. He hasn’t managed to get the ball over the line yet, but he is always in the right position.
“If you are in there you will miss chances but I want them in there being brave with his runs. He is starting to buy into things we want as well.”
Mouloua has his own interpreter and another within the Aberdeen squad. Robinson explained: “That is on top of Tony (Yogane). We have given Tony a break from the French.
“We are trying to help everybody we have brought in. When you bring in players from abroad and different environments you need to help them settle in quickly.
“If they don’t hit the ground running in the first 15 minutes then we need to show patience. We are here to develop them and we are going to do that.”
Loans for fringe players
Robinson has let a number of players go on loan to Inverness, Cove Rangers and Elgin City. More of his fringe players are expected to go out to get games in the coming weeks.
“I don’t believe that players develop sitting on a bench,” the Aberdeen manager stated. “Sometimes they want to for their Instagram and to say they are an Aberdeen player. You need to play football matches to develop.
“I think Aberdeen do that very well. We don’t run a development squad every week outside of the fixtures.
“We put boys out on loan. We have boys at Cove, Elgin and Inverness. It is very important because it puts them in the shop window and helps their careers.
“When they get to 21 they have a profile, instead of getting to that age and not having played any games.
“It could also lead to a pathway outside of Aberdeen. It shows they can play in the lower leagues and they can handle playing in front of crowds giving them stick, the pressure and managers shouting at them.
“Playing for Aberdeen there is an expectancy that you don’t get unless you play football matches. It is the only way that players get developed.
“If I believe players, who maybe have already played matches here, need to develop more to be starters in a top-six Aberdeen side then we will look at those options. It is something we will focus on if we need to.”
