Source: Team_Talk
Calderwood eyes Dons Euro boost
The Dons boss has made no secret of his ambition to lead his charges to a third-place finish in the Scottish Premier League but his side currently sit four points adrift of fourth placed United and six behind pace-setters Hearts.[LNB]Calderwood admitted a win at Tannadice would do his side's European hopes a world of good.[LNB]"It would make life a lot easier for us if we did win," he said. "We have got to try to win the game as a draw would be a better result for Dundee United.[LNB]"Don't get me wrong, we are going down there to win the match but if Hibs beat Hearts then a draw may turn out to be a point gained. But three points is the target as that would give us confidence going into the Hearts game next week."[LNB]Tannadice has not been a happy hunting ground for the Dons in recent times but Calderwood is confident his side can buck that trend tomorrow.[LNB]The Aberdeen manager said: "Somebody told me that we haven't won in our last four games at Tannadice and that amazed me. I don't think we have played that badly there, although in certain phases we have been very bad.[LNB]"The problem is we keep gifting presents to them. They are a good enough team and don't need our help.[LNB]"The goals that have been scored against us have mostly been down to our own stupidity. We have got to cut that out and give ourselves a platform to go on and win the game."[LNB]Dundee United have been hit by a striker shortage ahead of the crunch encounter with Warren Feeney and Francisco Sandaza joining long-term absentee Jon Daly on the sidelines.[LNB]However Calderwood says that the Arabs still pose a threat in David Goodwillie, who enhanced his growing reputation by netting his side's winner in their 2-1 victory over Hibernian at the weekend.[LNB]"Young Goodwillie has done great," said Calderwood. "The kid is a real talent and Craig Levein may go with him on his own up front if he has a severe lack of strikers, although they also have the lad from Germany, Andis Shala.[LNB]"Craig is a very good tactician and we will just have to wait and see what formation he uses. But we have to try to put our own stamp on the game and hopefully it goes our way."[LNB]Calderwood admits his side's inconsistency has made European qualification a big ask.[LNB]He added: "If you finish third or fourth then you deserve to get into Europe. I don't know if we deserve to get into Europe because we have slipped up too many times.[LNB]"We did expect to finish third at the start of the season and we have still got a chance, although we have made it very difficult for ourselves."[LNB]Meanwhile, Javan Vidal has revealed he would consider returning to Aberdeen on loan next season.[LNB]Calderwood is to check with Manchester City whether the 19-year-old forward would be available to extend a stay which began in January.[LNB]Asked if he would be open to another loan move to Pittodrie, Vidal said in the Evening Express: "Definitely. I have loved my time up here and it's been great for me.[LNB]"First-team football is what I came for and that's what I need."[LNB][LNB]
