Phil Neville: This is a crucial season for Everton

Jul 26 2007 by Nick Smith, Liverpool Daily Post

PHIL NEVILLE is gearing up for what he thinks will be "one of the biggest seasons in Everton's history."

The club captain is urging his team-mates to aim higher than last season's sixth place, targeting another Champions League qualification spot.

Everton have failed to finish in the top 10 of the Premier League in consecutive seasons since David Moyes took over as manager in 2002, despite securing a prestigious fourth place in 2005.

With another European qualification achieved last year, Neville is now confident that each individual can improve their game and ensure the team as a whole continues to make strides up the table.

"I'm really looking forward to the season and really feel this could be one of the biggest seasons in the club's history in terms of where we're going to go," said Neville last night. "Are we going to just settle for being a yo-yo club, one good season then one bad season? Or are we going to reach the top four? Are we ambitious enough?

"If we are then we have to finish fifth or higher and this season will be a true test of where we want to go.

"If we're going to accept being a yo-yo club, it's not good enough for the manager, the fans or for myself and some of the players. So this could be the biggest season in recent history.

"We made huge strides last year in terms of people's perception of us and if we don't match those expectations and standards then people will think we're the old Everton of the previous 10 years."

Neville, who has six Premiership medals as well being an FA Cup and Champions League winner, is also targeting silverware as he prepares for his third season at Goodison Park since leaving Manchester United.

Everton have endured 12 trophyless campaigns since they last won the FA Cup but despite the extra workload the UEFA Cup will bring in the coming campaign, Neville merely sees this as an extra opportunity to end that drought.

"My aim at this club is to win a trophy," he added. "I go to end of season awards and the great teams of Howard Kendall, with Peter Reid etc, they are talked about as great players in great teams.

"Until we win a trophy we'll never be able to have the kind of adulation that they get because we've never won anything.

"Last year I felt as if I really achieved something by finishing sixth and I was really proud at the end of the season that I'd played a part and played in such a tight- knit team, a group where everyone’s focus and goal was the same. And we achieved it.

"The trophy is something we are building towards. It would be silly of us to think we were going to win the league, but cup competitions are our best area.

"Last year we only had two and this year we’ve got three chances of winning a cup and if this club wins a cup it’s going to be massive.

"The whole club could take off and that’s what we are aiming for. "I love winning trophies and have been used to it but it would be special to win a trophy with another club and as captain."