Tim Howard: Everton wants to secure European football qualification

Posted Saturday, August 13, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

After seeing his club struggle out of the gate over the past two seasons, Everton starting goalkeeper Tim Howard expects the Toffees to get off to a strong start and aim for one of the European slots this season.

“We want to push on and solidify European football,” said Howard after the United States 1-1 draw against Mexico. “I think anytime that you play at Everton and you miss out on European football, it’s a little bit of a failure.”

Last year, Everton had a terrible start to the Premier League season hovering around the relegation zone through the end of 2010. As players began to get back into form and others recovered from injury, the Goodison Park-based club had a resurgent second half to the season and finished in seventh place.

Howard says the key is for the club to carry that form into this season.

“We always want to get right about sixth place and push our way up on the table,” Howard explained. “Last year, we got to seventh place right around the end of the season so we didn’t give ourselves enough time. We want to be right in the thick of it.”

While Everton hasn’t made any signings of note during the summer transfer window, it hasn’t lost any of its top players. With young English midfield prodigy Jack Rodwell expected to finally have consistent minutes in the starting lineup and the team keeping its strong backline together, it is possible that the club could show some improvement this year.

“We have a good squad, we have a strong nucleus of players, so if we can keep healthy, we feel confident [of reaching the club’s goal]," he said.