Source: Team_Talk
Pienaar: Toffees campaign a failure
Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar claims this season was a "failure" for the Toffees after they fell short of the previous year's achievements.[LNB] David Moyes' side struggled badly with injuries early on but rallied impressively in the second half of the campaign as they beat champions Chelsea and Manchester United at Goodison Park to finish eighth in the Premier League.[LNB]But having finished fifth and been FA Cup runners-up the previous year Pienaar feels the team have come up well short.[LNB]"I think it's been a failure," said the South Africa international, whose future at Everton remains in doubt as no agreement has yet been reached on a new contract with just 12 months remaining of his existing deal.[LNB]"We didn't start fresh at the beginning of the season due to injury problems and we suffered from that throughout the season.[LNB]"The beginning of the season was the lowest [point], especially when we lost 6-1 against Arsenal (at home on the opening day).[LNB]"At the end we didn't qualify for Europe and that's why I reckon this year has to be considered as a failure."[LNB]Pienaar is currently with the national squad in Johannesburg preparing for the World Cup and came off the bench in the 2-1 victory over Colombia.[LNB]Although he accepted his place on the bench, he was not happy with the central midfield role coach Carlos Alberto Parreira gave him.[LNB]"Winning is always good for confidence levels, but we need to improve - the game against Denmark is likely to be the most accurate gauge of our state of readiness to tackle the world's best," the 28-year-old told his personal website.[LNB]"I knew that I wouldn't be starting because I was the last into camp and the coach wants to integrate me step-by-step into the team.[LNB]"I've no problem with that. What probably was a little disappointing for me was the role that I had to play - next to KG (Fulham's Kagisho Dikgacoi) and with a 'number 10' in front of me.[LNB]"I just felt that this was not the position where I am able to create the maximum for the team's benefit - but I'll play anywhere the coach wants me to play. This is a team game."
