Premiership Season Preview 2006/07 - Everton

Everton

Odds: 500/1

Last Five Seasons
2005/06 - 11 (Premiership), 2004/05 - 4 (Premiership), 2003/04 - 17 (Premiership), 2002/03 - 7 (Premiership), 2001/02 - 15 (Premiership).

2005/06 Cup Progress
Champions League Third Qualifying Round vs Villarreal - lost 4-2 on aggregate.
UEFA Cup First Round vs Dinamo Bucharest - lost 5-2 on aggregate.
FA Cup Fourth Round (replay) vs Chelsea (a) - lost 4-1.
Carling Cup Third Round vs Middlesbrough (h) - lost 1-0.

Top Goal Scorer 2005/06: James Beattie (striker) - 11 goals.

Players In
Andy Johnson (Crystal Palace - £8,600,000), Joleon Lescott (Wolves - £5,000,000), Tim Howard (Manchester United - Loan).

Players Out
Li Tie (Sheffield United - Free), Laurence Wilson (Chester City - Free), Duncan Ferguson (Released), Paul Hopkins (Released), Sean Wright (Released), Christian Seargeant (Released), Stephen Wynne (Released), , Jay Harris (Released).

Following the heroics of the 2004/05 campaign, last season was disappointing by comparison. The Toffees went out of Europe at the first attempt, including a humiliating defeat in Romania against Dinamo Bucharest and spent much of the season in the lower half of the table.

Improvement is required and manager David Moyes has the playing staff to challenge for a place in Europe next season. He smashed the club record transfer fee to sign Crystal Palace striker Andy Johnson for £8.6 million, which eclipsed the previous £6 million record fee paid to Southampton for James Beattie. Johnson turned down offers from both Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic to sign for Everton.

Moyes strengthened his defence by signing Wolves prospect Joleon Lescott, a player he acclaimed to be the "best centre half in the Championship", in a £5 million deal. Lescott made over 200 appearances for Wolves since breaking into the first team in 1999.

Manchester United goalkeeper Tim Howard joined the club on a season long loan as boss Alex Ferguson wants him to play first team football. Howard's contract at Old Trafford expires in 2009 and Ferguson wants him to return to the club in a position to challenge for the number one spot with veteran Edwin Van Der Sar.

A host of players have committed their futures to the club including Joseph Yobo, who was linked with a move to Arsenal as a replacement for Sol Campbell. He signed a new four year contract and stay at the club until the end of the 2009/10 campaign. Veteran David Weir signed a new one year deal as has Alan Stubbs

Verdict
Moyes has added firepower in Andy Johnson to help James Beattie up front and his arrival could be worth an extra 15 goals next season. The Toffees could be worth backing at 5/1 to finish in the top six.

About The Author-- David Walker runs Betfred free bet and UK poker websites. A free email course: "Seven Days to Better Betting" is available at both of these websites.

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