Last season, manager David Moyes mastered an end to Everton’s season-to-season inconsistency, cancelling what had been an alternate cycle of finishing one season in the top half followed by the next in the bottom.
A fifth place finish received widespread acclaim for Moyes, who showed his Premier League adversaries that money is not necessarily needed to contend at the top of the table.
Duly rewarded with European football for this season, Everton will look to break into the Premier League’s top four as they did three seasons ago.
After falling short of the Carling Cup final in the last four to Chelsea last term, the optimistic Goodison faithful will also be targeting a quest for honours.
Manager:
David Moyes
In his six years in charge of Everton, David Moyes has re-branded the club as a top-half side who pride themselves as a good passing side from the middle in a variation on the 4-5-1 formation.
But worryingly for the club, Moyes has yet to extend his existing contract which stands to expire at the end of the new season.
Last season:
5th - 65 points
The pot:
David Moyes has proved that he does not need vast sums to bring success in the Premier League to Everton but will probably have to offload some players in order to generate extra expenditure.
What they want / need:
Fresh faces at the back who can particularly step in to replace centre-halves Joseph Yobo and Phil Jagielka should they pick up any injuries.
Who their targets are:
Highly-rated Slavia Prague defender Marek Suchy has been monitored by Everton scouts who are understood to have sent positive feedback to Moyes with regard to pursuing interest in the 20-year-old Czech Republic prospect.
Special One:
£16million Portuguese midfielder Joao Moutinho, and one Europe’s most highly sought after players, is the kind of big name signing Everton need to start attracting to Goodison Park, if the club are to match their Champions League ambitions with intent.
Expect to see:
Moyes pledge his future to the club by signing a long-term contract.
Don't expect to see:
Everton topple Liverpool as Merseyside’s finest. Not yet.
