Advantages: getting there with the squad
Disadvantages: losing Nick Barmby

...Everton have off-loaded a few of their top players since the end of last season and more look to follow. The worst loss of all would be Nick Barmby, one of the few who impressed me at Euro 2000, but players coming in such as Alessandro Pistone and possibly Alex Nyarko will help Everton to improve on last year’s rather disappointing 13th place. I believe that top 10 is well within Everton’s reach this season and I predict a final finish of 9th. Walter Smith has started to turn round the disappointment of the mid to late 90’s however he still doesn’t seem to have the spending power of the other Premiership big boys in order to maintain a serious title challenge.... Read review

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Advantages: What's not to love!
Disadvantages: Nothing anymore!

...I have supported Everton now for about 20 years. I can remember when I was a little boy, flicking through my Pannini football sticker book, reading the statictics and comments on every player, for every team. I came across the Everton page, and found to my delight that they had 3 Welsh players in their squad, Neville Southall, Kevin Ratcliffe and Pat Van Den Hauwe (trust me he really was Welsh), and being Welsh myself I was thrilled with this. This is my first memory of how I became to support Everton, and have been a pashionate supporter ever since. Everton, nicknamed 'The Toffeemen' or 'The Toffees' for short, thought to be due to an old tradition in the early years, when a 'Toffee Lady' would walk around the pitch during matchdays, throwing Everton mints into the crowd. They were formed in 1882, and were first known as St. Domingo... Read review

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Advantages: Leadership
Disadvantages: Injuries

...After the improvement last season it is clear that Everton need a fit Richard Gough. His experience and leadership last season was crucial, as for once in recent years Everton did not flirt with relegation. As such his injury this term is terrible for the club. The possibility of his not playing for up to four months could prove disasterous. Sure David Unsworth is a more than capable defender, but he does not have the same qualities as Gough. So, hurry up and get fit Goughie, Evertonians need you soon - very soon!... Read review

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Advantages:
Disadvantages:

...I would like to congratulate Everton on their one class stroke of business which they have pulled off in the last few seasons. It was not the signing of a player, the building of a stadium nor the introduction of some fly by night tycoon. It was the bringing to Goodison under pressure from other clubs (not just Sheff Wed) of Walter Smith and Archie Knox. With these two you signed up two winners and two guys who have seen it and done it. Because they came straight down from Scotland they were totally unaffected by any of the distractions of the English scene and they know even better than any Merseysider what it is to live in a two team city. A lot has been said of Walter's achievement in lifting Everton higher last season but it should be remembered that it was even more of a success keeping tham up the season before bearing in mind what... Read review

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Advantages: Lots of potentail, good manager
Disadvantages: Fans inpatient

...Everton are a good footballing team with an ambitious manager. Their main problem has always been the team across Stanley Park. Every season Everton fans hop and expect that they better their Merseyside rivals. Since joining from Rangers as manager Walter Smith has begun slowly, but surely, building a team to take the toffees into European competition. Last season was relatively successful with Everton finishing in a top ten position, their challenge for a top six place just falling short. This season Smith has lost Barmy to Liverpool with £6,000,000 coming the other way, but to replace him they Paul Gascoigne has been brought in and Goodison hero Duncan Ferguson has also rejoined.... Read review

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Advantages: good players
Disadvantages: don't perform

...What a miserable season it has been for Everton, they were lucky to win against Wat