North Londoners can be confident of fifth place glory

What’s the best thing to do if you’re stuck inside a league where only four teams stand a chance of winning? Start your own league, of course. Everton won the ‘best of the rest’ league last season, but it’s two-time champions Tottenham who are the bookies overwhelming favourites this time. of course, with only six worthy contenders, even this mini-league is becoming a bit predictable, so stay tuned for a ‘best of the rest of the rest’ league next season.

Here’s chickendinner’s take on the whole shebang, starting with the boys who love nothing more than to play around in the surf:

Tottenham

Reason for: Tottenham have been ‘best of the rest’ in two of the last three seasons.

Reason against: Since the Premier League became a 20-team league, Tottenham have never gained more than five places over the course of a season - last year they came 11th.

Aston Villa

Reason for: Losing Gareth Barry may not be the end of the world. In 2004-05, Everton lost Wayne Rooney but shrugged it off and finished fourth.

Reason against: Aston Villa are always in the mix but haven’t finished in the top five since 1996-97. In the eleven seasons since they have finished between sixth and eighth seven times but despite a great start in 1998-99, Villa have never managed to get the job done.

Everton

Reason for: Everton were the last club to finish above one of