Check out some stats which suggest it won’t be Manchester City

As The Spoiler mentioned on Friday, we’re stunned that Coral are offering 5/1 on Everton being the best-placed Premier League team outside the Big Four.

It’s understandable that Manchester City are favourites - after all they could buy every single Everton player at ten times their asking price if they wanted - but to have the team who have finished fifth in each of the last two seasons at such a long price seems like a big mistake.

Yes, they don’t have as much money to spend as City and potentially even Aston Villa and Spurs but they were written off last season for the same reason and as always defied the odds, despite having key players ruled out for long periods with injuries.

Are we overestimating David Moyes or are the bookmakers leaving themselves liable for a substantial loss? Let us know which team you think will be the “best of the rest” in 2009-10 with a vote and comment below:

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