Ever since the Premier League began in 1992, it has quickly become the most successful and competitive of all the European leagues, despite the recent allure of playing in Spain or Germany. With Everton struggling through the 1990s under the reign of Mike Walker and then Walter Smith, Toffees fans were subjected to some truly uninspiring players turning out every week in the famous Royal Blue. When David Moyes joined in 2002, the club's fortunes began to rise as he led the club to European qualifications, their famous Champions League qualification in the 2004/2005 season and an FA Cup final appearance against Chelsea in 2009. His 11 years at the club are widely regarded as successful despite his inability to win a trophy, yet while they continued to grow, the club still managed to have players on their books that the fans would rather forget. So who would make an Everton worst ever Premier League XI? This article will seek that answer, taking in to account on-field performances, appearances, goals and much more.
11. Richard Wright (GK)
After being a club hero at Ipswich Town following his penalty kick save that saw the club promoted to the Premier League in the 1999-2000 season, Richard Wright left for Arsenal in 2001 after amassing 355 league and cup appearances for the Tractor Boys. He originally signed a five-year contract with the Gunners and was seen as the long-term successor to David Seaman, and competiton for backup keeper Alex Manninger. An own goal against Charlton and injury against Deportivo La Coruña in the Champions League meant he was soon shipped out to Everton. His first campaign was an okay one, as the club finished 7th in the table in their first season under David Moyes. A bizarre series of injuries then hampered his career and left him as understudy to veteran Nigel Martyn. The first of these injures was the result of falling out of his loft at home when trying to pack a suitcase, while later in his career he managed to fall over a sign warning players not to warm up in the goalmouth before an FA cup game against Chelsea, severely twisting his ankle. In the end, he featured just 60 times in four seasons at Goodison Park before being released. He later joined West Ham.
