- David Moyes was quickly exposed to the low quality of modern Everton
- The club owes him something and must support him in the transfer market in January
- Listen to It all starts! Why Manchester United may have to sell Kobbie Mainoo or Alejandro Garnacho
Perhaps the first thing the new manager should change upon his return to Everton is his surname: shouldn’t David Moyes be David Copperfield?
Many hoped that chapter two of this particular relationship would begin like the first in March 2002, and on this emotional evening there were some nods to the past: for example, Moyes went out to supervise the warm-up, as he did. against Fulham 23 years ago.
He immediately had the Midas touch, David Unsworth scoring after 27 seconds and lighting the fuse on a reign that would last 518 games. Moyes received a lot of support that day, his team picked by respected old club Andy Holden and fans who immediately got on board.
But apart from the warm-up, this was a very different occasion, tense and full of realism. Yes, the ovation he received when he entered the field before kick-off was generous and respectful, his name was greeted with cheers from all sides of the stadium, but that was where the similarities ended.
Once kick-off started, Moyes must have felt like a parent who had been handed the bill on a maxed out credit card and asked to settle it before the next statement arrived. This Everton team is terribly lacking in quality and only a magician could have turned things around in two training sessions.
Moyes is said to have been concerned about this event. During the warm-up, he spent ten minutes studying the Aston Villa players, focusing on their passing and movement in a four-on-four game from the halfway line. It was fast, it was smart, it was everything Everton haven’t been.
David Moyes cut a frustrated figure as Everton lost 1-0 to Aston Villa on his return
The Toffees have been toothless and need signings – Dominic Calvert-Lewis has not scored in 1,212 Premier League minutes
Ollie Watkins’ goal was enough to give Aston Villa a 1-0 win at Goodison Park on Wednesday
Moyes looked resigned on the touchline after watching a team woefully lacking in quality
Five minutes later the Scot was already looking around for Billy McKinlay and Leighton Baines as Jordan Pickford dived full length to deny Morgan Rogers; Moments later he put a hand to his face as a Jarrad Branthwaite error allowed Villa to break.
Throughout the first half, Moyes continually pulled banknotes from his smart jacket pocket, like a gambler studying a race card in the hope of finding answers. However, he would already have known much of what he wrote, especially how toothless Everton are.
Take Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has now gone 1,212 minutes without a goal in the Premier League. He had an effort cleared off the line before half-time, an incident that left Moyes spinning like a top, but there was never any suggestion it would go in.
You knew the same was true in stoppage time, he skied a glorious chance from substitute Jesper Lindstrom’s cross. He should have scored and his new manager, tight-lipped, knew that as well as he did.
As they chased the match into the second period, with balls sent long and set pieces squandered, Moyes sniffed and frowned and ultimately looked resigned. He will eventually get this team moving, but he needs help. Everton owes it to him to deliver the signings he needs – and quickly.