- David Moyes was quickly exposed to the low-quality reality of modern Everton.
- The club owes him and must support him in the transfer market this January
- Hear It's all starting! Why Manchester United might have to sell Kobbie Mainoo or Alejandro Garnacho
Perhaps the first thing the new manager should look to change on his return to Everton is his surname: doesn't David Moyes need to be David Copperfield?
Many expected the second chapter of this particular relationship to begin as the first did in March 2002 and, on this emotional night, there were some nods to the past: Moyes, for example, came out to supervise the warm-up, as he did against Fulham 23 years ago.
He had the Midas touch immediately, David Unsworth scoring after 27 seconds and lighting a reign that would last 518 games. Moyes had great support on the day, his team chosen by respected old club stalwart Andy Holden and fans joining in immediately.
Apart from the warm-up, this was a very different occasion, tense and full of realism. Yes, the ovation he received when he took 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 the kickoff began, Moyes must have felt like a parent who was handed a maxed-out credit card bill and asked to pay it off before the next statement arrived. This Everton squad lacks a lot of quality and only a magician could have changed things in two training sessions.
Moyes would have been worried about this happening. He spent 10 minutes during the warm-up studying the Aston Villa players, concentrating on their passing and movement in a four-on-four game from the halfway line of the pitch. He was quick, he was smart, he was everything Everton haven't been.
David Moyes looked frustrated as Everton lost 1-0 to Aston Villa on their return.
The Toffees were toothless and need signings: Dominic Calvert-Lewis has not scored in 1,212 minutes in the Premier League
Ollie Watkins' goal was enough to seal Aston Villa's 1-0 victory at Goodison Park on Wednesday.
Moyes seemed resigned on the touchline after seeing a team terribly lacking in quality.
Five minutes later the Scot was already looking at Billy McKinlay and Leighton Baines as Jordan Pickford dived at full length to deny Morgan Rogers; Moments later he held his hand to his face as a Jarrad Branthwaite error allowed Villa to break through.
Throughout the first half, Moyes continued to pull notes from the pocket of his smart coat, like a punter studying a race card in the hope of finding answers. However, much of what he noted I would have already known, particularly how toothless Everton are.
Take Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has gone 1,212 minutes without scoring a goal in the Premier League. He had a shot go off the line before the break, an incident that led to Moyes spinning like a top, but there was never any suggestion it was going in.
You knew it was the same in injury time, he parried a glorious chance from substitute Jesper Lindstrom's cross. He should have scored and his new, pursed-lipped coach knew it as well as he did.
As they chased the game in the second half, when balls were sent long and set pieces were wasted, Moyes hovered and frowned and finally seemed resigned. He will eventually get this team up and running, but he needs help. Everton must give him the signings he needs, and quickly.