Dig around in the archives for long enough and occasionally you stumble across something that could have been said yesterday.
Back in November 2004, David Moyes was attempting to get a tune out of an Everton squad short on numbers following the summer departure of Wayne Rooney to Manchester United.
Moyes acknowledged the problem. Then he found an upside. “Our disadvantage is that we have a small squad,” he said. “Our advantage is that we don’t have any sulkers.”
Twenty-two years later, here we are again.
Moyes has been here before
The circumstances are different, but Moyes’s response to being short of players has barely changed. After Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United, he revealed that Everton’s players had agreed there would be “no excuses” following a transfer window that left him with just 18 senior outfield players.
“Sometimes when you’ve got less players, it means everyone has to be ready,” said Moyes.
“Players on the fringes are going to have to show why they deserve to be involved. When you’ve got a small squad you have to find a way to make it work.”
Back in 2004, the message wasn’t so different.
“Sometimes in football you need hungry players, and the situation here is very basic… if you don’t want to work, we don’t want to have you here,” Moyes said at the time.
That Everton side had finished 17th the previous season and then lost Rooney. By the time Moyes made those comments, however, they were flying near the top of the table. They eventually finished fourth.
There is obviously a long way to go before anyone starts drawing comparisons with 2004/05. This Everton side has played only three league games, and the lack of depth remains a problem. But the old Moyes quote is a good one.
“Our disadvantage is that we have a small squad. Our advantage is that we don’t have any sulkers.”
Twenty-two years later, Moyes is asking for much the same thing: no excuses, everyone ready, and make what you’ve got work.
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