What message would it send to youngsters like Jack Rodwell, and Seamus Coleman; young men with potential to play at the very highest level, if Moyes conceded a kind of domestic defeat before a ball is even kicked.

Tim Howard proves that utter refusal to accept anything but a winning mentality is contagious.

“We are not terribly fearful of any particular team,” he said this week. “We know that there are teams who will give us a battle and sides in the top eight where we have been consistently will be a challenge, but we have held our own with them over the least few years.

“We would be selling ourselves short if I didn’t say we can get in the Champions League. It’s vital we get a great start. Playing at Man U that was always the golden rule; If you want to win a title, you’ve got to hit the ground running.”

Evertonians continue to fret whether they will still be treated to watching Steven Pienaar and Mikel Arteta grace Goodison next season.

They are understandably worried that a change as crucial as losing one or both of those players would derail their hopes and dreams.

But they should be mindful that the essential cog in the machine is not changing anytime soon.

Beyond players, who come and go, David Moyes and his wonderfully stoic desire to win is going nowhere.