As frustration bubbles among Everton supporters, a true West Ham legend has stepped forward with a timely warning about David Moyes.
It says everything about the job David Moyes did at West Ham that he is still a hot topic of conversation in east London, 19 months after leaving.
Whether it was keeping West Ham up twice, leading the club to its record ever Premier League points total, making Europe three seasons in a row or bringing home the Hammers’ only major trophy of the last 45 years.
The shambles that has unfolded since Moyes left the club has seen resentment from Hammers fans towards the ownership reach unprecedented levels.
All made worse by the fact their former boss was leading Everton on an upward trajectory at the same time.
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Moyes gave ammunition to ‘careful what you wish for’ brigade
The Irons all but hit rock-bottom after the disastrous spells of Julen Lopetegui and Graham Potter.
Things have been so bad it only served to give ammunition to those who had warned West Ham to be ‘careful what they wish for’ after parting ways with Moyes.
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Among those uttering those words to the Hammers were Everton fans.
The Toffees had Moyes at the helm for 11 years in his first spell so were uniquely placed to offer the stock phrase of advice that became like nails on a chalkboard for West Ham supporters.
On the flip side, Hammers fans would argue – as Moyes has since admitted himself – that it was time to part ways but that the owners made a complete hash of any succession plan.
David Moyes celebrates by kissing the Europa Conference League trophy after West Ham beat Fiorentina 2-1 in 2023
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Moyes did a superb job returning to Everton for a second spell in January.
He closed a nine-point gap on West Ham to finish above his old side, who were somehow even worse under the hapless Potter than they had been with Lopetegui in charge.
Everton’s rise and West Ham’s struggles further fuelled the argument that the Hammers should have stuck with the Scot.
It also raised expectations on Merseyside, especially ahead of the big move into the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
What West Ham fans would do for a proper purpose-built football stadium like Everton’s new ground.
Everton fans need to hear West Ham legend’s Moyes warning
When Everton started the season with three wins from their first four games, excitement levels were raised.
Meanwhile West Ham were struggling and now find themselves entrenched in what promises to be a season-long battle against relegation.
But things have not gone as well as Moyes or Everton fans may have hoped since a promising start.
Everton’s form is patchy with impressive wins often being followed by heavy defeats.
The latest example being a 1-0 victory at Man United with 10 men being followed up by a 4-1 home defeat to Newcastle.
David Moyes looks dejected after Everton's 4-1 home defeat to Newcastle United
Photo by Ben Roberts – Danehouse/Getty Images
That kind of form resembles the last couple of years of Moyes’ West Ham tenure, which allowed doubts to fester and belief to grow that a more modern manager was needed to take the club forward.
Toffees fans booed their side off at half-time when losing 3-0 to the Magpies and the stadium started emptying long before the final whistle at 4-0 down.
But disgruntled Everton fans need to hear a true West Ham legend’s fresh warning about Moyes as rumblings of discontent emerge on the blue half of Merseyside.
Having watched the Scotsman’s strengths and weaknesses up close during Moyes’ time in east London, Hammers icon Julian Dicks has offered a grounded perspective on why Moyes should never be taken for granted.
Hammers hero Dicks has advice for Everton owners
It’s a message some Everton fans who yearn for more may not want to hear — but one they probably should take notice of.
The minor rumblings at Everton about whether Moyes is the right man long-term is how things started at West Ham before snowballing.
And now the shoe is very much on the other foot.
Because it is Everton fans effectively being warned to ‘be careful what you wish for’ if they take note of Dicks’ damning assessment of how West Ham’s owners handled the Moyes situation.
“They (West Ham) had a good manager in David Moyes,” Dicks told The Telegraph.
“Wins a trophy for the first time in, what, 50 years? And they get rid of him.
“If it’s mutual then I understand if he went: ‘I’ve had enough.’ But if they were getting rid of him to push on, I don’t see it.
“Because he always finished in the top half, he won the trophy. Now they are on to their third manager since he has gone. The grass ain’t always greener.”
That last line in particular should resonate with Everton fans given they have seen first hand that the grass is not always greener post Moyes.
The Toffees hoped for a top half finish and maybe even a European push when the likes of Jack Grealish arrived in the summer.
But down in 14th in the Premier League a third of the way through the season, the festive period promises to shape their season as Moyes brings up a year in the job next month.
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