Few West Ham fans are preoccupied with the Premier League this season, whether it be in conscious denial of that which has been lost as a Hammers fan, or simply a bland indifference having rediscovered a certain enjoyment of football without VAR and the hype.
For whatever the reason – few will have spent much time studying the form of previous competing teams or indeed, the fortunes of one former West Ham manager, now looking in real difficulties at Everton very much as he was at West Ham – one David Moyes.
Even before Everton’s 2-0 defeat to Arsenal, there had been growing criticism of Everton’s version of ‘Moyesball’ – the drab, dour style which might be keeping the Toffees in the top half of the Premier League but is crushing the spirit out of Everton supporters, apparently.
Ringing any bells?
Richard Keys – the arch-troll who never stopped harping on about’ be careful what you wish for’.
So now it will be the turn of West Ham fans to trot out the same phrase, oft-aimed at them when the groundswell of opinion at West Ham was for parting company with Moyes.
For Everton, the Scot might not be producing the most entertaining brand of football. But he’s doing a job.
As yet, with no contract renewal in sight when his current deal ends this summer, Moyes may be out on his ear despite keeping his club pretty adjacent to the European qualification places.
Which, for West Ham fans sitting in the league below, is certainly something of a head scratcher. Most, I suspect, would trade places with their Everton counterparts in an instant if it got the Hammers back into the top tier, dour football or not.
So, yes, indeed, Everton fans, do “be careful”.
Because there’s no sign that your leadership is any more likely to make better decisions about Moyes’ replacement than West Ham did with first – shudder – Julen Lopetegui and then Graham Potter.
And that, without a doubt, is what started the slide to where we find ourselves right now.