The words ‘be careful what you wish for’ are etched into the minds of West Ham fans – and undoubtedly their majority owner David Sullivan.

And anyone connected with Everton is uniquely placed to understand why.

The circumstances were different when David Moyes was hand-picked by Sir Alex Ferguson to succeed him at Man United after 11 years with Everton.

West Ham and Everton know what life after Moyes looks like

But the Toffees, like West Ham, have seen what life after Moyes looks like.

It is why both the Hammers and the Blues went back for the Scot on two occasions.

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Moyes did not disappoint on his return to West Ham having been cast aside after keeping the club up during a six-month stint the first time around.

Five years of unprecedented success and competitiveness is indisputably the best period the Hammers have enjoyed since the 1980s.

It was less than half the time Moyes spent at Everton in his first spell. But his achievements were arguably greater in east London, winning the club its only major trophy of what will now be 47 years.

Despite the sterling job he had done, there were more than a few murmurings about Moyes both at Everton and West Ham after his mini-dynasties.

Some supporters had grown fed up of the style of play and others were convinced a more “modern” and perhaps more attack-minded manager could get West Ham and Everton to that fabled next level.

The reality is that next level might be achievable in a one-off stellar season here and there.

But it takes hundreds of millions of pounds being poured into first class recruitment year after year to have any hope of mixing it with – as Moyes would call them – the “big boys” on a regular basis.

Moyes opens up on ‘amazing’ West Ham and makes statement on Everton future

West Ham were warned to ‘be careful what you wish for’ and Everton have showed why.

The Hammers have swapped places with the Toffees by circling the Premier League plughole since Moyes’ departure while the Merseysiders have been on the rise.

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While Moyes has Everton in contention for a Champions League place, West Ham are scrapping to stay in the top flight.

Sullivan will no doubt regret withdrawing the contract offer he made to Moyes after the Scot took umbrage at having his power of veto on transfers ceded to Tim Steidten and his son David junior being removed from the scouting team.

That decision was driven by ego and Steidten would be gone six months after Moyes anyway.

Moyes has been making the decision look worse with his revival of Everton, even if Nuno Espirito Santo is finally making the Hammers competitive again.

But how does the man himself feel about West Ham on reflection and extending his stay with the Blues.

Speaking to Jamie Carragher, Moyes has opened up on ‘amazing’ West Ham but says Everton is the right club at the right time for him.

Moyes revealed he used his turnaround at West Ham as motivation for his Everton players when he returned last January.

“I told the lads at the start of this season that when I went to West Ham and avoided relegation, I looked at the players and saw no reason why they could not qualify for Europe. I told our lads they could do the same this season,” Moyes told Carragher for The Telegraph.

“You could say that was just a bit of motivation to try to generate the fight we needed. I was challenging the players, saying: ‘Can we really do this?’ “We have seven games left – tough games – but we’ve given ourselves a chance.”

Moyes looks back on his time at the Hammers helm with great fondness – especially the Europa Conference League triumph.

It shows there are no hard feelings about how things ended in east London. And his positive view is only enhanced by the fact he feels it has led him to the perfect club at the perfect time in Everton.

“That moment with West Ham was amazing. As a manager, I felt truly elevated (when we won the trophy),” Moyes added.

“If I could win anything for Everton, having come back, it would be incredible. We’re at the start now.

“It’s been great for me to be back, and hopefully good for the club, and it feels like I am in the right place at the right time in my career.”