David Moyes lost his cool over Michael Keane’s red card in Everton’s 1-1 draw with Wolves, calling the referee’s decision “ridiculous”. Moyes was also unhappy with Jack Grealish for collecting two yellow cards for dissent and leaving his side to defend with nine men for the final minutes.
Keane, who had given his side the first-half lead with a lethal finish, was sent off at the 83rd minute after rookie referee Thomas Kirk was sent to the pitchside monitor by VAR Chris Kavanagh. The centre-back appeared to tug Tolu Arokodare’s hair while jumping for an aerial duel and the incident was deemed violent conduct by VAR.
“It is not violent, it is not forceful and it is not deliberate,” Moyes said in the post-match press conference.
“So, all of those things I have said mean it shouldn’t have been a red card. I think it was a really poor decision to send him to the screen in the first place. (Marc) Cucurella got his hair pulled – violent conduct, a deliberate action, no problem with that.
“But this was in the game, on a ball coming up, and unless you have played the game, you might not understand. I have been a centre-half and there is no way I am jumping to out-jump a big centre forward and think .. ‘oh, by the way, I am going to out-jump him and, at the same time, I am going to pull his hair’
“I don’t know anyone on the planet who is good enough to think that way when they are jumping up. I thought it was a ridiculous decision by the referee but more by VAR. I thought the ridiculous bit came from VAR.
“If anyone grows their hair a bit longer, they have a chance of getting it pulled. Crazy. It was a ridiculous decision. Everybody was frustrated, everybody could not believe it.”
An infuriated Moyes also got himself booked in the aftermath of Keane’s red card while Jack Grealish talked himself into the referee’s book before following Keane to the dressing room after sarcastically applauding Kirk’s decision to award a foul.
Asked if he deemed Grealish’s actions unprofessional and whether he would have a word with him, Moyes said, “Yes, I agree – and I already have done.”
Moyes, however, is unsure whether the club would appeal against Keane’s decision. The centre-back will now face a three-game ban while Grealish will miss the next game in what is already a busy period for a squad stretched thin by injuries and Afcon.
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Posted
08/01/2026 at
09:11:28
I understand, support and agree with Moyes with his arguments. However, I said on TW at half time that we needed a second goal after half time. You could see the crowd getting more and more anxious and Wolves getting more belief. We’ve seen this movie so many times haven’t we?
I don’t understand how numerous Everton managers cannot see what is about to happen and at least make changes. McNeil was losing the ball every time he got it and his legs had gone. Barry was ineffective. We needed fresh legs and Moyes changed nothing. Dyche used to be the same. Didn’t Dyche once show stats to say that making changes usually caused more disruption than benefit? When Wolves scored it was just a case of “Everton, that”. The ridiculous performance by the referee gives Moyes a get out of jail card because that is now the talking point but he didn’t react quick enough to try and get the second goal.
I’m glad that we are safe, barring a miraculous improvement by the three teams at the bottom of the league but we are desperately short of quality with Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye and Branthwaite missing. I guess that is progress but the frustrating thing is that a bit more ambition could see us have a good season. Why are we not actively seeking to strengthen now that it is January? I said it yesterday but we will be scrabbling around for half-hearted enquiries on the last day, again.
Posted
08/01/2026 at
09:17:29
Take the refereeing decisions away and dissect this game based on the overall performance. Good first half, didn’t turn up second half.
He plays McNeil who clearly doesn’t want to be here and who performs atrociously every game. Personally I never want to see this clown play for the club again. Ship him off to Dyche over at Forest. Any fee we get for him is a bonus!
The manager’s treatment of Tyler Dibling is a disgrace. He should have started the game last night. He’d have given us some width and would have got the ball into the area. McNeil must seriously have something on Moyes because why would he play him otherwise?
For the second game in a row the manager has continued with the Jake O’Brien right back experiment which doesn’t work and is killing us.
Patterson or Rohl can play right back so why not play one of them there and play Jake at centre back? The defence looks solid with Jake in there.
The manager’s performance over the last two games needs to be seriously questioned. It really isn’t good enough. And please don’t say ‘were down to the bare bones’ because the players we have are good enough and more than capable of beating Brentford and Wolves at home.
Also, the home form is an absolute disgrace and needs fixing. This is a season where anyone can get into a European place. We needs to go into the transfer market and bring in a striker and a right back as a priority. I’m sorry but Beto and Barry are two very poor footballers who are not good enough for the premier league and I don’t care what anyone says.
For me David Moyes is not the answer long term. I would say thank you and goodbye at the end of the season and look to recruit a young manager who understands the modern game. Moyes and his backroom team, Baines aside, are draconian and past it. I’m sorry if this post upsets the Moyes lovers but we will never do anything with him in charge.
Posted
08/01/2026 at
09:37:27
If anyone grows their hair a bit longer, they have a chance of getting it pulled.
What an ignorant bastard, Moyes has said some embarrassing shit here. I don’t recall seeing this happening in the women’s game where longer hair is more of an issue.
Classic Moyes deflection, but this takes him to new lows.
The facts are we were already on the back foot when this happened. Grow up you miserable faced perennial loser.
Posted
08/01/2026 at
09:57:46
Dibling would have give us more width and got the ball into the area? There wasnt any evidence of that in his last two starts
Posted
08/01/2026 at
10:03:08
Bill 4,
When has Dibling got the ball into the box, when he has been on the field ?
McNeill is always the scapegoat, I thought Grealish was rubbish all game, apart from winning a couple of free kicks.
I thought he should have been pulled long before his sending off.
He would never make the Man City team with his performances.
Posted
08/01/2026 at
10:13:54
John 5, I think that was Bills point.
Posted
08/01/2026 at
10:21:48
Last time he liked it when Everton players were fighting amongst each other and now he is making a complete tit of himself by insisting Keane didn’t do this deliberately. Part of the reason that we will be chronically understaffed at the w/e is because calling out the low professional standards of his players is too close to accepting some responsibility for it himself.
He bought badly, freezes players out, has poor in game management, sets up his teams negatively and has about as much class as Allardyce. Embarassing, start the process now to replace him at the end of this season.
Posted
08/01/2026 at
10:29:42
It shows the importance of getting a second goal when your on top, we did’nt and paid the price.
I have no problem with the ref, he went by the book on Keanes hair pull, and was given no choice as it was obvious on replay. if it had been a Wolves player committing it then we would have been baying for a red card. As for Grealish, just stupidity, Moyes got his yellow for being out of his technical area plus his gestures.
As for Everton, one point out of six at home is not satisfactory, I don’t think TFG will be too happy along with the fans.
Everton can really stress you out, my solution is to forget emotionally about January as its hard to change due to our circumstances.
I will be looking at February as a season re set, hopefully players returning from injury, AFCON players returned, and possibly a couple of new signings ? then we kick on from there.
Posted
08/01/2026 at
10:32:55
Moyes last season was far more happier in interviews, and we played good attacking football. This season he’s gone back to his dour and dithering self.
Posted
08/01/2026 at
10:40:24
What we saw last night, before the sendings off, we have saw before when we played WHU who looked more likely to score the winner once they had equalised, as did Villa in the last 15-20 minutes of that game, both times we had fully strengthened teams.
Keane definitely pulled his opponents hair, how can accidentally pull someones hair—- All I can say it is out of character to do something like that although I have seen him do do plenty of stupid defending in his time here.
Grealish— I dont think he has ever been in the clever section of company but to act like that twice in a few minutes definitely puts him in the dunces section especially with that big smile after getting the red card— unless he had achieved what he intended— that would make him a clever fuckin divvie!
Posted
08/01/2026 at
10:48:16
There is no way Keane committed violent conduct. His hand slid down the ponytail barely touching it. Grealish got the foul so what is the difference between applauding a good decision, which you see every game and applauding sarcastically. The game has gone mad. Players will be getting sent off for spitting next after a poor decision.
Posted
08/01/2026 at
10:52:57
The tackle on Armstrong from behind was much more violent than what Keane did. It could have broke his leg. Just a yellow. What a joke.
Posted
08/01/2026 at
11:00:58
In his defence on the audio you can hear Keane exclaiming:
“Head and Shoulders… I didn’t know you had dandruff”
Posted
08/01/2026 at
11:05:15
Half way through the season and MOYES has took us to a new low.
This WONDERFUL STADIUM is like a LIBRARY.
Already fans don’t want to go I had my lads season ticket and couldn’t give it away for FREE.
Now getting to the team selection O’Brien and Mc neil on the right side might aswell sit in the stand as play there.
Moyes has Dibbling and Patterson sitting thereeven if there rubbish there still better than the other two because thats there natural positions.
I said 2 weeks ago we would be in trouble by the Sunderland game after 3 quick games so funny Davey.
Last night the club had 1 1/2 thousand tickets for Resale.
I believe if the Sunderland game on saturday was a league game that would reach 5 thousand.
Its so sad that All the away teams are enjoying our Stadium more than us.
Oh and anyone seen SHAMELESS I don’t see him patting the lads on the back now.
Posted
08/01/2026 at
11:23:27
I had just said to my wife that I thought the ref had played quite a good game, when he lost the plot. VAR intervened with the Keane incident, which was a fucking ridiculous call. They used the fact that this was the ref’s only second EPL match and used his lack of experience to make him call what “they” shit heads wanted to state this was a red card even t What a load of absolute bollocks. Secondly. why shouldn’t Grealish be aloud some emotional clap with what was now a stupid fuckwit referee.
EPL corrupt from the core.
From this, you might guess I am absolutely pissed off with the corrupt EPL
Posted
08/01/2026 at
11:27:06
Mark, its just after Christmas, plenty people are scint.
Our managers are always an easy target, how many is that we have tried with barely any effect at all.
I keep banging the same drum, if we don’t have top 6 quality players I don’t care who the manager is we wont ever be a top 6 and stay there.
Posted
08/01/2026 at
11:39:11
Make a stand then Moyes, don’t just stlit back and take it from the corruption club that is the Premier League and their little tool that fits the narrative only for certain clubs.
Moyes never used to suffer fools gladly in his first spell, I know he’s probably mellowed now but not to the point of letting them off the hook on a weekly basis.
But the reality is that is not what cost us the game.
The first red card was 15 minutes after Wolves had levelled the scores and basically taken control after we do what we always do which is sleepwalk ourselves into a comatose state that we can’t break free from until the final whistle goes.
If we don’t play full pelt then we struggle badly.
Posted
08/01/2026 at
11:44:30
Not moving Jake back to CB was a big mistake as Keane and Tarks cannot handle raw pace and Jake can. Was very annoyed to see Tarks rip Jakes head off after their goal and he did it to him after the 1st Brentford goal also and both were his fault! Not good! Ive now given up any hope that Barry will make it. He has no attributes other than some pace but his runs arent intelligent. He has none of the attributes a striker needs and cannot read the game. He is a terrible buy. Beto needs to be the lead man until we sign a better striker. Mcneil had an awful game and stayed on the pitch until the 90th minute. Tim worked his socks off and brought the ball forward on many occasions, shame he didn’t have ndiye and kdh to bounce off as the only option was Grealish. Moyes 3 out of 10 for this game and the Brentford game. Oh and I don’t know what is violent play anymore but the ref had a good game and let it flow.
Posted
08/01/2026 at
11:44:30
We might get a few days respite from playing Sunderland in the cup because of the weather forecasted—- that might help us with some rest, I think our fans deserve that rest, not sure it will help the players!
Posted
08/01/2026 at
11:55:28
The Moyes stabilisation tenure its nearing its conclusion. If we, our owners have the ambition to progress then this is his last season imo.
He is one dimensional in style, tactics, player selection.
That said we havent got the best squad. We have a small number of quality players most of whom are currently injured or at AFCON. Beyond that we have a tried and failed number who need replacing and a few purchased youngsters who need time, some of whom may never cut it.
Its a thin, hotch potch of a squad.
A new manager would need investment to improve this.
If the investment will not be forthcoming in the Summer then we add a couple, lose a couple and limp on as we are.
Approaching another crossroads I think, for those who never saw Moyes as the long term solution ( includes me) this was always coming. Moyes came in to stabilise, I think hes done that, but he cant be, and stabilisation cant be the limit of our ambitions.
Posted
08/01/2026 at
11:56:15
Raymond Xmas has nothing to do with these people who put the season tickets up for resale have already paid raymond. simple thing is they don’t want to watch rubbish raymond.
Iv’e said quality cost money and Everton have never spent 50 mill or more on a player ever.
Come march you will see this stadium about 5 to 10 thousand short.
Not good raymond
Posted
08/01/2026 at
11:57:43
If that was a sending off for Keane, then why wasn’t that foul on Armstrong,which was a terrible tackle, could of broke his leg. Once again ref and VAR go against us
Posted
08/01/2026 at
12:15:34
Pulling hair is typically aligned under violent conduct and is mirrored in the women’s game where we’ve seen red cards for the same. As far as applying like-for-like, I can’t disagree.
Grealish looked like he wanted out of the game, or maybe he’s also had his hair pulled and got nothing?
The issue with replacing Moyes is the team is comfortably placed higher in the league than we’ve been for a long time, with little risk of being pulled into the relegation zone. This will be seen as progress. We can all look In hindsight from games played that we might have been able to win more than we have however where would we have placed the team at the start of the season?
Then there’s the revolving door of managers which doesn’t do anyone any favours.
Like him or loathe him, Moyes has helped stabilise the team even if we’re not where we want to be.
Posted
08/01/2026 at
12:26:30
The squad isn’t good enough to cope with the lads at Afcon and KDH being out through injury. Played OK in the first half but within minutes of the restart we looked very sluggish and it got progressively worse as the game went on. I do have some sympathy with Moyes he has to try and put out a side without a proper striker and with our record summer transfer not good enough. Whoever thought Barry would cope in the Premier league hasnt a clue, and Southampton must have done the deal of the century selling Dibling for £35-£40m.
McNeil gave another abject display, Tarkowski nearly gave another goal away with a poor pass out from the back, and their goal was solely down to him. Strand Larsen came short but Tarkowski didn’t go with him, so he had all the time to turn and play in Mane, if Tarkowski dint want to get close to Strand Larsen then he had to drop off and pick up Mane he did neither, he is fast becoming a liability in every game. Iroegbunam is just not a premier league player he lets players run off him thats why he is a full stretch in making tackles and when he does have possession nothing comes from it.
Grealish was absolutely stupid getting sent off, and wasnt one of his best games, Beto isn’t the answer but when he came on he got more involved in the first 5 minutes than Barry had the whole game.
The positives were Harrison Armstrong making his debut very promising and I wouldn’t be sending him back to Preston on loan, and another good display from James Garner.
Look were not in any danger of being in a relegation battle and when the boys come back from the Afcon and KDH is fit and Branthwaite finally makes an appearance we have the makings of a decent team.
But a top striker and a good right back have to be brought in the summer if we arent going to strengthen in Jan.
Posted
08/01/2026 at
12:35:10
Brian,
I have to agree wholeheartedly on that.
A proper energetic right-back (and left-back for me) along with a genuine mobile presence as a striker would give this side a new dynamic.
I know Barry has notched a few goals lately which is very good for him but he’s just not doing enough to be a pain in the arse for centre-backs during matches.
He’s got no presence or devilment to him, Beto is a little bit more of a handful but lacks the overall technical accomplishment.
Posted
08/01/2026 at
13:04:11
The problem is that we dont have a squad. We lost 10 players in the summer and brought in 5. Of those 5 only Dewsbury-Hall is worth his place on performances. Barry is getting games because there are few options for that position but his performances are not PL standard. The other three signings are miles away from PL standard. Whoever recruited those four will have to do much better this summer.
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