Match Thread Everton 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 19:30 Weds 7th January 2026.

[Mozza1987]

The fact people still think Keane's red is completely justified, tells me everything about footy now and why I barely watch it. Much rather watch other sports. Beautiful game my arse.

 

[Marcus Kendall]

The fact people still think Keane's red is completely justified, tells me everything about footy now and why I barely watch it. Much rather watch other sports. Beautiful game my arse.

Spot on Mozza the game is unwatchable nowadays in so many ways

 

[blue1948]

As I said in another post the game is ridiculously over officiated now with the referees becoming more involved than ever during a 90 minutes. It's clearly a directive from above to create 'talking points' and therefore manufactured 'drama' which gets click baits and other ways of making football more soap opera rather than about the actual game itself. Sadly the game has been lost to greed and any fans of a certain vintage will forever be pining for the good old days when football was actually about the game itself

They are trying to turn it into american football ,just a day out with very little sport .I do pine for the real game not this grabbing players around the waist ,pushing them as they go to play the ball and riduculous handball rules .
I could never stop watching but they are sapping the last of my enjoyment . This game has certainly not progressed ,the football by the best teams is nice to watch but the rest is a farse .

 

[JobForTheMoyes]

The fact people still think Keane's red is completely justified, tells me everything about footy now and why I barely watch it. Much rather watch other sports. Beautiful game my arse.

At least with pro wrestling you know it’s fixed!

 

[davids]

Doesn't bother me anymore.

Let's get to 40 points and then buy a RB, LB and CF and we are on our way with a new manager.

Oh, and for god's sake, don't give Keane another year.

Think 40 points will be a slog,lot of draws to get that,and a lot of heart in mouth moments to come. We don't have the fire power up front to put teams away.

 

[Verbal Kint]

Those 5 points dropped probably season defining and coming off such a good away performance at Forest. The HDS sounded horrific last two games.

Two results hard to swallow

 

[bnz]

Still cant get over Hwang not getting a red for that horrible tackle yet we've had two players sent off for nothing incidents.

 

[Bkk Andy]

Spot on Mozza the game is unwatchable nowadays in so many ways

I don't necessarily disagree, I certainly don't enjoy it like I used to, but I figure that's an age thing. The reality is that it's never been watched by so many people. Global TV contracts ensure that the EPL is the most popular and watched league on the planet.

 

[sbbefc]

Never a red. But at that point it was 1-1 and we didn't look like scoring. Can't recall us having any shots/shots on target in the second half.

 

[Tipp blue]

That ref has got it wrong.

The ref tonight hasn't.

I agree but someone mentioned that it wouldn't be a yellow for players at certain clubs, then i couldn't find that post to reply too.

 

[sbbefc]

Think 40 points will be a slog,lot of draws to get that,and a lot of heart in mouth moments to come. We don't have the fire power up front to put teams away.

We won't have a problem getting to 40 points and we will finish 10+ points from 18th. But I agree it'll still be a slog. Lots of dross to come but we'll be practically there with a couple more wins.

 

[TyphooToffee]

Fair enough mate. I didn't see either Grealish card but that's stupid by him. Pulling someone's hair is stupid but is it "violent conduct" ? Regardless this doesn't help our fa cup run

Semantics really. Hair pulling is a red card regardless of any level of so-called violence.

 

[smileychap]

I don't necessarily disagree, I certainly don't enjoy it like I used to, but I figure that's an age thing. The reality is that it's never been watched by so many people. Global TV contracts ensure that the EPL is the most popular and watched league on the planet.

Foreign ownership has spread wealth and scouting expertise outside the old 'Sky 4'. Palace winning cup/shield. Brighton in Europe last season first time etc. The Americans won't invest in something only 3 clubs win.

Chelsea Club world cup got more recognition than I recall in previous years, too.

So more football, more 'start up' type influence in traditionally smaller clubs, and the league has gotten flatter as a result, more clubs in with a shout = watchable. Format of CL is doing the same. More variety, 8 different qualifying games... Bit of luck/ intrigue in there.

So yeah, Prem doing ok in terms of viewers.

Even we're not out of Europe (statistically, speaking). Possibly tactically and at a player level right now, yes. But nothing 3-4 fresh faces couldn't impact quickly.

The point above I think is more about the quality and nature of what we're watching at times, and how changes in style, rules and officiating affect that - and TV too ( and it's commercial influence).

The hair pull wasn't a red, but by the letter of the law it is. But the shoving and dark arts, time wasting etc that go on are fine, apparently...

This will always be an evolution. By and large the prem averages 3ish goals a game, on pitches like snooker tables ( even in Jan ) with players from all over the world, watched as you say more than ever.

So we've in effect, 2 games:

- a TV game, primarily where fans add atmosphere, that's doing well
- a game attended by fans, who experience TV/ VAR based officiating and the stop start nature of the game.

There's an earlier comment in this thread about the similarity to American football and it's stop-start 'plays'. TV and officiating are pushing the game a little that way, unfortunately.

 

[Marius57]

Semantics really. Hair pulling is a red card regardless of any level of so-called violence.

This. It specifically mentions hair pulling in the rules and guidance around violent conduct. And there’s enough force that his head moves (similarly the same reasoning that those who argued Gueye deserved the red used).

We can think it’s soft and not enough to warrant a red. But it’s literally the rule and var and the ref got it right as per the rules of the game. Thats a separate argument though about whether the rules are right or not.

 

[jackyboy]

Atmosphere was chronic last night wasn't it