Tarkowski harshly punished for a brave defensive block

Leeds United 1 – 0 Everton

Everton kicked off their new Premier League campaign with a trip to Elland Road to take on newly-promoted Leeds United in a Monday night clash that was broadcast live on Sky Sports. And it was decided by a very harsh penalty call for handball on Tarkowski when he blocked a deflected shot with his arm almost behind his back.

Jarrad Branthwaite was a huge miss after the young centre-back picked up a thigh injury in training. Vitalii Mykolenko was also out injured. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall made his competitive debut for Everton. Harrison Armstrong and Tyler Onyango are amongst the subs, along with Jack Grealish, and Thierno Barry. No Aznou.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin is not involved at all for the home side but Jack Harrison came off the bench in the second half.

First Half

The all-too-familiar Everton kick-off saw the ball back to Pickford and wellied upfield, possession lost. But soon regained with some lively work from Iroegbunam. Gnonto then tried and failed to get past O’Brien. Leeds were snapping at every man in Blue, determined to win the ball back whenever they lost it. Alcaraz tried to get O’Brien overlapping high up but he had strayed offside.

Everton looked to play the long ball over the top but it came back and Tarkowski’s touch almost let Piroe in but Pickford was alert. There was danger from the Leeds corner, but the Blues kept it out. Tarkowskirather foolishly tries to dribble his way through the Leeds press as Everton’s possession looked to take the early spice out of the game.

Playing out from the back leads to trouble and Pirooe’s shot was deflected behind for a corner, headed clear by Beto. Everton resorted back to the long ball, but that just hands Leeds possession. Gnonto danced in behind and Iroegbunam and to dive in to put it behind, the second corner leading to a third. James’s attempted shot was blocked by Alcaraz.

Gnonot came again down the Everton right and O’Brien had to give up the fourth corner this time straight through. The follow-up was a nightmare for Everton defensively but somehow it was kept out.

Iroegbunam was again brilliant at stopping Gnonto, then Alcaraz stole the ball off Ampadu and Everton were at last able to break out of their half but nothing came of it, with Dewsbury-Hall so far a spectator in midfield, unable to get on the ball.

The most dangerous attack yet saw Leeds somehow fail to score after a good cross from Bogle, with James straying offside. Leeds kept on pushing up, testing O’Brien again and again, but he had so far been solid. Another Leeds attack came to nothing with James overhitting his cross.

The Blues worked their way forward through O’Brien, who won a throw, but two crosses in from Gana were very poor. Alcaraz tred to force his way into the Leeds penalty area but the ball came at him too hard. Tenaka was pulled back by Iroegbunam but no yellow card. The Blues lost possession and Tanaka fired off a speculative long-range effort.

Ndiaye finally had a chance to run forward but he tried to do it all himself and Bogle stole the ball back. Leeds came back through Gudmundsson, who did better than Gnonto but drove the cross past James. Leeds worked hard to create a better attack and James could have scored but Garner put it behind for a corner. This one was very well delivered from Stach and somehow O’Brien crucially got his head to it.

Dewsbury-Hall was clattered by Amapdu then Piroe fouled Gana to relieve the pressure. He got a chance to play some passes but too many of them were backwards to Gana. Very poor. No attempt to go forward, and Leeds were soon on the attack again.

Garner was alert to keep the ball away from James but Leeds attacked again, Gnonto tempted into shooting over the Everton bar. Everton looked but failed to mount an attack as the half-time whistle went, with the Blues goal intact: Job One.

Second Half

Jack Grealish still had his training top on when the players came out, so nothing radical at this point from the pragmatic David Moyes: no changes. Tarkowski was just too strong for Rodon from the restart, and Alcarz too strong for Gudmundsson.

A lovely touch from Ndiaye set KDH on the run but his return ball to Ndiaye was blocked. More strong defence from Tarkowski, this time on Gnonto. Everton had some rare continuous possession but only went back to Pickford and messed up the playing out, Gnonto could only shoot at Pickford, thanks to attention from KDH.

Everton got forward through KDH and Alcaraz but nothing came of it. Everton were now trying to get the ball forward but Beto just wasn’t up to reading it or holding to up. Gana was tempted into one of his awful shots high and wide.

Gnonto spun onto a ball but fired into the side netting. Beto failed to win yet another aerial ball pumped up to him. Leeds surged forward, Tim Iroegbunam fractionally late for his tackle on Ampadu, saw yellow. Ampadu needed treatment as Leeds took a corner, again, defended away.

Iroegbunam drove down the left with no support whatsoever. O’Brien then tried down the right as the Everton fans hit full volume with their inspiring songbook. Alcaraz was fouled by Tanaka but Alcaraz, the utter fool, wanted the card for Tanaka and got one himself.

The free-kick from Garner was deflected behind for Everton’s first corner, great delivery from Dewsbury-Hall but nothing from it. But Everton were now getting forward often, O’Brien crossing just too close to Perri. Some great build-up work by Everton was ruined by an awful cross from Gana. Why?

Leeds wanted something when Garner caught James’s foot but it was accidental. Grealish was finally readied to replace Iroegbunam with less than 20 minutes left, and Everton looking a lot more intentional.

Aaronson fouled O’Brien wide right, Dewsbury-Hall’s effort taken by the first defender., But he followed up and some great interpalsaw Alcaraz fire at goal, Perri pushing it behind. A brilliant delivery from Dewsbury-Hall saw O’Brien get too much on his header, senidnhg it a foot over the bar.

Three changes from Daniel Farke, including Jack Harrison coming on. And Leeds mounted a very rare attack, a nice ball bouncing up for Tanalka to lash over.

Everton played forward but Ndiaye looked to have been tripped, and Leedcame back with their strongest attack, A shot parried off Tarkowski who was deemed to have hand-balled a deflected goalbound shot. Cavenagher awarded a penalty despite Tarkowski’s arm very close to his body and almost behind his back.

Lucas Nmecha stepped up and rifled it into the corner despite Pickford’s valiant dive. All that firm defence for nought. Moeyese’s response was to take off Alcaraz and bring on Barry. Would that work? Less than 5 minutes to find out.

Dewsbury-Hall was fouled, then Grealish. It looked to fall for Barry, Tarkowski unable to head in Gana’s cross at the far post. Grealish worked hard but Beto immediately gave up the pass and Leeds were able to attack, with 7 minutes added on. Stach lashed a feirce shot that was close enough for Pickford to parry away.

More late chances for Leeds but they couldn’t get it on target, with Everton now struggling to respond. They tried to get forward in the dying minutes, Garner’s cross headed clear. Grealish tried to get something in from the left but only hit a defender. Beto and Barry weren’t really combining to any effect up front,

Keane had to foul Nmecha wide on Everton’s left for a late late free-kick chance. But they just wanted to play down the clock. And the whistle finally went to give Leeds an undeserved win.

Leeds Utd: Perri; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Gudmundsson; Ampadu, Tanaka (90+4′ Longstaff), Stach; James, Piroe, Gnonto (67′ Aaronson).

Subs: Darlow, Byram, Bornauw, Ramazani, (78′ Harrison), (78′ Nmecha) Gruev,

Everton: Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane; Gueye, Garner; Dewsbury-Hall, Alcaraz [Y:61′]. Ndiaye, Iroegbunam [Y:56′] (71′ Grealish) ; Beto.

Subs: Travers, Tyrer, McNeil, Barry, Chermiti, Coleman, Armstrong, Onyango.

Reader Comments (230)

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David Hallwood

1 Posted
18/08/2025 at
18:51:07

Evenin all, can’t work out the formation, 343 poss?

Christian Hill

2 Posted
18/08/2025 at
18:51:08

Grealish not starting, does Moyes want to win?? Bloody joke

Pat Kelly

3 Posted
18/08/2025 at
18:51:20

Aznou, Barry, Grealish, non-starters. Maybe Grealish isn’t quite fit but says a lot about our othet two recent signings.

Lee Courtliff

4 Posted
18/08/2025 at
18:51:31

3 at the back with KDH and Garner as WBs?

Peter Moore

5 Posted
18/08/2025 at
18:51:58

Interesting lineup! No natural fullbacks. COYB. UTFT.

Ryan Holroyd

6 Posted
18/08/2025 at
18:52:22

Evening everyone

That squad needs another 200m to be even remotely competitive

What a joke

Nathan Ford

7 Posted
18/08/2025 at
18:53:40

No Aznou in squad? Is he injured as we have 2 keepers on the bench?

Colin Glassar

8 Posted
18/08/2025 at
18:53:42

I expect Grealish to get at least 30 minutes.

This team is set up to draw.

Kevin Molloy

9 Posted
18/08/2025 at
18:54:20

shit no Myko. what a mess. we have to write this game off, that’s a weak first eleven.

Rob Hooton

10 Posted
18/08/2025 at
18:55:43

Ive absolutely no idea how were going to set up! Surprised to see Tim start, perhaps Garner will be full back?
3-3-3-1?

Les Callan

11 Posted
18/08/2025 at
18:57:42

Beto left back ?

Jake FitzGerald

12 Posted
18/08/2025 at
18:58:02

That is one weird line-up.

Christy Ring

13 Posted
18/08/2025 at
18:58:29

Looking at the team tonight, we’re definitely need to get players in, with injuries we are depleted in certain areas.

Jeff Armstrong

14 Posted
18/08/2025 at
18:59:11

Moyes doesnt fancy Aznou atm, subbed him off against Roma after subbing him on, bet that did wonders for the lads confidence 10 days after joining us, now not even on the bench with our regular LB out injured,
welcome to Everton Adam.

Mark Murphy

15 Posted
18/08/2025 at
18:59:20

Grealish off the bench is a better option than weve had for a long time.

Tommy Carter

16 Posted
18/08/2025 at
18:59:53

@ Ryan. It doesnt Ryan.

It just needs round pegs in round holes. Dont have to be world beaters.

But when you havent got a proper right back. Sign one as priority. Likewise a winger.

Its like Mykolenko. Hes very average at best. But he is a left back. And when he plays there he can at least help the team to function properly

Sam Hoare

17 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:00:13

Is Aznou injured? Why else would our only fit left back not be on the bench at least.

Looks a strange lineup to me.

Jeff Armstrong

18 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:00:23

Rather Grealish went off after an hour with us 2-0 up.

Ralph Basnett

19 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:00:59

3331

Steve Byles

20 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:01:24

Could be Moyes is putting the pressure on the owners to get a move in with signings.

Jeff Armstrong

21 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:01:58

Harry Tyrer preferred on the bench rather than our new left back!

Kieran Kinsella

22 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:02:05

What an uninspiring line up. Is McNeil carrying a knock?

Jeff Armstrong

23 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:03:01

You shouldnt be using important league games to make a point.

Ian Bennett

24 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:03:13

Looks a mess. Perhaps dewesbury hall will cover left wing back.

Grealish clearly not match fit, and hence on bench. No other reason.

Les Callan

25 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:04:02

Maybe Aznous second name is idea.

Ryan Holroyd

26 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:04:05

That squad is absolutely shite and needs another 200m spent to be remotely competitive. A disgraceful transfer window so far. The friedkin group are a disgrace.

What an awful squad we have.

Yet some on here (Tommy) think we should be targeting a trophy because we spent 69m

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

David Williams

27 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:05:33

More things change, the more they stay the same.

Jeff Armstrong

28 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:05:33

Les 25, reminded me of Dissa Pointon

Derek Knox

29 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:06:55

With no recognised LB I would have thought McNeil, could have been used there, very strange set up to be honest !

Ajay Gopal

30 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:07:07

Surely thats a 3-4-3 lineup with Gueye, Garner, Tim and KDH as the midfielders. That is quite a solid midfield, but worried about the pace of Gnonto against Keane. Yikes! Tim being preferred to NcNeil is interesting. Wonder what Moyes has seen in training from Tim? Off to bed now, got an early day tomorrow. All the best, Blues!

Kieran Kinsella

31 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:08:47

Is this a Moyes “cry for help” line up like that season opener at Blackburn when he fielded 15 year old Jose Baxter and Jags as the midfield? I realize options are limited but is this the best 11?

Dave Lynch

32 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:09:00

Or is this Moyes just being Moyes.
Start with a point and try and protect the point… I would of thought he’d learnt his lesson by now…play your strongest team.

I fucking despair at his choices and tactics sometimes, then again I did under Moyes MK1.

Derek Powell

33 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:11:52

What’s the shout in Moyes we trust

Andy Crooks

34 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:12:01

Strange line up. Moyes has banked enough goodwill to do what he wants. If this team can win it will be a wonderful start because we will have much better line ups to come.

Jeff Armstrong

35 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:12:23

Id have McNeil LWB, Garner RWB with Grealish in the middle , no Tim or Alcaraz.

Tarks , Jake, Keane in a 3.

Simon Dalzell

36 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:12:56

Negative… The Dour Davie Moniker resurfaced after a long absence. Drifting like a Barge in Bettting. No Wonder. Is He Sean dyche in disguise, is he Sean Dyche in Disguise. ?

David Bromwell

37 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:13:20

I thought things would be difficult, but this is a strange line up and I imagine the players will struggle. The Manager had easier options, but he seems to have to have made things worse. Not confident at all.

Ryan Holroyd

38 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:14:57

Lets blame ANOTHER manager because the squad is under funded AGAIN

Sean Kearns

39 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:15:00

No Seamus is criminal

Christy Ring

41 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:16:12

Didn’t Aznou limp off against Roma?

Lewis Barclay

42 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:17:59

Happy to see Armstrong on the bench.

Jeff Armstrong

43 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:19:01

Ryan, surely he couldve picked a better 11 out of what he HAS got, not what he doesnt have.

Grealish and KDH, even Aznou would have mixed it up a bit and given us something to look forward to, instead its going to be more of the same, misplaced passes and Beto fed on scraps.

Andy Duff

44 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:21:42

The squad is yet again not ready. It’s a disgrace we start the season like this. Then not effective play the new players we have got. If we win tonight then fair play to Moyes.

Ian Bennett

45 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:21:46

Jeff do you honestly not think he would have picked Grealish if he was fit enough to play from the start?

Neil Lawson

46 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:21:52

Err ? No one forecast that line up !!9

Jimmy Carr

47 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:23:03

Didn’t expect Grealish to start, Moyes will play cagey for the first half before bringing on the cavalry. He’s done it many times before. COYB.

Raymond Fox

48 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:23:29

Leeds odds have shortened to 11/8, we are 9/4 from 2/1 probably because of the team news.

Favs don’t always win though.

Jeff Armstrong

49 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:23:35

Ian, Grealish isnt match fit, but id rather get the first hour out of him than the last half hour when chasing a game.

Scott Hamilton

51 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:24:45

Im hoping that the most vociferous of the comments on this thread havent aged well come 10pm!

Jeff Armstrong

52 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:25:12

Scott 51, so am I

Anthony Dove

53 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:26:58

Grealish cant get in the team. Wow were really on the
up. Only joking. A typical Moyes line up.

Christy Ring

54 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:28:26

Moyes stated again to Monday Night Football, player’s turned us down, and he still wants to bring more players in, so no point in whinging on here about the owners?

Ryan Holroyd

55 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:29:24

Yes Anthony- its ANOTHER managers fault the squad is underfunded YET again.

Jay Harris

56 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:30:19

So it looks like the 69m spent has not been spent well if only one of the new signings can get a start in a depleted squad.
Aznou must be injured and no McNeill.

Someone is having a laugh and its not our supporters.

Si Cooper

57 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:30:43

Steve (20), thats just nuts!

Jeff (14), then why was he on the bench against Roma? He had to come on pretty early on and while it didnt go brilliantly for him in that game there may have been other reasons for taking him off when he did.

Not surprised hes not starting but surprised hes not on bench at least. Could be injured or even sick.

Ian Bennett

58 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:33:06

Jeff as far as I am aware, he’s not played any pre season minutes. Playing him from the off when hes been at the club in under a week wouldn’t be advisable.

I think youre just filling the injury room. Aznou I assume is injured.

Pat Kelly

59 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:34:10

Imagine players turning down a chance to sit on our bench

Jeff Armstrong

60 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:34:15

Si, Aznou was on the bench against Roma because he was our newly signed left back cover, he didnt play well when coming on and I sincerely hope he is not fit rather than Moyes making an early judgement call, hes obviously one for the future but were desperate at LB atm.

Ian , I get your point, but were desperate for creativity, even McNeil is not playing and he can create more than say Tim O.

Kieran Kinsella

61 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:34:40

Where is King the “pseudo goalkeeping coach” at?

Jake FitzGerald

62 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:43:29

No DCL for Leeds

Ian Bennett

63 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:43:54

Its looking like he doesnt fancy Mcneil.

Mike Powell

64 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:44:52

Strange team selection

Alan J Thompson

65 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:48:59

Kieran(#61); He’s on the training ground, apparently.
He wouldn’t be playing Iroebugnam at left back, would he?

Andy Crooks

66 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:52:20

As someone who was appalled at the return of Moyes, I think it is utterly unfair to be negative about him. He should be given, at the very least, a couple of weeks!

Jay Harris

67 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:55:12

Looks like Jimmy Garner at LB ?

Andrew Clare

68 Posted
18/08/2025 at
19:58:12

Any links?

Conor McCourt

69 Posted
18/08/2025 at
20:01:35

Ryan, I think we get your point from the first 6000 posts.

Robert Tressell

70 Posted
18/08/2025 at
20:03:31

Two very evenly matched teams.

Leeds have a good solid looking 4-2-3-1 / 4-3-3.

We have a mystery formation with some square pegs and round holes. Presumably fitness issues.

Both teams light on actual quality.

Ndiaye v Gnonto. Who is going to lift the occasion?

Paul Kossoff

71 Posted
18/08/2025 at
20:05:40

No commentary on Merseyside, Shame on you BBC, if it as the other shite they would be on, best for sport BBC?

Lewis Barclay

72 Posted
18/08/2025 at
20:10:58

Garner looking like he hasnt any idea what game is playing, let alone what position

Paul Kossoff

73 Posted
18/08/2025 at
20:11:25

No Calvert-Lewin, no Harrison? Moyes rubbing his hands on Harrison being told he can go.

TalkSport saying Everton are so unbalanced Moyes has to do something. Already?😕

Paul Kossoff

74 Posted
18/08/2025 at
20:15:07

We get to half-time nil-nil will be welcome.

Paul Kossoff

75 Posted
18/08/2025 at
20:17:57

Leeds have their fifth corner of the game.

We’ve only played 14 minutes.

Paul Armstrong

76 Posted
18/08/2025 at
20:20:20

Peter Gorman

77 Posted
18/08/2025 at
20:23:56

Be careful what you ask for, Paul.

Lewis Barclay

78 Posted
18/08/2025 at
20:25:09

Zero composure up to this moment.

Paul Kossoff

79 Posted
18/08/2025 at
20:25:56

Peter, I’ll take nil nil full time now!

Paul Kossoff

80 Posted
18/08/2025 at
20:30:45

We have set up to invite Leeds to attack. Tarkowski arguing with players, Pickford arguing.

Everton look like a Championship side, Leeds an established Premier League team. Leeds keeper asking for his phone to play Candy Crush.

Les Callan

81 Posted
18/08/2025 at
20:32:00

Real Madrid are playing well.

Paul Kossoff

82 Posted
18/08/2025 at
20:34:10

30 minutes, Everton’s first touch in the Leeds box!

Lewis Barclay

83 Posted
18/08/2025 at
20:37:26

Paul @80 “set up” is a stretch

Paul Kossoff

84 Posted
18/08/2025 at
20:39:56

Off the line by O’Brien. Keep a clean sheet, Leeds will start to get frustrated.

But Moyes has to do drastic changes at half-time. So much pressure we are under.

Paul Kossoff

85 Posted
18/08/2025 at
20:42:12

Lewis, with this team, I think it’s us the fans who are being set up.

Tommy Carter

86 Posted
18/08/2025 at
20:48:34

It appears that weve only gone and brought a knife to a gun fight

Les Callan

87 Posted
18/08/2025 at
20:48:39

Commentator has just said that Moyes will be reasonably happy. Lordy Lordy.

Scott Hamilton

88 Posted
18/08/2025 at
20:49:20

Anybody want to buy my hospitality ticket for Sundays game?! LOL! 😜

Michael Kenrick

89 Posted
18/08/2025 at
20:51:35

I think Leeds will be very frustrated after that half.

Yes, all Everton did really was defend and — per the scoreline — they did that effectively.

Can’t believe that xG for Leeds — only 0.4? I had the impression they had made a load of chances, just failed to convert.

Christy Ring

90 Posted
18/08/2025 at
20:51:57

Garner very accomplished at left back.

Alcaraz hardly got a touch.

Alan J Thompson

91 Posted
18/08/2025 at
20:53:31

It took so long to get onto Stan that I missed the first 5 minutes but we were awful with no idea, looking more like a Dyche side. Most of the midfield look lost; are we actually playing a striker? And if so, why? 11 strangers.

Why are the Linesmen so slow with the offside flag, waiting for VAR and where was VAR for an obvious corner that wasn’t given as the officials were that far behind as they need to be told by VAR!

We need something more in midfield and a wide outlet, Calvert-Lewin is probably glad he’s out of it.

Dave Abrahams

92 Posted
18/08/2025 at
20:55:29

Tommy (86) exaggeration there — more like a fuckin’ big white sheet — what an embarrassment that 45 minutes was from an Everton team!

Not much on the bench to change, mind you, one of the goalies might be better than one or two playing out, can’t be any bleedin’ worse.

Craig Walker

93 Posted
18/08/2025 at
20:59:17

Twice we’ve got into a decent position, turned, played it back and it ends up with Pickford. Beto has to offer more for an Everton Number 9.

Hoping we can ride out the storm, make some changes and nick it. I’d take a point in all honesty.

Josh Horne

94 Posted
18/08/2025 at
20:59:28

Level of ambition as bad as anything that Dyche ever served up.

Utterly pathetic.

Ian Bennett

95 Posted
18/08/2025 at
21:05:01

It’s not ambition. It’s technical ability to pass under pressure.

You can’t have ambition if you can’t string together 2 passes.

Ernie Baywood

96 Posted
18/08/2025 at
21:05:59

Leeds were always going to come out strong. So let’s factor that in.

Garner is really struggling but sticking at it. Two right footers on the left of defence is clearly an issue.

The big one for me is Tim. I assume Moyes sees Garner as his second midfielder when possible and presumably doesn’t trust KDH in there. Tim looks so far off this level – doesn’t show for the ball at all.

Paul Kossoff

97 Posted
18/08/2025 at
21:06:10

No changes, Ha!!!

Robert Tressell

98 Posted
18/08/2025 at
21:06:28

Not entirely surprising first half given the weird line up. We were awful.

Still, we could win this. Get Grealish on and probably McNeil too. Put them under pressure and they will get the jitters.

Lewis Barclay

99 Posted
18/08/2025 at
21:09:43

Different side out for the second half, it seems.

Paul Kossoff

100 Posted
18/08/2025 at
21:10:20

This was the first time a David Moyes side has failed to have a single shot in the first half of a Premier League game since March 2021 (West Ham v Man Utd).

Paul Kossoff

101 Posted
18/08/2025 at
21:11:16

Leeds had 12 shots in the first half, their highest total in the opening 45 minutes of a Premier League game since January 2022 (14 v Burnley).

Paul Kossoff

102 Posted
18/08/2025 at
21:12:58

April 2023 last time Leeds won a Premier League match. Oo,er.😕

Paul Kossoff

103 Posted
18/08/2025 at
21:16:52

Bad injury for Ampadu? Yellow card.

Paul Kossoff

104 Posted
18/08/2025 at
21:23:33

Corner to us!!!! Yippeeeeee 😁

Lewis Barclay

105 Posted
18/08/2025 at
21:34:22

Grealish has had two moments of possession so far and held the ball for the same amount as the collective time of the rest of the team so far.

Brendan McLaughlin

106 Posted
18/08/2025 at
21:54:23

Apart from being announced as a substitute… Jack Daniels ain’t been mentioned in the commentary.

Colin Glassar

107 Posted
18/08/2025 at
21:57:47

Outmuscled. Outthought. Outplayed. Outmanaged.

Moyes out!! 😬.

Stu Gre

108 Posted
18/08/2025 at
21:59:07

People keep talking about Moyes 2.0…

I hope that isn’t what it looks like.

Lewis Barclay

109 Posted
18/08/2025 at
21:59:42

No real positives that I could see in that game. Possibly O’Brien at right-back not looking utterly dreadful?

Leeds looked good in the first half.

Grealish will be sick of playing in this side by September.

Joe McMahon

110 Posted
18/08/2025 at
21:59:43

Agreed Colin. Never wanted him back.

Should have been Frank before Spurs got in.

Scott Hamilton

111 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:00:05

Absolutely awful first half. Pretty decent second.

Never a penalty.

Ian Bennett

112 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:00:33

Credit to Keane.

I’ve given him pelters, but he had a good game overall.

Andy Crooks

113 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:00:42

Same shite: uninspiring, defeatist negative, KITANO.

Depressing, hope-killing, aimless, depressing bilge.

Colin Malone

114 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:01:15

If you want the best of Grealish, Ndiaya, Charley, because they were shite tonight. MOYES OUT.

Since he left us, he ain’t changed. Im sure our owner will take heed. Leeds are shite, we had the players to beat them, unfortunately not with a defensive manager.

Alan J Thompson

115 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:02:34

Well, we deserved that. Did nobody tell Moyes that the season started this month? Completely disorganized!

We only stayed in the game that long because Leeds looked to take their foot off the pedal in the second half. And then again, Tarkowski as usual several yards behind everyone else trying to up his blocking stats when he could have just let it through for Pickford to make a simple save.

Bloody awful!

Josh Horne

116 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:02:49

Ian Bennett @95, it is ambition and our manager had none.

Put men behind the ball, no interest in playing up the field until the second half. Consistently passing up any vaguely threatening position to play back to Keane, Tarkowski and Pickford.

Cowardly performance, and Moyes looks a complete arse when it gets the result it deserves.

Kevin Molloy

117 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:02:52

Should have been a draw, that was never a penalty.

Terrible patched up defence, no full-backs, Keane playing, but we kept them at arm’s length.

I thought Beto was poor, but still much better than Barry, which is concerning. No wonder he’s looking for another fucking striker.

Phil Sammon

118 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:02:54

Ridiculous call, Colin. Go have a lie down.

Don Alexander

119 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:03:21

Crap performance to say the least.

Once again, I’ll go to bed with that song by Ian Dury bolstering my optimism for survival, as ever:

“Reasons To Be Cheerful – Decade Three!”

Yeah, right. 🙁

Martin Mulrooney

120 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:03:31

Shocking team selection and performance.

Right-footed centre-midfield player at left-back behind a right-footed left-winger who uses the threat of an overlap by the left-back to take players on inside or creates space for the left-back to receive the ball and whip it in. Garner didn’t get forward once and, when the ball went back to him, he just went backwards due to being right-footed — no threat of crossing the ball or getting to the byline.

Opposite flank, we have a centre-half playing right-back behind arguably a centre-midfielder playing right-wing who also wants to drive inside and can’t really beat a man — no threat of a cross or getting to the byline

So unbalanced and disjointed. Poor team selection, poor performance, poor touches, too many touches to move the ball on, no threat, slow passing, it was just a continuation of pre-season.

Neil Lawson

121 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:03:53

Only way to avoid the penalty was for Tarkowski to have his arm amputated.

However, it was the shocking play by Alcaraz that put him in that position. Up until then, we had a safe point at least from a mixture of tedium and lack of ambition.

Colin Glassar

122 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:04:31

Moyes isn’t one to make tactical changes during games.

His substitutions are late, or nonexistent. His teams are negative and unadventurous.

He’ll keep us up but bore us to death in the process.

Duncan McCarthy

123 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:04:43

Don’t know what’s more depressing:

a) that performance;
b) another stubborn manager refusing to change (their subs changed the game); or
c) the plebs desperate to write off our young striker after 15 or so minutes of game time.

Tommy Carter

124 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:04:43

Dreadful. Despite an improved second-half performance, if you enter the match with no clear intention of trying to win it, then the odds are that you won’t.

I wonder if Moyes will ostracise Alcaraz much in the way he did when Ross Barkley made a similar error in possession once upon a time?

Moyes should’ve recognised that Beto was offering us absolutely nothing in this game. So the options were to hook him or adapt the styles and patterns of play to try and exploit his strengths. Instead, he left him on and we carried a passenger for the whole game.

Grealish has to play centrally for us. Simple as that. He’s our most talented player. Alcaraz should’ve come out on the right with Grealish replacing Tim centrally.

Some really poor decision making from Moyes and, when we went 1-0 down — what did we do in the remaining 15 minutes of play to try and get something from the game? Not very much.

Brendan McLaughlin

125 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:04:51

Don #119

You’re in your thirties?

Si Cooper

126 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:04:52

Does the upper arm around the sleeve area not rule out ‘hand’ball anymore?

Apart from that, we didn’t deserve much from that performance.

But application of the laws has to be consistent; otherwise, the game gets even more farcical.

George Cumiskey

127 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:05:01

Don’t forget – Moyes has already got his excuses in:

“We weren’t ready. I didn’t get the players in I wanted.”

He got it in early.

Frank Sheppard

128 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:05:31

Can’t complain about the result.

If you can’t attack the opposition’s penalty area for the first 45 minutes, it’s unlikely you will get a positive result….. and don’t deserve to.

Kieran Kinsella

129 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:05:54

In fairness, we had no idea half the squad would be leaving in the summer so we had to wait until after 30 June… and the shock had sunk in before we could begin trying to locate new signings.

It’s not as if like, Doucoure’s departure had been publicly announced months before, or that we thought the loans had an expiration date.

Also, who’s really had time to think about buying a new right-back in the short space of time since Coleman broke his leg?

Neil Cremin

130 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:06:54

Still have serious doubts as to what everyone sees in Charly Alcaraz.

He got a silly yellow card, was the cause of losing the ball in position which led to the incident where a penalty was awarded, and I didn’t see where he created anything

Stuart Sharp

131 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:08:16

Not everyone, Neil.

Plenty of us are unconvinced.

Andy Kay

132 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:08:23

We simply didn’t deserve anything with that performance.

Negative, weird bizarre positional changes. Not starting Grealish. Garner right-footed left-back with McNeil on the bench? Two keepers on the bench.

Passing the ball back and sideways eventually all the way to Pickford from outside their 18-yard box is criminal. No other sides would do that. Still isolating the striker with zero creativity.

Looked more positive 2nd half but simply not good enough. Moyes and Tarkowski will whinge about the penalty but we got what we deserved on that performance. Nothing.

Robert Tressell

133 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:08:37

Poor group of players. No pace or width.

Time to get the cheque book out TFG.

RW, RB and CM.

Kieran Kinsella

134 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:09:13

Neil,

Charly Alcaraz reminds me now of Robert Warzycha. Remember him? Came in on loan, was amazing, oddly available for a relatively low fee.

Then, as soon as we signed him permanently, he turned to crap. Clearly there is a reason Flamengo moved him on after just 14 games.

Derek Knox

135 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:09:22

Hope that abysmal performance was a one-off. Totally deflated again, after looking forward to this opener.

What happened to the referee going to the screen to check the penalty decision? He’d rather take the word of someone 200 miles away!

Simon Dalzell

136 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:09:34

Was a definite penalty for me. Stupid by Tarkowski.

Not one full-back on the pitch for us. Iroegbunam will never be a Premier League player, same with Beto. So, no right-hand side whatsoever or a decent goalscorer.

Shambles: team selection, injuries, lack of signings made this no surprise.

Les @137. Spot On.

Les Callan

137 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:10:06

Shocking abysmal performance.

We’ve had three months to get some decent players and we have to turn out a team like that. Dreadful.

Colin Glassar

138 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:11:05

Three more years of this?

Filipe Torres

139 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:11:32

The game was poor from both sides and it was a nil-nil one for me.

Never a penalty! It hit the arm near the shoulder, it had a deflection, the ball came through a few players and the ref didn’t bother. It was rigged!

Pat Kelly

140 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:12:21

Nothing much has changed.

We may well be worse than last season.

Alex Whitehead

141 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:12:48

That was fucking pathetic!!!!

Andrew Merrick

142 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:13:19

KK, you’ve nailed it to the cross…

Now we need divine intervention.

Ian Wilkins

143 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:13:40

Poor all over the pitch, I couldn’t name anybody that had a decent game. No midfield hold in the game. No full-backs. No forwards. No ambition. An absolute void that.

And no surprise. Pre-season was dreadful and recruitment has been poor.

Dave Lynch

144 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:14:33

Not a chance Moyes will last 3 months, never mind 3 years, if we keep playing like that.

This isn’t his mate Teary Bill, it’s hard-nosed Yanks and they’ll pull the trigger on him in a heartbeat.

Neil Cremin

145 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:16:07

Thankfully I am not alone on Charly.

As for team selection. We had only two centre-halves available if Jake was going to fill right-back – why people were bothered with Keane beats me. Who else would they have put in? Given that, I thought he played well.

As for the left-back position, without Mykolenko or Aznou, who should we have played? Rather than give out about selection, let people at least offer what they would have done with the players available.

Bill Fairfield

146 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:20:25

Leeds deserved their win, against a very poor Everton team.

Just awful.

Colin Glassar

148 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:20:30

Dave, I honestly thought we’d have a new manager this season and Moyes would be moved upstairs.

This team, squad, club needs not only new, better players but new ideas. New tactics. New spirit. This is just more of the same old, same old.

Andy Meighan

149 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:21:58

Shocking performance against a very average side.

Yes, the team was disjointed because of the injuries to Mykolenko and Branthwaite, but not going out and attacking them was criminal.

Considering Garner was playing left-back, I thought he did okay, ditto Keane.

This recruitment team really have got to get their fingers out because that squad has got Bottom 6 stamped right through it.

Lack of pace, lack of creativity, and a lack of a goal threat.

It’s like Groundhog Day supporting Everton.

Mike Allison

150 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:22:52

Manager got it wrong.

Referee an embarrassment.

Football is back.

Danny Baily

151 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:23:58

Terrible. One shot on target and not much else.

George Cumiskey

152 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:24:39

A pound to a pinch of shit Moyes blames the recruitment for that result.

It’s nothing to do with him.

Lewis Barclay

153 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:26:04

Probably need at a minimum – top class starters for the following positions:

RB, CD, LB, RW, Striker

Tommy Carter

154 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:26:15

Neil and others. Alcaraz is not a bad player. He doesn’t have the nouse or experience yet to be picking up the ball deep and isolated on the turn at Premier League level. He shouldn’t have been in that position.

Grealish should’ve been central and arguably Alcaraz should’ve been on the left or better still, put Dwight McNeil on the left and actually have a left-footed footballer on the pitch to give some form of natural width and a different dimension to the team.

His plan was his only plan. Defend deep. Absorb pressure. Try and score at some point by relying on a set piece, a moment of magic, or a chance counter.

Mick O’Malley

155 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:26:20

It would help if he kept Alcaraz in one position, he’s being moved around. Ndiaye was just as bad, contributed absolutely nothing tonight.

Wouldn’t McNiel have been better at left-back tonight? He could have passed the ball up the line whereas Garner had to stop and get the ball on his right foot.

We know Beto tries his heart out but for fuck’s sake, he has to try and hold the ball up better. We know he prefers the ball to run onto but sometimes he needs to play with his back to the goal and needs to do a better job at holding it up.

A few times tonight we had the ball deep in their half and it ended up with Pickford who then just launched it back up the pitch, that first half was absolutely shocking.

Mark Murphy

156 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:27:27

I’m not one to pile in and it is early days… but fuck me, that was awful shite!

The worst first half I’ve seen since Norwich away under Benitez.

Mark Murphy

157 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:30:01

“Was a definite penalty for me. Stupid by Tarkowski.”

Seriously???

Christy Ring

158 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:31:17

Looking just before the penalty decision again, Alcaraz slipped but why didn’t Pickford clear the ball upfield in the first place?

You couldn’t pick out anyone apart from O’Brien and Garner, both playing out of position.

It’s ridiculous that we’re playing square pegs in round holes, our formation is totally lobsided, we’ve no shape whatsoever.

Derek Thomas

159 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:31:18

9 times out of 10 it gets no penalty, but for that 1 time we all know which team gets penalised.

Up to now, Grealish looks like a very over rated, out of condition waste of space…makes Tim, terribly nice but crap, look good.

Moyes knew… which is why he waited so long.

1-0 and we were lucky to get nil.

Onwards and… well, onwards anyway.

Memo to self, must see if that fridge magnet from the local taxi firm is still on the fridge.

Stuart Sharp

160 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:33:38

Tommy,

I don’t think Alcaraz is a bad player as such, just an underwhelming one. I saw the odd flash of quality last season, but nothing to make me desperate to sign him permanently.

For a creative player, he doesn’t create enough or contribute enough all round. Ironically, I thought he was more involved tonight than usual.

Rory Grant

161 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:34:06

Year after year, decade after decade, our season starts to unravel with the first match. Easiest possible start against another relegation rival and here we go.

First half showed again how the pre-season has been wasted and the slide towards the inevitable crisis and managerial change is well underway.

Ian Bennett

162 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:34:07

That penalty depends on the shirt. No way is that getting called against Man City, Liverpool etc.

Rodri caught it, and still didn’tt get given.

Oliver Molloy

163 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:34:47

Terrible performance in my opinion. Grealish will learn quick to forget about passing to Beto on the ground.

If true there are teams interested in Beto, I would say “Thank you, we appreciate your efforts but you are not good enough for us.” Even though we didn’t play to his strengths, his football ability is seriously lacking.

The penalty was a 50-50 decision and it went against us tonight, some might say VAR got it wrong again. In reality, and as others have already said, we deserved sweet fuck-all from this performance against a Leeds side who are shite.

We need players with pace and quality who can provide crosses…

So then Brighton next up at the new stadium – if we play like tonight, it will over in the first half!

Si Cooper

164 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:35:00

Where does the “3 more years of this” comment come from? I thought Moyes got 30 months and over 6 months have already gone?

They are saying Tarkowski moved his arm towards the ball. He moves his body towards the ball and the arm is jammed down by his side. Does he think upper arm is okay? Seems like a bit of a grey area as far as the sleeve region goes.
VAR were not going to overturn it as a clear and obvious error.

Alcaraz is always going to be a chancer. He’s not the player you want to be taking a short ball from the keeper. It was a poor choice but you can’t write him off just for that.

I don’t know why we went with James Garner at left-back. If that wasn’t a forced decision, it was a poor one. He had chances to play crosses in with his right and chose not to. If we’ve been practicing with him at left-back, it wasn’t evident tonight.

We really struggled to play the ball out from the back whilst they got past our mediocre pressing far too easily.

Beto seemed to be trying to obstruct their defenders rather than concentrating on getting to the ball first. Barry had nothing to work with in his very limited time on the pitch. Bizarre to say Beto was better.

Neil Cremin

165 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:35:59

Tommy, at least your response is reasoned.

Do you considered that Pickford playing out from the back by passing to Garner under pressure contributed to the incident? Still reluctant to call it a penalty.

What is clear is that the team selection was dictated because of the depth of our squad, resulting in square pegs in round holes.

Tony Abrahams

166 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:36:22

Do the linesmen change sides, or do they run the same line for 90 minutes now?

I ask because in the first half he failed to spot what was an obvious corner when the ball was a good yard out, and I thought then that he might be a bit of a Homer.

We need craft, we need craft, we simply need a lot more balance and craft.

Colin Glassar

167 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:36:33

C’mon Derek, after 20 minutes or so, you’re writing off Grealish?

Si, I saw it somewhere that he was given a 3½-year contract.

Jim Bennings

168 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:37:03

Sell Beto and offer Forest a wedge for Wood.

I don’t care about age, he knows how to trap a fucking ball and put the ball in the back of the net.

George Cumiskey

169 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:37:04

I wonder what the ToffeeWebers who were saying they weren’t worried about the pre-season results are thinking now… 🤔

Robert Tressell

170 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:37:40

Tommy # 154, not sure why we didn’t do what you suggest. McNeil and Garner look a pretty natural fit as wing-backs for a 3-4-3 / 5-2-2-1. Gueye, KDH in centre mid etc. Is McNeil injured too?

Our players were poor but weakened by such a strange formation – and we just never had a go. Soft penalty but we definitely deserved to lose.

Sean Kearns

171 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:37:51

What in the actual fuck did I just lay my eyes upon for the last 2 hours of my life?? We are wank!!… Beto is shit.

Also, if the penalty call was in our favour, I would want the penalty all day. So no complaints. Also, on the balance of play, can any of us complain? We deserved fuck all… we made almost zero effort to attack until we conceded.

It was bizarre — like Moyes was more bothered about showing the board we have no players, rather than getting a result.

Stuart Sharp

172 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:38:23

“Stupid by Tarkowski”? Eh? Trying to block a shot while his arm is behind his back?

Surely nobody can argue that was a ‘definite’ pen? I’ve never been more confident that VAR would go in our favour.

Peter Gorman

173 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:38:51

Barry needs to hit the ground running.

Mike Gaynes

174 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:39:07

This one is all on Moyes, folks.

We were unprepared for their intensity when we should have seen it coming, and we were reactive and unassertive.

The team that plays harder wins more games. Tonight it wasn’t us.

Andy Mead

175 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:39:24

CB at RB, CM at LB. Looked like a Sunday pub team who see who’s turned up and go from there. How many seasons does it take to buy full backs? Any wonder we didn’t deliver any decent crosses into the box.

Got exactly what we deserved. We are by far the most boring side to watch in the Premier League. Created nothing.

Beto is hopeless, though to be fair, he had no service whatsoever, but he didn’t win his aerial battles and couldn’t hold the little ball he did get.

Mistake from Alcaraz for the dodgy penalty to begin with. Grealish must have been thinking, “What the fuck?” – as he watched Gana spoon another pass straight into touch!

Sick of this season already!

Ian Bennett

176 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:39:59

Tony, the corner incident – the lino was the other side.

The handball, the linesman gave it. The ref was guessing, he couldn’t see it.

David West

177 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:40:03

Looked like Leeds had an extra 3 players at times. Hard watch, because we are asking players we know don’t have the ability, to do things we know they can’t !

Branthwaite and Mykolenko would see us more solid and balanced at the back, they are not going to create chances, the lack of real patterns of play, the inability to keep the ball (apart from knocking it between 2 CBs and the keeper) is concerning.

We didn’t get in behind them once. Where’s the plan? What is the plan? We can buy players, but if we stick them in and tell them the plan is to knock it long to the big striker who didn’t win a header all game, we might as well save the money and buy all the travelling fans a bottle of vodka for every away game. They are going to need it!

Tommy Carter

178 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:41:25

Oliver. If a shot of ours hit a Leeds player in a similar way, would you want a penalty?

I would. He leaned in to try and block it and took a chance in doing so. It hit his arm and diverted the shot. It’s harsh but for me I thought it was a penalty.

However, that is according to me and how I think penalties should be judged. I understand these may not be the rules. I’m not clued up on the rules because it all becomes subjective anyway – when the rules try and make that not so.

But I believe things like unnatural position etc are considered? And where on the arm it hits? Is the fact it took a deflection also considered?

Steve Shave

179 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:44:06

That was fucking awful, worse I watched it with my redshite mate in the pub and had to listen to his smug meanderings.

Bizarre set-up, terrible performance. 😢

Tommy Carter

180 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:47:01

@165 Neil. Id be reluctant to blame Pickford. Sometimes he puts players under pressure with his choice of distribution. I think he just tried to mix it up and vary the start of the pattern of play. Not having full backs that are comfortable receiving on the outside means that this is always likely to lead to losing the ball early.

What was your take on what happened after that.

I felt we were scrambling and panicking in that short passage of play after Alcaraz lost the ball. I didnt see any need for that level of panic once the initial break had been slowed down

Mick O’Malley

181 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:47:02

To be fair to Alcaraz, ye he slipped at a bad time but we had a couple of opportunities to clear the ball and made a complete balls up of it, Gana flicks his foot at it just before the shot leading to the penalty, and seriously how can you call Grealish out, he looked the only player in blue who was comfortable on the ball, let’s not sign anyone with any skill well just carry on with our tackling machines and sideways and backwards crabs. We also need to improve the striker’s because as willing as Beto is he really is poor with his back to goal, things can only get better

Christine Foster

182 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:49:34

Phew.. that was pretty much as expected from Leeds, but depressingly we were dreadful in the first half, just surrender the pitch and let them run it. But in fairness they never looked like scoring and at half time I thought a bad officials call would decide it (did anyone see the ball go out by a yard!, and not given out? I thought Kavanagh would someway hit us if he got the chance.
The penalty. Yes Tarkowski leaned into it, on purpose, but his arm was behind his back on contact, it his his shoulder more than arm. Hard to give a penalty.. but what did we expect?
We made a rod for our own backs tonight, tactically poor, Christ, Beto was bad.. but Moyes got that wrong especially first half.
Desperately short of quality, obvious to all but it also highlighted the managers short comings. We only have half a team. We only have half a manager to go with it.
Not a good start.

Si Cooper

183 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:49:34

Need to redesign the kit? Have the short sleeves come right down to just above the elbow? Perhaps it doesnt get given as handball if it clearly hits the shirt rather than bare skin?

Rob Dolby

184 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:50:36

An awful performance that neither team deserved to win. As usual a mistake lead to the goal. Alcaraz who slipped on his arse all game did it again 30 yards out from goal.

I thought it was a Harsh pen but given all minor decisions went against us. I expected the ref to give the pen.

After ending last season strong, we have started this like a bunch of strangers. No patterns to play, our supposed game winners where collectively terrible.

Beto had nothing to feed on all game. Even when we brought on Barry we kept passing it around the back.

Buying Barry and Hall when we didn’t need either is puzzling. Buying a left back that isn’t anywhere near ready is 70m without actually improving the team.

We have needed 2 fullbacks and a right midfielder since last season and we still haven’t.

It’s going to be another long season.

Mark Murphy

185 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:51:14

Early in the second half, ndiaye weaves through 3 of their players and laid it off to, I think, Garner. We were on the corner of the Leeds box.
I said to my son, “this move will end up with Pickford without any intervention from Leeds”.
And so it became.
The end result was Pickford launched it up to the right and Leeds regained possession.
Fcuking shite.

Mal van Schaick

186 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:52:22

It all started with Garner left back and it went downhill from there. Moyes wants ten players, better add another ten on to that.

Usual defend for our lives, then huff and puff and then get screwed over by poor officials. Nothing has changed really!

James Marshall

187 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:52:39

Just because your arm is by your side, doesn’t stop it from being handball. He moved towards the ball and stopped it with his arm = handball. We’d have all claimed it at the other end. If you think his arm was behind his back, it wasn’t.

We lost because we were shit all over the park, not just because someone fell over and we gave away a penalty.

Perspective is important.

Phil Wood

188 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:52:49

Absolute garbage of a performance in the first half.
Settled in the second then commit suicide by playing tippy tap around our box, Gave the shit homer of a referee the opportunity to gift Leeds the game.
Last few minutes and you play risky balls around the box. Unforgivable.
Two clowns in the Sky studio making up penalty rulings as they went along.
Fuming with our performance. Second to everything.
What happened to the team that finished the season so well?

Martin Mulrooney

189 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:56:15

Playing garner left back behind ndiaye felt like an isolated decision about who can do a job at left back but without any further thought of how it effects the balance of the team as a whole or going forward in tandem with the winger

Moyes could of tried McNeil at left back or McNeil left midfield ahead of garner to have the threat of crosses from out wide, move ndiaye to the right to offer the same threat of crosses into the box and going beyond the full back to the byline cos OBrien is ok defensively but he simply wants to move the ball onto a winger to do the rest and stay in position, which ndiaye is capable of doing and beating a man or two or at least the ball sticking for a bit to lay it backwards for supporting players in space that he creates by holding the ball, to deliver the cross

Or maybe a back 3 with McNeil as lwb and garner rwb.

Who knows if it would of worked but what was selected didnt work so all we can do is hypothesise other options he could of made

Garner was ‘ok playing out of position but it was disjointed and a toothless set up that resulted in us continually going backwards. It reminded me of the shit trippier got playing left back for England because as admirably as he played and made zero mistakes, it resulted in a major issue with th the balance for the whole team and constantly turning backwards or inside and slowing everything down. I was surprised how many times Pickford chose to go to Keane to his left, who then looked a little confused if he should give it to garner whose body position telegraphs he is immediately going to want to give it back to him or if Keane should just take a swing at it himself, another right footed player looking a little awkward whilst trying to use his left foot to move it forwards

Tommy Carter

190 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:58:41

How does VAR get instigated then. So the instance when their keeper fails to clear before it runs out of play – shouldve been a corner to us.

A corner for us is an opportunity its to put a ball into the box and have a number of our players in the box to attack it. Something that simply doesnt happen in open play for a a team as poor as ours.

A corner to us in such a game is a massive thing. So why does VAR not intervene in such circumstances? I dont know the rules well enough around things like this.

Tony Abrahams

191 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:58:45

Fail to prepare – prepare to fail, that was definitely on the manager because the recruitment has been absolutely marvellous!

I wrote that I didnt think I was being negative because I couldnt really get excited about the new season yesterday, and Im going to bed now thinking the reason I cant get excited, is because Everton gave exactly the type of performance that I expected them to give.

I found it very alarming that Barry, was only introduced when we went a goal down, because Beto, was absolutely miles off the pace, mentally, physically and especially technically.

Stuart Sharp

192 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:58:53

James, I disagree. If your arm is tucked in (it was) you are allowed to move towards the ball. It took a deflection and hit his arm. Nothing he can do. He asked the ref whether it should be a pen if his arm was tucked in, and the ref said no! The ref was relying on VAR to sort it out.

It’s pretty sad for the game if defenders are penalised for doing what Tarks did.

Si Cooper

193 Posted
18/08/2025 at
22:59:35

Kieran (134), yes weve seen that happen on occasion but what is your explanation for that phenomenon? Player stops trying after getting contract or the player was always crap but fluked looking good during loan?
Dont you need longer, perhaps see how the player performs when the rest of the team isnt also playing terribly to make a proper judgement?

Bobby Mallon

194 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:00:10

Tony 191 the same goes for Alcaraz

Peter Mills

195 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:02:07

I know there are some mitigating factors with injuries at the back, but the stand-ins, Keane, and Garner at left back, did ok.

But what a depressing performance, what a pathetic statement for the manager to make for the first game of the season. We had so few efforts on goal it was painful.

If you set out not to win the game, but hopefully take a point from it, you are unlikely to win it. If you try and get a point, which I think was our managers aim tonight, there is a very good chance you will be thwarted by one mistake, one piece of misfortune. And so it came about.

I have no idea about Grealishs fitness, but I suspect he, at 70% fitness, has more about him than most of the blue shirts on the pitch tonight. To not start him was the encapsulation of our manager – I bet if David Moyes ever bought his kids a train set for Christmas, he didnt let them play with it until Easter.

Alan McGuffog

196 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:04:12

So we have a manager and three or four behind him Directors of Football or whatever. Feckin hilarious. And we put together a side like that.. still it’s not as if we aren’t used to it. Can’t see Moyes having Xmas dinner at Finch Farm if things carry on like this

Andy Crooks

197 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:04:38

Agree, Mike, this was down to a lamentable performance from the coach. I had forgotten just how fucking uninspiring he is.

Nick Page

198 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:04:53

BUY SOME FUCKING PLAYERS NOW YOU FUCKING USELESS FUCKING SHITBAGS.

Nick Page

199 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:06:30

We dont need layers and layers of management and decision makers. If you have that youre fucking finished. Its corporate mantra and its very easy. Too many hangers on and overpaid non entities at this football club STILL. Its disgraceful.

James Marshall

200 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:07:16

Stuart – but as you yourself say, he moved ‘towards’ the ball. It’s called hand-ball, he used his arm (which by definition is his hand) so therefore it surely has to be handball.

Back in the day, whether your arm was tucked in or not, it was still handball and that hasn’t changed.

I think people have got lost and confused in the language used because they started talking about ‘unnatural’ positions.

A natural position can be and is still handball if you move towards the ball – which he did.

Had he been moving away from the ball with his arm by his side, he might have got away with it. But the fact remains, he was moving towards the ball and deliberately so, in order to block the shot – he did block the shot, with his arm – that is not in doubt, thus it is handball.

Si Cooper

201 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:07:19

Tommy (190], VAR doesnt get involved for things like the ball going out of play.

There was also a corner given when the TV images made it look like the last player to play the ball was Dan James. Didnt seem to be much of an objection by Everton players but apparently they are supposed to have been warned not to openly challenge the referees this season.

James (200), something termed the ‘T-shirt rule was introduced in 2019. Its interpretation is the issue.

Christine Foster

202 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:07:46

If you are short of quality players, don’t try to play quality football. The players aren’t up to it and will lead to mistakes and lost possession. Always.
So why do stupid things. Play to what strengths you have. Pickford played a suicidal ball behind a makeshift central midfielder who probably wasn’t expecting it and ended up on his arse. Pressure which lead to a goal. Bad decision by keeper.
We had no attack tonight, nothing going forward, long balls never won, no crosses, no shots, no runs, no defence splitting passes. And to top it all, we have Moyes of old, he knows he is in the shit, difference is he has no time, no leeway. He has to earn his crust or he will be gone before the Chritmas lights go up.

Terry Farrell

203 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:09:18

Hello everyone we were at Elland Road away 1st game of the season, what some would call a poison challice. Me too! Despite the battering they didn’t look like scoring. A point would have been fair. The pen is an absolute disgrace and more shame on var as an unbiased manager of the game. If he had a ponytail and a red shirt that is no pen. He lunges at it with his chest and his arm is welded to his side. Only Tarks knows if he took a chance but var don’t and they upheld it!

Nick Page

204 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:11:05

Everton Football Club could be one of the top 10 football clubs in the world. But the club is absolutely held back by the loathsome, brainwashed, anachronistic, nepotistic hangers on and incompetent management, with ZERO accountability, who purely look after themselves and not the greater good. They couldnt give a shit.

Please, Everton – wake up and make changes. NOW

Ray Jacques

205 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:12:21

They got what they deserved, fucking nothing. Totally outplayed.
New players needed and needed now.
A premier league team playing the first game of the season without a recognised full back. That’s not acceptable.

Kunal Desai

206 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:16:17

If that’s Van Dijk or Rodri it doesn’t get given. Simple as. Yet again Everton is used as a scapegoat to give these decisions against. It won’t be given as a penalty next time.

That said we were awful and it was petering out into a draw. This week has to be the focus on bringing in some players otherwise I really do fear it’ll be five seasons in a row since we have picked up a win in August.

West Ham end of September could be a crucial six pointer where the first win comes from. I hope that sincerely isn’t the case.

Dean Rolstone

207 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:20:22

It was a dreadful performance from us tonight, there is no denying that. However, in the 2nd half we matched Leeds and didn’t look like losing until the penalty decision.

On the first viewing I thought it was a definite penalty, but on the replays I was confident VAR would overturn it. Tarky leaned towards the ball but him arm was tucked in to his side, over than amputation I’m not sure what else he could do.

It appeared the ref leaned heavily on the lino to give the penalty decision against us, but he was the same official who missed a corner for us in the first half when the ball was 3 yards out of play so probably not the most reliable. But VAR, that’s what it’s there for to make right these sort of calls.

Hopefully next weekend at BMD we’ll change the narrative but I think we need a couple more new faces to make our season a positive one.

Justin Doone

208 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:21:40

Everton were awful, we didn’t deserve to win the game and if Leeds would have scored one of their first half chances and won I could not complain about the score.
Looking at that, we have had no preseason, no meet and greet and no warm up. That’s how lost, limp and lathargic we were. Game plan, ha, what’s one of them?

But to lose to that, an awful decision by a referee who didn’t see it and var who didn’t over turn it. Atrocious!

If that is a penalty within the laws of the game then defenders would need to start chopping off arms not to give away penalties.
I no longer pretend to know the rules apart from if they can find a way to hurt Everton, they do.
Simplify it, ball to arm = penalty, no matter what. We will all have to accept it.

Colin Malone

209 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:22:32

https://youtu.be/Wmc8bQoL-J0?si=jIzfE8go-9JGQ4BC
And that’s David Moyes.

Bill Gall

210 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:24:08

The only thing that can be said after that performance is, why was I looking for the start of this season after the way we finished towards the end of last season, I guess I forgot I support Everton.

Dave Abrahams

211 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:30:46

We didnt deserve to get anything from the game after such an underwhelming performance but that doesnt make that penalty a correct decision and a 0-0 draw wouldnt make our prospects with this present squad the tiniest bit better.

Oliver Molloy

212 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:32:25

Tommy 178,
We need every fifty fifty going, so obviously no matter if its against us or for us I want them all to go on our favour, but we know that’s not going to happen.

Conor McCourt

213 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:34:00

Bizarre how posters can watch that performance and slate TFG.

Charly is getting hammered as he was useless on the right. Did anyone expect anything different? Then he moves him inside and he comes alive so he takes him off as he ain’t one of his favs.

Now we have posters crying for a central midfielder? What are you joking? How many players do You want us to sign? 50?

The great decision of Moyes to bring in the widely heralded KDH. If he’s not a midfielder what to fuck is he?

We have Jack, Dwight, Ilyman and Charly who want to play as a ten so what is the point in KDH.

Did anyone who is hammering Charly for the slip not notices that Stach drove the ball unchallenged with KDH running like Allan towards him. Then 2 more unchallenged efforts which could have resulted in a hat trick straight after Moyes took off one of his fall guys and moved him into midfield.

Sorry blame TFG for not signing a right winger and you have a point but to not go with a 352 tonight was madness and those crying about resources and you will see our our chief threat and our most creative player since Moshiris millions ran out sat twiddling his thumbs on the bench.

I’m sure Benitez, Lampard and Dyche would have loved to have that depleted squad tonight.

Jimmy Carr

214 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:36:50

In retrospect Moyes should have played a 3-5-2, but he didn’t, and may have had his reasons. But it’s a strange one not to play McNeil on the left and Garner on the right, unless McNeil was injured?

I’m not gonna write Moyes or the season off on the basis of tonight’s game though, that would be ridiculous. Some people have short memories on here.

But clearly, stating the bleeding obvious, we need a specialist right back pronto. Also, Beto was terrible. I would start Barry in the next game and give him a run. The general lack of pace in our team is scary. I thought Alcaraz did ok, at least he had a shot on goal.

More signings required quick.

Sean Kearns

215 Posted
18/08/2025 at
23:38:14

GIVE JAMIE VARDY WHATEVER HE BLOODY WANTS!… the defending was alright and we looked like getting a clean sheet until the pen. But up front we are abysmal. The ball bounces off Beto like a pinball. Barry has to start the next match after that if we dont get a big name forward. Vardy is a free agent. Give him 200k a week fuck it… the whole world watched that tonight. Maybe 1 billion viewers or something crazy. And we play like a primary school team ffs.

Pork pie, sausage roll. Come on Everton give us a goal

Paul Kossoff

216 Posted
19/08/2025 at
00:14:49

Let me ask you a question, if you are trying to avoid something, what do you do. A boxer leans away from a punch, am American footballer jumps over blocks, a footballer not wanting to give away a penalty leans away from the ball. Tarkowski leans into the ball and it hits his upper arm. He’s done it before and he knew what he was doing. Ive seen players do it and get away with it, but we are Everton and we don’t get away with these decisions ever. He is big enough, ugly enough and old enough to know you just don’t give the bastards any excuse to punish us. I’ve no sympathy for him, for us, yes, for a 33 yrs old professional to put his team at risk of conceding, I’m giving him no excuses. And Pickford had it covered! Don’t hang our defeat on this penalty, we should have been battered, and a better team than Leeds, will take us to the cleaners, get a 25% discount and a free taxi home. We stunk, we know it, Moyes knows it, the owners know it. New beginning is it, a new Everton. A brand new stadium is going to look out of place in the championship, because, yes I know it’s only one game, but if drastic measures aren’t taken soon, before transfer window closes, we are in for a hard season. Seasoned pros ready to go need to be brought in, and quickly.

Kevin Molloy

217 Posted
19/08/2025 at
00:33:43

its these small time dreadful Yorkshire barmcakes we’ve got running the transfers, congratulating themselves on the half million they’ll have shaved off Dibling’s asking price at the end of the month.

Bill Watson

218 Posted
19/08/2025 at
01:01:42

We were abysmal in the first half and I think we got into their penalty area just the once. Leeds were battering us but, having said that, never really looked like scoring.

We were a little better in the second half but never tested their goalkeeper. They had twice as many shots on target; two to our one!

Neither side looked like scoring until that bizzare penalty.

Jack Convery

219 Posted
19/08/2025 at
03:03:08

Only one team wanted to win that game and played like it meant everything to them. That team was Leeds.

Leeds only won though, because of an awful decision by Cavanagh, who already has history with us – he was on Var for the Rodri “handball” v City. He agreed with the ref it wasn’t handball !! Yet tonight after a flag from the linesman, who had an awful game too, he immediately awards a pen. If he had said no pen, VAR would have agreed with him. He said yes and VAR Backed him up. Just incredible.

We deserved to lose, We were horrible. Out fought, out run for most of the game. There was no passion at times it looked as though some, if not all of them had downed tools. My suspicion is the players didn’t like the way the Moyesiah set up the team. Surely a 3 5 1 1, would have been better use of the players available. Beto definitely wasn’t interested in a lone striker role, chasing and harrying, not for him tonight. To get the best out of Beto, you need an Alcaraz behind him. The end of last season, when we broke they created chances and scored goals. Tonight we looked like we could play, until the proverbial cows came home and never score. The midfield was awful. Tim is not an EPL player – yet. A season on loan but only if we get quality midfielders in asap. KDH looked like he wasn’t sure what his role was. The defense stuck at it and would have kept a clean sheet, because for all their effort Leeds have little up front to worry Premier League defenders, unless a ref is especially nice to them.

I expect Howard Webb to come out and back Cavanaghs decision. Personally I’d like to hear the conversation between Cavanagh and VAR. It might make good listening.

The Leeds crowd played their part tonight. The EFC fans at HD Stadium, when Brighton come to town will have to play their part as this team will need lifting. TFG have a habit of getting rid of managers pronto. The Moyesiah needs to be wary. They might have someone lined up and just need a good excuse. I

Ernie Baywood

220 Posted
19/08/2025 at
04:26:11

Hard to blame Moyes for the defensive setup. Personally I would have gone with McNeil, but it’s really a case of picking from a list of unsuitable candidates. He trusted Garner and, while he struggled with the position, I thought he stuck at the task. You can see why managers seem to like him.

Likewise we’d have to accept that we as fans don’t know where Grealish is in regards to his fitness and preparation… Moyes would have a much better idea. I’m happy enough to accept his judgement and doubt that Grealish will be out of the team for a minute longer than he needs.

The only decision I thought was a bit odd was playing Tim Iro in midfield when Dewsbury-Hall looks tailor made for that “number 8” role and Tim hasn’t exactly shone in pre-season. We had no ‘out’ ball from defence with Tim there… he just hangs back and hopes not to be caught out of position. We improved once Tim was off the pitch – he’s a long way from Premier League standard at the moment.

I don’t see Charly as a right sided player. I see him as a number 10 arriving late in the box. But it’s another position where we’re not blessed with alternatives.

Striker is going to be a tough position. Whether it’s Barry or Beto. But, again, I don’t think Moyes necessarily made a bad decision there, it’s just a position we are a bit limited in.

That said, Leeds came out fired up and we limited them to no real chances and lost to a pretty harsh penalty when we were finally in the ascendancy. I’ve watched referees give nothing that isn’t clear all weekend and then suddenly one gives himself 5 seconds to think and then guesses. VAR isn’t going to overturn things anymore unless it’s objective or measurable.

Shit happens. I still think we’re on the right track with generally signing young players. We desperately need to address a couple of areas in the starting XI, but it’s fanciful to think that we’ll suddenly fix every part of the team in one window, which hasn’t yet finished.

Mike Gaynes

221 Posted
19/08/2025 at
06:22:56

Jack #219… “TFG have a habit of getting rid of managers pronto.”

No, they really don’t. They would have kept Dyche on — he sat on the grenade himself. At Roma, Friedkin put up with Mou’s hostile press comments about club management for over a year before finally sending him on his way. And De Rossi nuked himself the following year by handing in a me-or-her ultimatum about the club president. Friedkin chose her and De Rossi had to go. All that churn wasn’t about TFG’s preferences.

I’d say Moyes is very safe for the foreseeable future.

But as I said previously, this one’s on him — not for the lineup or the subs, but for not having his team ready for the emotional intensity awaiting them.

Jerome Shields

222 Posted
19/08/2025 at
06:44:31

You cannot beat the referee.Setting up shop to avoid defeat is always a risky strategy in the Premier League, particularly if possession is continually lost in midfield..I was disappointed that Moyesdidn’t ensure he had a coherent midfield.It lacked planning and instruction.Rarely can a attack be built under such circumstances.

Moyes just didn’t”t want a Rest Ham result and was hoping to grind out a result, either a draw or a nick a set piece win.I won’t be bothering with his post match comments I have heard all the excuses before.

Danny O’Neill

223 Posted
19/08/2025 at
07:31:13

Not a pleasant watch. We went for a point and tried to keep a point, allowing an enthusiastic but not very good Leeds team to come at us. Always a dangerous tactic. And for me, the tactics were wrong, regardless of who started. I struggled to see the formation and still can’t work it out.

It didn’t look right from the start. The midfield couldn’t gain a foothold on the ball and we were sloppy in possession. Alcaraz tried, but became visibly frustrated with his teammates. Ndiaye was similar, but wasn’t at the races by his own standards. We seemed too reliant on the pair.

I’ll give James Garner a mention. Prior to the match, I thought he may play right back, but playing left back, he did a job, especially against a Leeds team that was targeting the flanks.

As for the penalty, forget bygone ages, in the modern game, and interpretation of the rules, that was not a penalty. The ball is hit at Tarkowski with pace from, at the most, 10 yards out, with his arm clearly tucked behind his body.

Generally we lacked intensity and purpose.

Our only attacking tactic was to punt hopeful balls up to Beto to chase, mostly on his own, which only went to their centre backs.

Moyes’body language concerned me. It looked like he was taking instructions from Alan Irvine at one point, and by the time we made our first substitution on around 70 minutes, Leeds had already made 3 or 4 changes.

I don’t like being negative, but there is not a lot to take from that. Let’s hope we get one or two back off the injury list before facing Brighton.

Benjamin Dyke

224 Posted
19/08/2025 at
07:42:51

Absolute shambles that we’re so short of full backs and lacking all over the pitch. Who’s building our squad?

George Cumiskey

225 Posted
19/08/2025 at
08:13:21

I’ve said it before Moyes teams don’t attack in numbers the few times we did run at them the player in question was completely isolated and had to pass it backwards, when Grealish did get the ball there were 3 Leeds players around him with no Everton players near him to help him out.

Eric Myles

226 Posted
19/08/2025 at
08:17:03

Justin #208 “Simplify it, ball to arm = penalty, no matter what. We will all have to accept it.”

They’ve tried that before but skillful players will deliberately aim to hit the arm of the opposing player so it got changed…again. I remember the Rat from the other lot was particularly adept at that.

Bobby Mallon

227 Posted
19/08/2025 at
08:19:41

James Marshall @200. Look up the picture of rodri playing for man hand ball. Same VAR no pen then tell me tarks was a pen

Steve Brown

228 Posted
19/08/2025 at
08:33:03

The selection was strange – CB at RB, CM at LB, No.8 at No,10, no. 10 at RW and other no.10 at LW.

Whether it was the tactical game plan or the players not delivering the game plan, we were far too passive and struggled to play out of the press; this something we did well under Moyes last season. Beto did not play well but he was totally isolated.

Things we now know for sure 1) we need a bloody right back 2) Tim Iro is not ready for the premier league 3) KDH is not the answer at no.10 – better suited as a no.8 4) we need a bloody right winger – Alcaraz is not the answer there.

Bright note – Garner did OK at LB. He is a very versatile squad member.

Paul Hewitt

229 Posted
19/08/2025 at
08:42:01

The first thing Moyes should do today is get his recruitment team together, and give them a bollocking.

Ajay Gopal

230 Posted
19/08/2025 at
08:44:59

The most insightful comment of the penalty decision – Gary Neville: “The guilt was written all over Tarkowski’s face. He knows it is a penalty”.

Right, so let’s get the VAR cameras to focus on the players’ faces. “Does he look guilty enough to you?” “Yep, definite penalty”.

I sometimes wonder how these players who were great in their time, come up with these stupid comments?

Back to the game, I find it strange that Moyes made only 2 subs. I wonder why McNeil was left on the bench? He is one player who can create chances and shoot from outside the penalty box. And surely, Armstrong who was on the bench is a better player than Iroegbunam at the moment? Anyone knows if Aznou was injured or was he deliberately kept out? If he was not injured, then it is damning indictment of the recruitment team, that when we badly needed Myko’s replacement, the player whom we paid 9 million from Bayern Munich was found ‘not ready’.

Troubling times, and I have started wondering if this is not another false dawn on the long-suffering Evertonians?

Eric Myles

231 Posted
19/08/2025 at
08:57:02

Does anyone think that if it had been the other way round and had not been awarded as a penalty we would be happy with the decision?

Anthony Dove

232 Posted
19/08/2025 at
09:03:38

Not for the first time in recent history we have a ridiculous
number of players who ideally suit the number
10 role but no wide players at at all( certainly not
with any pace) or a centre forward with half a clue. As for Moyes lets just hope TFG see the light before its too late.

Peter Mills

233 Posted
19/08/2025 at
09:18:45

Everyone working at Everton Football Club, from top to bottom, needs to raise their game.

They have operated abysmally for at least 30 years. Its a miracle we are still in the “top flight”, but we have effectively been relegated by merely staying alive while our rivals have advanced on the European and world stages.

Miraculously, we have the opportunity to move forward with a shiny new stadium. We, the supporters, the only constant good thing over the miserable 30 (closer to 40) years, are being asked to pay more money for that. We are also being asked to go to more effort travelling to and from matches.

Guess what, Everton – we want more from you. A lot more. Last night was totally unacceptable.

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