Talking points in the aftermath of Wolves vs Everton | OneFootball

Everton secured a second straight win in the Premier League after beating Wolves 3-2 at Molineux Stadium on Saturday.

David Moyes’ side will march into the first international break of the season with six points on the board from three matches. Iliman Ndiaye and Beto got on the scoresheet once again after scoring against Brighton and Mansfield Town in the past week, while Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scored his first goal for the club after signing from Chelsea this summer.

Jack Grealish was spectacular once again, registering another couple of assists to add to the two he got against Brighton last weekend.

In the end, the scoreline was more flattering for Wolves who were clearly second-best to the Blues all game.

Here are the major talking points from Everton’s 3-2 win over Wolves:

Astounding technical quality upfront

With Jack Grealish, Iliman Ndiaye and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall on the pitch, Everton have three highly technical players who lift the floor of the side’s performance to a considerable degree.

They can fool defenders with smart runs in behind, exchange one-twos and get into dangerous shooting positions, dribble their way out of trouble and create chances, provide assists, and score goals.

All three players are also willing to run their socks off to help the side defensively and with 19-year-old Tyler Dibling waiting to be integrated into the starting XI, it’s fair to say that the Blues’ attacking quality is off the charts.

Compare this to how sore your eyes got from repeated viewings of Jack Harrison, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Jesper Lindstrom treating the football like a bomb last season, and the leap that Everton have taken in the final third becomes quite evident.

Jake O’Brien’s performance sums up the need for another right-back

With a little over 30 hours remaining until the transfer window closes on Monday, Everton are still looking for a couple of additions to their squad. The signing of a right-back is imperative, especially after Jake O’Brien’s performance against Wolves emphasised the current gaps in that role.

I actually like O’Brien as a right-back and think he provides a lot of defensive solidity on the flank. However, O’Brien doesn’t have the necessary technical skills or footwork to get out of the opposition press playing so close to the touchline.

He got dispossessed thrice against Wolves, failed to win a single dribble attempt and had a poor passing accuracy below 60%. O’Brien is also largely hit or miss while going forward and while trying to contribute in the final third with crosses, passes, and runs.

David Moyes could use some variety with the signing of a more offensive-minded right back. It would allow the side to build play gradually down the flank and look more settled in possession, especially given that they now possess the likes of Grealish, Dewsbury-Hall and Dibling along with Ndiaye, who can flourish and excel through this style of play.

James Tarkoswki has been shaky, Michael Keane quietly solid

There were concerns, albeit valid, surrounding Michael Keane after Jarrad Branthwaite picked up an injury just before the season began. However, Keane has looked quietly solid and dare I say it, has been the best in the backline so far.

Sure, he could’ve probably opted to clear the ball during the second goal Wolves scored yesterday, but the mistake was mostly down to Vitalii Mykolenko losing his runner. Keane has also looked more composed in spraying passes out from the back and has also won balls several times inside the opposition half, leading to quick counters.

James Tarkowski, on the other hand, has looked relatively shaky. He’s been guilty of lapses in concentration every now and then, along with errors in judgement. The first goal Wolves scored yesterday could’ve been preventable had Tarkowski followed Hwang hee-Chan instead of leaving the responsibility to James Garner.

He was also adjudged to have handled the ball against Leeds United, made a bizarre no-look back pass to Jordan Pickford that almost led to a goal against Brighton and got outfoxed by Kaoru Mitoma during a possession battle that he should’ve won.

International break provides opportunity to improve further

The first international break provides Everton with the opportunity to polish their game further. The two goals Wolves scored yesterday, for example, were preventable, which was pointed out by Moyes post-match.

“We conceded two goals which I don't think were like us, the type of goals they were. They were a bit easy and not the things we work on and we're quite good at. So I was disappointed with that, a bit disappointed when we were 3-1 up that we didn't go and get the fourth goal, which we had three or four opportunities,” said the Everton boss.

The break also gives Moyes the chance to work with some of the signings who missed pre-season for the club and the couple of injured players - Jarrad Branthwaite and Adam Aznou - time to recover.

Reader Comments (63)

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Matthew Johnson 2 Posted 31/08/2025 at 16:12:40

The main talking point should be why is the ToffeeWeb website so neglected. Outside of the news stories, the rest of the website is dead.

Season menu shows 24-25 fixtures still, players menu shows players that left ages ago and doesn't have any of our new signings, and the random player pictures in the main site banner shows players that are no longer at the club, transfers hasn't been updated since 2024!!!

Les Callan 4 Posted 31/08/2025 at 16:29:12

We still haven’t played a match since 8th Feb. Poor show.

Ian Jones 6 Posted 31/08/2025 at 16:35:05

Matthew, Lee and Les, feel free to offer your services to the ToffeeWeb team to help update the site in your spare time or perhaps wait for the 'new' version of the site.

Unless I am dreaming, I think I saw a post/message from Michael K to say they were working on a new site. My guess is it's not worth updating the current site if a new one is coming.

I'll post the link when I find it

Anjishnu Roy 8 Posted 31/08/2025 at 16:58:19

Ian, you're correct. We've been trying to get the tech services updated since the change of ownership, it's taken longer than it was supposed to but we're expecting development on that front soon enough.

Apologies for the inconvenience on behalf of the ToffeeWeb team.

Christy Ring 9 Posted 31/08/2025 at 17:05:05

Grealish has been a breath of fresh air.

I find it unbelievable that Gordon and Rashford who has played little football with Barcelona, are picked ahead of him for England.

How can Henderson make the squad? Tuchel is clueless.

Paul Kossoff 10 Posted 31/08/2025 at 17:13:11

Who is the fucking idiot putting Jack Grealish in a headlock? Melon.

Pity J G didn't knock him out, he would probably still put it on his X account.

Alan J Thompson 11 Posted 31/08/2025 at 17:13:47

If Dibling comes into the side as a starter, then who would make way for him?

Would he be happy coming on after, say, 60 or 70 minutes for Ndiaye or could they both start – which brings me back to the first question, who makes way?

Obviously it won't be Grealish, and Iroegbunam will, like yesterday, start on the bench; I can't see him replacing the defensive sides of Gana and Garner, or Dewsbury-Hall, and Alcaraz is in a similar position, while Moyes may have already made his mind up on McNeil – and Armstrong, unfortunately, seems an almost after thought.

Ian Wilkins 12 Posted 31/08/2025 at 17:25:07

We have an abundance of options wide midfield and no 10, not so holding midfield, as was demonstrated yesterday when Gana went off and we completely lost shape.

Got to bring someone in for this and right-back. Yesterday, O'Brien looked exactly what he is, a centre back playing right back. He's done a decent job but he's a very limited right-back.

Lee Jackson 13 Posted 31/08/2025 at 17:33:41

Totally missed that article about the website changes, thanks Ian J.

Mike Gaynes 14 Posted 31/08/2025 at 17:38:15

Grealish leads Europe with 4 assists. Only one other player has more than 2.

Tom Bowers 15 Posted 31/08/2025 at 17:48:56

The right-back situation is a real problem. We need a really good sweeper who has speed and reads the game better than what we have. Mykolenko is not the best left-back but maybe the new guy Aznou will fill that role soon enough.

Anyone else feel that the Guardiola dominant era with City is coming to an end? He seems to be saddled with several players who are just not City standard, like this guy Bobb??

Ian Wilkins 16 Posted 31/08/2025 at 17:58:40

Khusanov, Nunez, Gonzalez, Mamoush — the City acquisitions are way below the previous City standard.

They're not spending the way they used to. Probably part of the deal with the Premier League in avoiding any points deduction.

European places very wide open this season. I don't think there's an obvious Top 6.

Andy Meighan 17 Posted 31/08/2025 at 18:04:43

Spot on that, Tom, about Man City. They try and overplay all of the time, and don't mix it up.

As for us, it looks great creative-wise, but they were poor goals to concede yesterday. I've a feeling if Branthwaite played we might not have conceded them.

Additions: right-back is a must – and a defensive midfielder.

Sean Kearns 18 Posted 31/08/2025 at 18:31:09

All of a sudden we are a team/project that people would want to join…. We look good and with all the hype around Jackie G why wouldn’t players want to come to us, plus we can pay the big wages. We probably have multiple options on the table and

Can take our pick of the bunch, but are being business minded and waiting to see what the best deal is. I don’t believe nobody wants to come to us, quite contrary I reckon we have multiple options and can take our pick. Expect a couple of good incomings before the deadline 👀

Robert Tressell 19 Posted 31/08/2025 at 18:36:14

Ian # 16, hit the nail on the head. It’s as simple as this: City don’t have the best players anymore so they have fallen away. And the PSR shenanigans means they can’t go out any buy the best players either. Arsenal, the RS and Chelsea now have the best squads - but Chelsea also have a weird squad and (as yet) fairly uninspiring manager.

Peter Mills 20 Posted 31/08/2025 at 18:41:28

I’ve just endured watching the rs against Arsenal.

Typical of us, just as we get dancing feet and intricate passing up front, it seems “the philosophy” to win the league is to pass the ball backwards and try not to score.

Jim Bennings 21 Posted 31/08/2025 at 19:01:08

City need to somehow reinvent themselves.

The City between 2013 and 2022 was absolutely immense but there's no denying that they are declining now.

The stars of that era included the like of David Silva, Kevin de Bruyne, Sergio Aguero, Fernandinho, Yaya Toure, the names roll off the tongue.

You can't say the same anymore for this City team and the signings don't seem quite the same level anymore either.

Pep needs to reinvent himself also because the pass pass pass from goalkeeper to defence to midfield to strikers that was so successful between 2016 and 2020 has started becoming the elephant in the room now.

Have you got more strings to the bow?

That's the question now he needs to ask himself and probably quickly find answers to.

Craig Scott 22 Posted 31/08/2025 at 19:46:06

I think it’s a bit OTT at this stage to say “the Blues’ attacking quality is off the charts” - Settle down.

Mike Allison 23 Posted 31/08/2025 at 19:57:46

Maybe it makes more sense to say that our attacking quality is finally backon the charts

Paul Kossoff 24 Posted 31/08/2025 at 20:59:31

Aston villa 0 Crystal palace 3. Villa next. But, but, they haven't scored yet.

Jim Bennings 25 Posted 31/08/2025 at 21:13:32

Don't worry Paul, we'll hurt them bad at Bramley Moore.

We haven't beaten Villa since they came back up in 2019/20 in the league, I'm confident we can end that in two weeks time.

John Brooks 26 Posted 31/08/2025 at 21:18:52

I'm getting a bit sick of how everyone is praising Keane to the high heavens. Yes he is overall playing a lot better than the last couple of seasons, but he still suffers from, the only way I can describe it, brain freeze too often during the match. Their second goal yesterday, the ball came across the area, between Keane (+ 2 others) and Pickford/the goal. Keane stood and watched it, and the guy came in from behind him and bang it's in. What did Keane do? He slumped his shoulders and dropped his head. His job is to marshall the area, and to keep an eye on anyone that looks threatening. The guy came in from his right shoulder. One look over the shoulder to check the lay of the land, he would have seen him and at least made an effort to tackle/block/guide the ball and player (if necessary) negating the danger. One look over his shoulder. Is that too much to ask? And before anyone jumps in, I agree that across the line mistakes were made. Come back soon Branthwaite. Please.

Robert Tressell 27 Posted 31/08/2025 at 21:22:18

Surely the talking point now is whether we strengthen the squad ahead of the 7pm summer window closing tomorrow.

We have the beginnings of a really good team and even some squad depth in certain positions - but we all know the issues and limitations.

We still have loan spots available.

We may still have some proper kitty available.

The players are out there.

It would be great to see TFG end the window with a bang - after having already signed 8 players. Even one more player of quality can make all the difference.

Fingers crossed.

Tony Abrahams 28 Posted 31/08/2025 at 21:33:31

John@26, whilst I understand what you’re trying to say, I’m glad that you’re only getting a little bit sick of people praising Michael Keane, because it’s much better than him getting stick, for not being quite good enough.

I’d love three signings Robert, and think if we are genuinely trying to kick on, then it’s absolutely imperative that we sign a decent right back.

I’d love another combative midfielder, and I’d also like to see us sign another forward, but looking at us yesterday, then a fullback who likes to join in and attack, has got to be highest on our agenda?

Ernie Baywood 29 Posted 31/08/2025 at 21:53:14

Yes Robert, that's the big talking point.

We've got something pretty exciting here but still have a couple of gaps and lack depth in some areas.

I said all along that we couldn't expect the club to try to remedy the gaps in a single window, but it's still possible that they get close. A right back, an Idrissa rotation/replacement option and striker would make this an incredible window.

But I suspect it's probably a couple of loans now and ideally versatile players. And maybe there's a striker sitting on the bench somewhere thinking they'd love to be playing in front of our attacking players.

Mark Murphy 30 Posted 31/08/2025 at 21:55:40

“everyone is praising Keane to the high heavens.”Who? Where?People are saying he’s playing better than Tarkowski ( he is) and doesn’t deserve to be dropped, but “praising him to the high heavens”?But anyway, Why should it upset anyone if he’s getting positive comments for playing a decent role filling in for Branthwaite?

Neil Copeland 31 Posted 31/08/2025 at 22:01:36

Slightly off topic; why do so many opposing teams fans boo Jack Grealish? I can understand Wolves because of the Villa connection but Leeds (morons?), Brighton (thick?) and Mansfield (jealous?) all did too.

Am I missing something here?

Robert Tressell 32 Posted 31/08/2025 at 22:02:10

I mentioned it on another thread but I don't suppose they might have Armstrong earmarked for the RB role?

Myles-Skelly came through the Arsenal set up as a holding midfielder and got shifted because he had the right skill set for left-back - and the first team was in need of a left-back.

Why not Armstrong?

I sort of know why not - but also why not?

I remember some bloke for that lot who had a good career (before falling over at a critical moment) - when he was a teenager breaking through he ended up playing quite a few games at RB (possibly even for England) before resuming his normal position in midfield. Alexander-Arnold ended up an unlikely RB for many years too, without knowing how to actually play that position in a conventional sense.

Peter Moore 33 Posted 31/08/2025 at 22:04:32

Neil (31) I think it is because he is top quality, they are scared of him and think it may put him off his game. Desperate and futile though it is.

Andrew Ellams 34 Posted 31/08/2025 at 22:05:15

Nathan Patterson to Sevilla is off. Does this mean we won't be landing a right back?

Neil Copeland 35 Posted 31/08/2025 at 22:06:35

Peter, a waste of breath, he revels in it

Kieran Kinsella 36 Posted 31/08/2025 at 22:12:11

Neil

It’s probably just jealousy. He’s a good player, good looking chap. People would boo Beckham. No one booed Iain Dowie.

Kieran Kinsella 37 Posted 31/08/2025 at 22:16:51

Andrew

So someone at Sevilla finally decided to watch video of Patterson in action

Neil Copeland 38 Posted 31/08/2025 at 22:17:39

Kieran, ha ha, the same applied to Alan Harper.

Kieran Kinsella 39 Posted 31/08/2025 at 22:18:13

Old Alan. But we loved him lol

Tom Bowers 40 Posted 31/08/2025 at 22:19:59

We cannot get carried away just yet. We do have the makings of a competitive side but it does need solidifying on offense, midfield and at the back as we all agree.

Until that is done we will do quite well without joining the ranks of the top six etc.

Derek Thomas 41 Posted 31/08/2025 at 22:21:22

Anjishnu; "He got dispossessed thrice against Wolves" always good to see words like Thrice getting a run out from off the bench, though I think you played him slightly out of position.

It's all about opinions of course, but I would've gone with..."O'Brien, thrice dispossesed against Wolves, failed to win a single dribble attempt."

And as used to be said...'Woe, woe and thrice woe, RB is still a worry!

John Flood 42 Posted 31/08/2025 at 22:52:16

Mansfield fans probably booed Jack Grealish because he played for their rivals Notts County for a season on loan as a youngster. Even as a teenager getting kicked by old school defenders he stood out as being something special.

Ernie Baywood 43 Posted 31/08/2025 at 23:17:46

Another interesting topic will be whether we should try to sign Grealish.

He's a great player... but it does seem like the strategy is to avoid paying big money at 29/30. It's not old in playing terms, but there's no resale value at the end of a 3 year contract.

Strategy is often about staying the course, but in this form it's going to be very tempting.

Kevin Molloy 44 Posted 31/08/2025 at 23:23:11

hopefully Ernie the !2m we've already paid comes off the fifty if we did buy him at city's valuation. if he carries out on like this though it will look like a bargain.

Paul Kossoff 45 Posted 31/08/2025 at 23:26:01

Just had to put up this brilliant piece from Tom English, sports writer.

Half an hour after an almost offensively poor Old Firm derby had ended - a slugfest in the bearpit - a seagull swooped down from above the Sandy Jardine stand at Ibrox.

In the millisecond it took to flip a piece of bread in the air and shove it down its beak while staying airborne it provided more entertainment than the players had done for the 90 minutes that went before. It was about the only graceful thing we saw all day, a rare amount of accuracy in the wake of one of the worst Old Firm games in living memory that limped to a 0-0 conclusion.

Nice to see someone else suffering from abject garbage.

Kieran Kinsella 46 Posted 31/08/2025 at 23:33:35

Paul Kossof

Funny thing about the Scottish English is he seems to get away with the kind of blunt analysis the BBC don’t tolerate from English writers. McNulty formerly of The Echo alludes to fierce criticism but is never explicit. Simon Stone and my namesake Nuzaar play devils advocate and offer up a mountain of evidence warranting criticism but Tom English is brutal on Scotland, Rangers, Celtic etc and rightly so

Mike Corcoran 47 Posted 31/08/2025 at 23:37:10

We’ve had a few of those games Paul!

Si Cooper 48 Posted 31/08/2025 at 00:19:07

John (26), I think that’s an odd appraisal of Keane’s role in their second goal.

He’s in the correct position outside the near post on the side the ball’s coming in from. The way the ball is crossed it’s debatable he could actually have got to the ball at all comfortably and so he doesn’t have any real way of attempting to play it without potentially making the situation much worse. Mykolenko is in good position too, and clear favourite to get to it first, but commits the defensive cardinal sin of waiting for the ball to get to him instead of making sure he gets to it as quickly as possible.

Someone (Mykolenko or Pickford) may even have given Keane a shout to leave the ball. Definitely Mykolenko’s fault that the Wolves player is able to convert it.

For their first you can say Keane wasn’t fast enough to prevent the cross but it was Tarkowski who was really lazy and allowed Hwang to get free. Tarkowski clearly didn’t expect the ball to be played in first time.

I’m not a Keane hater by any means but I wouldn’t have had any issues if he had been on the bench yesterday. I don’t go for the idea that players can’t be dropped just because they have been playing well. The manager should pick the best available side without the sort of sentiment that you would apply to a kid’s team - the player’s are professionals and this should make sense to them.

Tons of people were calling for Harrison Armstrong to get a start yesterday despite no-one really letting us down since the Leeds game but some people considered Keane was undroppable. You pick Tarks and Keane together and you are picking our two slowest options together, so you’ve got to expect that could lead to some defensive problems at some stage.

I don’t think Keane did anything particularly wrong for either of the Wolves goals but he will always be disadvantaged where real pace is needed.

Si, I'd suggest that Branthwaite's absence is what causes those goals.

With him, I believe we'll defend higher up the pitch. Without him we're forced deeper due to neither Keane nor Tarkowski possessing great pace.

That creates that "corridor of uncertainty" between defence and goalkeeper where an attacker can finish with one touch.

For the first goal we can point at the ball being allowed to come in at all, but you've got to give some credit to the quality of that ball.

The second is similar, with the exception being that our defenders actually got closer to making a block and failed.

If I was managing against Everton, I'd be targeting that. Get around the outside and put a low ball across the 6 yard box.

Ralph Basnett 51 Posted 01/09/2025 at 07:31:26

We are getting away with the defence at the moment but something drastic needs doing.

Mainly RB as Mykolenko will do until January window but without pacey RB & LB we will be exposed and with an ageing pair of CH we will be easy targets for the better teams.

Overall though massive improvements have been made and defo on the right track.

Andrew Ellams 53 Posted 01/09/2025 at 07:59:47

Not sure we'll need one Colin. I think we're in for a quiet day.

Colin Glassar 54 Posted 01/09/2025 at 08:09:42

Looks like it, Andrew. Criminal if we don’t get a RB at least. We have a dangerous chink in our defence if we don’t strengthen there.

Phil (Kelsall) Roberts 55 Posted 01/09/2025 at 08:12:29

So disappointing with the new site. Here it is TDD day and no picture of David Moyes in his Jack Bauer pose with the "24" logo.It is like not bringing out the favourite decorations for Christmas.

Andrew Ellams 56 Posted 01/09/2025 at 08:12:34

Sunderland have got Bryan Brobbey for £25m. Less than we paid for Barry.

Colin Glassar 57 Posted 01/09/2025 at 08:15:00

Luis going to Burnley from Benfica. We were strongly “linked” to him.

Fort - Barcelona to Mallorca. Another one gone.

Phil (Kelsall) Roberts 58 Posted 01/09/2025 at 08:50:49

Yeah, but they are all looking at Everton and thinking I am never going to get a game with N'daiye, Grealish, KDH, Garner, Armstrong, Gana, Alcaraz. They are all too good.

Colin Glassar 59 Posted 01/09/2025 at 08:56:55

None of them play RB, Phil.

Eric Myles 60 Posted 01/09/2025 at 09:00:47

"And as used to be said...'Woe, woe and thrice woe, RB is still a worry!"

I didn't realise Frankie Howard was a footy fan Derek #41?

Tony Abrahams 61 Posted 01/09/2025 at 09:34:10

When you add McNeil and Dibling, to that list then, I think we are okay across the middle of the pitch, Phil, but with people quite rightly talking about our current defensive pairing, preferring to defend a lot deeper, because they both lack pace, then it’s this area of the pitch, just in front of our retreating central defenders, that I’m sure the better teams will look to exploit, over the coming weeks?

Garner, looks like he wants to go and get involved with the better players who have just come into our team and Gueye, is a player who has always preferred hunting the ball, but against better teams than Wolves, I’m absolutely certain that we will need a much more disciplined player in front of the back four, just now?

Matt Traynor 63 Posted 01/09/2025 at 12:34:51

On the question of why the website doesn't show the fixtures, I'm pretty sure they're copyright of the Premier League, and would therefore require a license payment. (Stand to be corrected on that).

One now defunct website (Bluekipper) got around it by listing nicknames for teams. So RS, Man Ure, Skunks, Notlob etc. were listed for fixtures.