---
title: "Debate Continues Over Everton’s Fouls – are Everton a ‘dirty’ team?"
canonical: "https://readeverton.com/debate-continues-over-evertons-fouls-are-everton-a-dirty-team/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Alex Jones"
section: "Everton News"
published: "2020-10-26T13:00:33Z"
modified: "2020-10-26T13:00:33Z"
---

# Debate Continues Over Everton’s Fouls – are Everton a ‘dirty’ team?

Following Everton’s [2-0 defeat](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/13019192/saints-everton-southampton-toffees-ward-prowse-adams/) to Southampton, debates over Carlo Ancelotti’s style of play continued to erupt.

Analytical platform *The Tactical Times* was one such outlet that weighed in on Ancelotti’s style of play, highlighting Everton’s aggression and physicality that the outlet defines as a key feature of Everton.

“If Everton are developing a bad reputation as some kind of dirty, thuggish, difficult to like team, that is not an agenda or media-driven conspiracy. That is people noticing Everton being dirty over a period of games”, [claimed the outlet](https://twitter.com/Tactical_Times/status/1320409302272794626) in a controversial tweet.

Replying to an [accusation of partisanship](https://twitter.com/Tactical_Times/status/1320411117781397504), the Twitter handle for the outlet responded further, claiming:

“It’s a fact. I said it last week, and no surprises we’re talking about it again today. Everton learned a few things under Carlo. You can deny it or be blind to it, but that doesn’t mean others will too.”

Everton have garnered back-to-back red cards and [consequential suspensions](https://www.evertonfc.com/teams/injuries-and-suspensions) for lunging fouls, with Richarlison and Lucas Digne being sent off against Liverpool and Southampton respectively.

Espoused with controversy following a potentially [season-ending challenge](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54644159) from Toffee ‘keeper Jordan Pickford on Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, assessments of the supposed ‘dirtiness’ of Everton have rolled on.

Predictably, a flurry of responses to the *Tactical Times* emerged as football fans discussed whether Everton’s reputation for a rougher style of play was justified.

> Twitter: @andyliverbird @Tactical\_Times The game is completely different now though, remember the vinnie Jones foul on mcmah… https://t.co/aP1g28kEUE (@stuartclark1892)

> Twitter: @sensiball123 @TalkativeToffee @Tactical\_Times Shouldn’t throw stones when you live in a glass house. (@Gwedlid)

> Twitter: @Tactical\_Times Do you think Leeds would’ve had their 70s successes under Revie if they hadn’t had their ‘Dirty Lee… https://t.co/qkDx9PXglk (@UpperGwladysBlu)

> Twitter: @Tactical\_Times Fair Play Table finishes for EFC last 3 seasons:\
> 19/20 14th\
> 18/19 12th\
> 17/18 7th\
> If we’re in your h… https://t.co/U8FmcB0yOI (@UpperGwladysBlu)

> Twitter: @Tactical\_Times Never saw this headline when Son was snapping people week in week out #agenda (@steviemac2010)

> Twitter: @J\_J\_K\_3 @Tactical\_Times In Carlo Ancelotti’s only full season at Napoli (18/19), Napoli finished 5th in the Serie… https://t.co/YpvuAXu0Sw (@JonnySouthern)

> Twitter: @Tactical\_Times Period of games… that 2 then yeah (@TheDogTin)

> Twitter: @Graemello7 @DevlinLFC @Tactical\_Times Does that include red cards that have been rescinded? I can think of one off… https://t.co/JfGr1k6y1D (@1986\_legend)