Ahead of Everton winning their last major trophy, manager Joe Royle dubbed his side 'The Dogs of War'. But the Blues’ first season at Hill Dickinson Stadium is in danger of starting to resemble something a lot tamer.

After making his debut against Roma in the first team’s inaugural fixture in front of fans at their new home on the Mersey waterfront, debutant Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall pointed out to reporters in the post-match mixed zone that he was covered in scratches. Since then, Idrissa Gueye has been sent off for slapping team-mate Michael Keane and now Keane himself has been given his marching orders for tugging Tolu Arokodare’s hair.

If you're not an Evertonian, it would be easy to laugh about. But when are football’s authorities going to conclude that the serious (and big money) topic of what is a landmark campaign in the history of the club who has played more seasons in the top-flight of English football than any other is being trivialised by this continuing stream of bizarre decisions?

After Gueye’s dismissal in the 1-0 win at Manchester United, David Moyes claimed: “I like my players fighting each other, if someone didn’t do...