So on the eve of arguably Everton’s biggest game in the last 10+ year Moyes has decided to get inside the referee’s head with the following statement,

A member of the press asked me if Mike Riley is a Manchester United supporter. I think that is something you would need to bring up with the FA.

It is something that one or two managers would have something to say about. It is the FA’s appointment; it was originally supposed to be Steve Bennett

If you (the press) are saying that Mike Riley is a Manchester United supporter, you would hope the FA would look at that.

Funnily enough Moyes also went on to say,

Referees in this country are very honest. They try to get the decisions right

I think they can be influenced, I think that has been seen in a couple of games I have been involved in recently

The telling part being “I think they can be influenced”. Indeed they can.

Now we can expect any small decision that goes against Everton, even when it’s the right decision, to be treated as an injustice with all Everton players and fans getting on Mike Riley’s back.

Will it affect Mike Riley’s decisions? We’ll have to wait and see, but in all honesty what person wouldn’t fold at least once or twice giving decisions that you perhaps wouldn’t normally give.

I tip my hat to you Mr Moyes, but while you have won this battle you will not win they war!