Having no intent doesn't have any difference on a reckless challenge. Some (many on the Prem board) are conflating two issues: whether a player should go of if they commit a foul that gives away a penalty if they are genuinely going for the ball (they shouldn't), and whether a player who commits an horrific, reckless challenge anywhere on the pitch should be dismissed (they should). The rules are quite clear.
The fact that half-witted ****shafts on the Prem board have spent the weekend knee-deep in this bullshittery is not cause for any surprise, they have form - remember the bogus, quasi-legal nonsense they yapped all summer regarding null-and-void. But the silence and chicanery coming out of the FA and the PGMOL to cover their lack of basic levels of competence and knowledge is the thing to fear.
