Martin Tyler was full of praise for David Moyes and Everton as both enjoy a positive campaign
Iliman Ndiaye celebrates with Idrissa Gueye and Beto of Everton after scoring Everton's third goal during the against Chelsea at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Iliman Ndiaye celebrates with Idrissa Gueye and Beto of Everton after scoring Everton's third goal during the against Chelsea at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
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Martin Tyler has given Everton’s progress his seal of approval and revealed he hopes the club qualifies for Europe.
The Blues are enjoying a remarkable campaign during their first season at Hill Dickinson Stadium and a spot among the continent’s elite next year is within reach after their dismantling of Chelsea last week.
The legendary broadcaster hailed Everton’s display in that game as “terrific”, adding his backing for Beto and Iliman Ndiaye, who shared the goals in the 3-0 rout.
Offering his verdict on the season to date - one in which David Moyes' men sit eighth in the Premier League table with seven games to go, Tyler said: “Europe’s definitely in reach, which would be great. And I really hope Everton do it.
“I’ve experienced moving from the Goodison gantry to the Hill Dickinson gantry – and you have to adjust as a broadcaster. So, the players and staff will have all had to adjust, and that’s always going to cause teething troubles. But now, it’s back-to-back wins [at Hill Dickinson Stadium].”
Everton are level on points with seventh-placed Brentford, their next opponents, and are within three points of the top five and a probable Champions League spot.
Blues boss Moyes set his ambitions on Europe early in a bid to shift attitudes at a club that had spent recent seasons struggling to avoid relegation. Now he is in danger of delivering on that front.
Tyler, who was speaking as Everton commercial partner Christopher Ward hosted an event to commemorate the famous 1985 European Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final win over Bayern Munich, said: “I watched the Chelsea game, and I thought Everton were terrific.
“People ask me a lot: ‘Is football the same as it was? Has some of the fun come out of it because it’s become so professional?’
“That Everton performance was – in any generation – worth a 3-0 win. It was based on very good defending, a fantastic goalkeeper and having the ability to make the most of the ball when they got it.
“They made Chelsea, who have great resources, look extremely ordinary. That’s a real compliment to Everton.”
Tyler commentated on that magical night against Bayern at Goodison Park and would love the club to enjoy more occasions like that. More performances like last week’s would be important, he believes.
He added: “I thought Beto had a great game. I was a very ordinary non-league centre-forward, so I know when you’re stuck up there on your own… I played in some bad teams. But Beto had a big part to play and took his chances extremely well.
“To wrap it up, Iliman Ndiaye’s goal. [Moises] Caicedo is a very good player, but he couldn’t do anything about it. The shot was postage-stamp perfect.
“I thought it was an excellent performance. If I was Moyesy, I’d be saying: ‘That’s what you’ve got to do every week. You’ve set your standard’. And I’m sure they’ll be able to do it plenty of times before the end of the season.”