Troy Deeney makes ‘excellent’ Everton admission, ‘whole different player’ shared
David Moyes has brought out the best in several players since replacing Sean Dyche as the Everton manager, and a few even seem like “whole different” players under the Scot.
The Toffees followed up their dramatic 2-2 draw with Liverpool with a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday (15 February), moving further clear of the relegation zone.
While a few Everton stars stood out in the game, Deeney was so wowed by one particular player that he named him in his team of the week on BBC.
It was only days ago that the pundit made a “legend” claim about Abdoulaye Doucoure and now another Blues ace appears to have impressed him.
Troy Deeney wowed by Beto in Everton win v Crystal Palace
The player in question is Beto, who bagged the opener for Everton in their victory over Palace on Saturday, thus scoring his fourth goal in five Premier League appearances since Moyes’ arrival.
Deeney is of the view that the Guinea-Bissau international is “stronger” and “braver” under the veteran manager, who has also brought out a “whole different player”.
“He had half a good season at Udinese, which is obviously why Everton bought him, but he struggled to get involved under Sean Dyche”, Deeney wrote in his column on the BBC website (17 February).
“Since David Moyes has been in, he has been excellent. He has been a whole different player. Another goal, fitter, stronger, braver.”
Beto makes U-turn at Goodison Park
It is worth noting that Beto was heavily tipped to leave Everton during the winter transfer window, with the striker linked with other clubs with just hours left until the deadline.
The former Udinese hitman perhaps would have been sold if Dominic Calvert-Lewin had not picked up an injury in the 1-0 win against Brighton on 25 January and left him as Moyes’ only available centre-forward.
However, things have worked out in the Merseyside-based club’s favour as Beto has been firing on all cylinders in recent weeks.
The 27-year-old managed only seven goals in 50 games across all competitions under Dyche and it is remarkable that he already has four under Moyes.
With Everton short of options in attack, the former Manchester United boss will be hopeful that Beto can stay fit and continue firing on all cylinders between now and the end of the season.
Having netted four goals in his last three league games, Beto will surely be looking to add more to his tally when the Goodison Park outfit host the Red Devils this Saturday, 22 February.