Colin Sheridan: Martin Tyler's departure marks end of an era for Premier League

As the league is at a crossroads, the familiar voice of Sky's coverage is set to change. 

MIC DROP: Commentator Martin Tyler has left Sky Sports after three decades. 

I often wish that Martin Tyler - the Sky Sports commentator who announced over the weekend he’s leaving the broadcaster after over 30 seasons - could narrate my life with the same deadpan gusto he would Crystal Palace versus Everton on a nondescript Monday night in November; “Sheridan…cooking spaghetti bolognese…again…third time this week…no vegetables in it of course…supermarket sauce…thinks he’s fooling the kids…but they know…he’s just dunked a splash of three-week-old Chablis in… clearly assuming the alcohol will burn off.. and Wilfred Saha’s through on goal… and… and against the run of play it’s 1-0 Palace... and the kids… perhaps unsurprisingly… are asking for seconds…” 

Yep. That was Tyler. Talking through moments of mundane magic as if describing a postman delivering the mail, before - when the occasion was worthy of it - delivering an iconic line or quip. He was the master of understatement, which was pretty ironic given Sky built their brand upon a foundation of souped up hyperbole. It made Tyler’s most iconic moments all the more memorable. At the top of that list will forever be his immortal screech of “Balotelli… Agüerrrrrroooooooooo!’ as Man City scored at the death to capture the 2012 Premier League title, lending his voice to what is arguably the most iconic audio/visual moment of the league's history. His equally poignant capturing of Didier Drogba's winning penalty in Chelsea’s Champions League win the same year both brilliantly exemplified Tyler’s routine adherence to his obvious “quality over quantity” mantra, and best captured the skill of all the best commentators who understood their roles to be secondary - or at least supplementary to - the drama on the field.