Everton striker Thierno Barry missed a golden chance to score in Monday’s 1-1 draw with Sunderland.
David Moyes suffered a 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last time out, but made just one change to his Everton line-up against Sunderland.
Thierno Barry came into the Everton attack, replacing Beto as Moyes continues to chop and change his strikers.
Iliman Ndiaye opened the scoring for Everton before Barry contrived to fire over from Jack Grealish’s cross.
It looked easier for Barry to score from close range, and Everton were made to pay as Granit Xhaka equalised for Sunderland.
Jean-Philippe Mateta celebrates for Crystal Palace v Brentford
Photo by Sebastian Frej/Getty Images
Don Goodman makes Jean-Philippe Mateta comparison after Thierno Barry display
Barry showed some promising signs in the first half, but those chances have to be put away.
Until Barry proves that he can score at Premier League level, he will have his doubters.
Everton knew that Barry would be a project signing, but perhaps expected a little more at this early stage.
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Pundit Don Goodman was on punditry duty for Sky Sports during Monday’s game, and he drew a comparison towards Crystal Palace star Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Goodman noted that Mateta struggled early in his Palace career, but ended up becoming a ‘top, top striker’.
Both Barry and Beto have fine attributes in Goodman’s eyes, but they need confidence and more chances to score.
“They have attributes, there’s no doubt about that, those pair,” said Goodman. (03/11, 9:45pm).
“I seem to remember Jean-Philippe Mateta struggling in his early days at Crystal Palace, and then slowly but surely, particularly when Oliver Glasner came through the door, turned into a top, top striker.
“These lads have got the attributes, they need confidence and they need to be in a team that is maybe going to give them even more chances,” he added.
Jean-Philippe Mateta should inspire Thierno Barry
Goodman raises a fine point here.
Mateta had scored goals at Le Havre and Mainz, not too dissimilar to Barry’s success at Beveren, Basel and Villarreal.
Mateta then bagged just eight goals in his first 58 Premier League appearances for Palace, and looked to be a real flop.
That has completely changed, as Mateta has now smashed 36 goals in his last 82 Premier League outings.
Mateta is proof that some strikers need time to shine in the Premier League – and Barry will hope to receive that time.
Barry should look at Mateta as a great reference point and an inspiration for potential future success in the Premier League.