It seemed like Everton had a largely productive summer. In addition to signing Barry, the club kept Beto despite rumours suggesting he was on the move. However, the latter, who scored eight Premier League goals last season, has been appalling in front of goal.
According to Opta, Beto has a goals vs xG metric of –2.89, which is one of the worst in the top flight. He has landed four shots on target in 14 league appearances and has a conversion rate of 7.14%. It is no wonder David Moyes has benched the 27-year-old for five consecutive matches.
Thierno Barry is the player benefiting from Beto’s misfortunes, but he, too, is struggling to prove himself as a goalscorer. The ex-Villarreal star is goalless in 16 appearances across all competitions, 9 of which have been starts.
This has led to questions over whether Everton need to look for another striker in January, either to play alongside Barry or to replace him in the starting lineup. However, perhaps the Frenchman just needs more time to find his way at the club.
After all, Barry is not alone in getting off to a stuttering start at Everton. History has shown that several slow-starting Everton forwards went on to be a success later down the line.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is one example. His goal tally remained fairly modest over his first few years at Goodison Park, before hitting 29 league goals across the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons.
The man who joined Leeds United last summer experienced two particularly strong campaigns, so much so that he received England recognition. His final few injury-impacted seasons at Everton might not have been as impressive, but it was certainly worth keeping him around for how he played between 2019 and 2021.
Of course, there are others who were given the same chances, but never made anything of themselves in the Premier League. Brett Angell is one example, scoring only one top-flight goal in 20 appearances during the ‘90s. Some have even drawn comparisons between the struggles of Angell and Barry.
There are more recent examples who come from more similar backgrounds to Barry. Sandro Ramirez also arrived from La Liga, back in 2017, and he had just completed a 14-goal season at Malaga. The Spaniard only scored once before he was shown the door, after the kind of disastrous spell Barry will be keen to avoid.
Ramirez is not the only forward to have arrived from abroad and failed to make an impression on their respective managers. From Oumar Niasse to Cenk Tosun and Moise Kean, there’s hardly been a shortage. Each of those players had strong records in other leagues but were simply unable to hack the Premier League.
Which type of striker will Barry become? Will his struggles continue? Or can he change his fortunes and follow in the footsteps of players like Calvert-Lewin?
Barry is at least offering contributions outside of scoring goals. He is a hard worker who holds up the ball, presses the opposition defence, and wins his fair share of headers.
However, a striker has to be scoring goals. He’s twice seen goals disallowed this season, so perhaps this could provide some hope. Then again, he has only landed one shot on target all season in the Premier League, despite taking 14 shots from inside the box.
That record is nowhere near good enough and it shows that there is a bigger problem than Everton’s style of play. Barry has had to adapt because, with Everton’s more conservative approach – in a league where almost all opponents have a genuine threat – a contrast to a Villarreal team who often played on the frontfoot last season.
Everton have already faced the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City, teams who have spent hundreds of millions of pounds. Life is not about to get any easier, with fixtures against Chelsea and Arsenal rapidly approaching.
Barry’s likely to receive fewer chances in that upcoming schedule, while his inability to test opposition goalkeepers with those that do arrive is a big concern. There have been precious few signs from Barry that he has the ability to become the main attacking outlet at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Perhaps a boost in confidence would aid the 23-year-old in his search for goals. It is at least good to see the match-going supporters are still giving him their backing and this is vital if he is ever to live up to the £27M transfer fee.
But right now, it is hard to see Barry going from where he is now to regularly finding the net. If he proves his doubters wrong, excellent, but the club should definitely be considering attacking transfer targets ahead of the January transfer window.
Barry deserves some patience, at least until the end of the season, and to be given some opportunities. However, relying on him and Beto for the remainder of the campaign seems like a high-risk gamble with the prospect of a low reward.
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Posted 05/12/2025 at 13:23:53
The striker dilemma rolls on, and without a huge (psr agreeable) budget what can be done?
It seems our manager has made Barry his first choice now, and there are a few signs, the guy is toughing up a bit, adjusting to a challenging league, and the bottom line is he and Beto are all we have.
Right back is an absolute priority, and for me is the first position to address, James Garner has proven to be a capable deputy for that position,, albeit he is most effective in the middle.
This freed up Jake O'Brien to go to his natural position against Bournemouth -- and wow that worked so well.
So, back on topic, are we likely to have enough funds to buy a deicated right-back and a Premier League proven Number 9, I'm not sure we do, so the Barry and Beto rotation scenario looks set to continue with goal contributions from the ranks.
Confidence is massive, even for well-proven players, so we have to get behind our guys and help raise their game. We are slowly getting better, and Moyes may not be the long-term manager we need, but who would have done a better job, in a short time, with limited funds?
Right-back next, please, Everton. If we settle the back line first, the improvement through the midfield will eventually help to create more going into the final third, that's my humble opinion anyway...
Posted 05/12/2025 at 13:58:53
Barry just needs that first goal.
Then I'm sure he will start scoring regularly.
Posted 05/12/2025 at 14:38:26
He is getting better with each passing game. His confidence has improved and with it his involvement has benefited.
I am sure that, if Moyes perseveres with him, he will start scoring.
Posted 05/12/2025 at 14:41:29
If we sre unable to buy an effective RB and goal scoring Forward in jan. our priority HAS to be a striker. We have cover at RB.
We have no one who can score. (We haven't had for years.) The stupidity of gambling on signing potential (duffers) must cease.
We need to move on. We can't without a goalscorer. Barry isn't one. Beto should be jettisoned upon the purchase of a goalscorer. Get rid of at least one of the three keepers and bring in a decent loaner. Not any of the abject no marks that the previous DoF saddled us with.
Then Barry can be Moysetised under no pressure
Posted 05/12/2025 at 14:44:36
Beto and Barry are both awful. Barry might've improved a little bit, but is still awful.
We have to get a striker in January. If we had a half-decent striker, then we could be in the Top 6, but if we carry on with these two, then mid-table at best.
There are only two teams that have scored less than us, that's scandalous!
Posted 05/12/2025 at 15:10:57
Our problem is that we keep buying £20-25 million forwards (Walcott, Tosun, Beto, Barry) that dont pan out instead of a single £50-60 million one. And we keep buying the wrong £20-25 million forwards. But of course easier said than done to find the best Toney, Watkins, Delap, etc.
Speaking of Delap, if he was smart he wouldve come to us for 2-3 years instead of getting the odd match down at Chelsea.
Of course I dont know what Im talking about anyway. I stuck by DCL until the very end, and even now think hed still be our best option — if only his wage demands werent ridiculous. And I thought Broja would come good if he, too, could only get healthy.
My general point stands, though, that its easy to say, Buy a striker!! You have to find the right one, which clearly were not capable of doing. I think Barry will get much better — he already has — but I struggle to see him ever banging in 15 goals/season.
Posted 05/12/2025 at 15:20:27
He was desperately unlucky against Bmouth, did everything right trying to chip Keeper, but clipped his shoulder and just cleared crossbar. He just needs even a Grealish type goal. You mentioned DCL, scored in the last two games against City and Chelsea. I personally thought we made a mistake in the summer, just my opinion, but would definitely have excelled with Grealish and Ndiayes service.
Posted 05/12/2025 at 16:16:04
I backed Dominic all the way until last season when I thought he was giving less than he had previously done, if he can stay fit he could prove to be a good signing for Leeds who got him without a transfer fee. Dominic is now a problem or success for Leeds Unt. I wish him well just not against us.
Posted 05/12/2025 at 16:24:28
Barry is definitely improving, on the up. Granted that is from a hole 6 feet deep, but at least there is a positive direction of travel. I've said previously, he needs a goal, any goal, even off his arse and I think that will settle him down a lot. I believe the second will come much quicker.
In any case, as other posters point out, we don't really have much choice. We have to prioritise, and the full back options are dragging us down and reducing the impact either of our wide forwards can make. It is almost embarrassing to watch Myko try and attack. I'm not sure our opponents even mark him very closely because they know he is minimal threat. I find it astonishing that our solution over the summer was to buy a left back we might even end up loaning out because he isn't ready to play.
Right back, as we know, is an even bigger hole.Who on earth thought Patterson and Coleman were serious options in that position. Madness bordering on reckless decision making.
Posted 05/12/2025 at 17:03:27
Forgot to mention in above post that Id stick with Barry hes just getting started with the Blues, I think it is a bit early to give him the elbow—- there has been a definite improvement since his first few games when he was just getting a few minutes here and there and hes played his part in the three wins out of the last four games working hard, on his own, upfront.
Posted 05/12/2025 at 17:20:27
Barry would make big Victor look like Eusebio.
For me he is too slow in thought, as clumsy as Beto and for a big lad he doesn't assert any physicality. As for heading ne certainly gets on the end of balls but has no direction or purpose.
Beto is more likely to score and that's a poor indication of Barry's suitability for the Premier league.
I hate to be so negative about a young lad but I just think the longer we persist we will end up totally destroying his confidence.
Every footballer has a level and his is not Premier league.
Posted 05/12/2025 at 18:11:54
I thought he'd be quicker, and more technical than he is. He's a better hold up player than Beto (not hard).
But if he was sent through with a third of the pitch to go, I don't see him scoring many of them.
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