Thierno Barry playing for Everton.
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Thierno Barry is perhaps the most talked-about Everton player this season so far.
The French striker is firmly in the spotlight after the club failed to land another striker at the end of the summer transfer window. Everton tried to land Folarin Balogun from AS Monaco, but in expressing concerns about his condition, the club prompted the player to walk away.
So Thierno Barry is now Everton’s only natural option to lead the line.
In terms of goals, Barry has actually made a fairly good start, scoring six times in eight games played so far. However, against Hull he missed several decent opportunities, and he is now leading the ‘big’ chances missed table in the Premier League with 10.
If you went from person to person about Barry, it’s unlikely you’d get the same opinion. So we decided to ask our TalkingPoints community to try and establish a consensus.
What’s your honest position on Thierno Barry at the moment? 10 big chances missed in the PL, but six goals across all competitions. It's fair to say he divides opinion at Everton, but Dewsbury-Hall is a fan…👀
Credit: Getty Images/James Gill – Danehouse/Gary Oakley – Everton FC/Everton FC
He's raw but there's something there. Just needs to start converting a few more chances. Great finish the other night
I like him. The most worrying thing would be if he wasn’t getting chances. Facts are, he is often in the right position and never gives up Too hugely important attributes. I just hope the third - finishing - comes soon
Surely the issue is not Thierno Barry but simply that there is no viable alternative
Barry still not clinical enough
A number of people are still struggling with Barry’s lack of cutting edge, with the striker needing several chances to score.
While he may have scored six goals already, meaning he’s only two behind his entire haul of last season, Barry could and perhaps should be nearer to double figures.
Barry’s heading, in particular, could probably improve a lot. Someone who is 6ft 5in ought to be a major threat in the air. But Barry has had a few headed chances so far this season and has been a bit feeble in some instances.
Yeah, he’s doing ok, but some of the chances he’s missed if we had, had someone like Troy parrot he would be on double figures by now, that’s the difference, meaning we would have had less draws and more wins.
I used to feel sorry for DCL as he had his critics, which I think were unfair. Strikers rely on service to put them in with a chance of finishing. When DCL was up top, we didn’t create. He was lucky to get one chance in a game! Yet now we create faaar more chances for a striker, but Barry can’t put them away. Get Charli up top!!
There is frustration, because Barry is on the pitch an awful lot at the moment, meaning he should be really sharp. And chances are being created for him.
Signs of improvement
Barry has plenty of doubters, but he also does have plenty of supporters at the moment, with many recognising that he has been put into a difficult spot by Everton.
All eyes are on him after the club sold Beto, and that obviously brings about huge pressure.
We know he has it in him to finish really well. He took his goal against Hull at the weekend superbly, and that also showed a good mentality given he had missed other chances.
I like him. The most worrying thing would be if he wasn’t getting chances. Facts are, he is often in the right position and never gives up Too hugely important attributes. I just hope the third – finishing – comes soon
Barry has also clearly been working hard. That was evident in a YouTube video he put out last month. He came back ahead of the new campaign with a new mindset, and his work-rate, body language and link-up play have all improved.
Calls for striker support
There are also people in the camp of Barry doing OK but clearly needing some support. What happened at the end of the summer transfer was far from ideal. As nice as it is for Barry to get all these minutes, there is little chance for him to escape the glare which is ultimately not that helpful.
In January, it is paramount that Everton go after a new centre-forward and hopefully work is already being done on that. To go through another window without doing so would be negligence.
I think he’s got his place but there’s no doubt in my mind that Everton must sign a striker in January. Barry is a streaky player and has limitations which will take time to develop. Everton don’t have time if they want Europe thin season
Barry divisive, but there are promising signs
Arguably Barry is the most divisive Everton player in years, and the comments from some of our TalkingPoints users only emphasise that further.
Ideally, he will eventually reach a point where this stops, and we will all be talking about what a great player he has become. He knows what the English top-flight is all about now, and he should be kicking on in his second season.
He may well have spurned 10 missed chances, but one could argue that he is getting into the positions which is not always easy. Now it’s just about becoming more clinical and consistent.
With the support of the fans, he will surely improve in this aspect.