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Thierno Barry is one of Everton’s most divisive players, but after Thursday night, plenty of the Toffees faithful are firmly in his corner.
Everton beat Newcastle 3-1 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium to book a Carabao Cup quarter-final away to League Two Fleetwood Town, and Barry was at the heart of it.
He crossed for Hayden Hackney’s goal late in the first half, then killed the tie off in the 69th minute, taking a touch and firing into the top corner. His display earned him an 8/10 in our player ratings.
Everton reach the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup! How confident are you that we can win it? The Toffees will face Fleetwood in the next round 👀
Not a cat in hells chance.
COOOOME ON that felt massive
@jonathan.gorrie be careful what we wish for we could go down this season.
Everton fans want supporters to stick with Thierno Barry
Thierno Barry has been something of a whipping boy for sections of the fanbase, but the reaction on social media told a different story.
One fan admitted he can test your patience, but said: “He’s a frustrating footballer is Barry but today he’s produced a great cross for Hackney’s goal and took his goal brilliantly. The fans in the stadium need to stick with the lad.”
Another, by their own admission one of his harsher critics, felt Barry ticked every box they usually pull him up on: “Did everything well that I’m always critical of him about. Passing in the final third. Missing high quality chances. Not looking like Bambi on Ice. Keep it up big man please…”
Some went further. One fan insisted: “If anyone is genuinely worried about Barry then they don’t understand football. Top talent that needs to blossom and showing signs of bloom already.”
Others looked back at the summer business, with one adding: “Looking like a sensible choice letting Beto go out and not Barry – I think this guy has 15 goals in him a season.”
And for one supporter, it was about more than the football: “So happy for Thierno, he never gives up and seems like a good person. He’s only going to get better and given the time …. we could be seeing an Everton legend being born right before our eyes.”
Then there was the fan who summed up his cup form best, declaring “Carabao Barry is a beast” and handing him the “Ballon d’Or d’Carabao”.
Thierno Barry has already beaten last season’s numbers
Well, those fans have the numbers on their side. Barry has nine goal involvements in 11 matches this season. Last season, he managed eight in 41 across all competitions.
Put simply, he’s gone from roughly one every five games to nearly one a game. That’s more than four times the rate, and he’s passed last season’s total in barely a quarter of the matches.
His four goals in the Carabao Cup means no player has scored more than him in the competition this season, and he’s added two assists in it too.
And Thursday showed what happens when David Moyes gets bodies around him. Left isolated, Barry has had to do everything himself. With support arriving beside him, he created as well as finished.
That’s the lesson for Monday, when Everton head to St James’ Park to face Newcastle again in the Premier League. With Beto gone and the club eyeing strikers for January, Barry is leading the line alone. Give him support, and there’s no reason “Carabao Barry” can’t become Premier League Barry too.