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Newcastle United v Everton - Premier League 2026/27
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Everton manager David Moyes.
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Stoke City v Everton - Pre-Season Friendly
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Everton players.
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David Moyes cannot ignore Everton issue on full display during Newcastle victory
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Thierno Barry’s deficiencies reveal a bigger problem for Everton
Ultimately, it was Barry’s goals that secured all three points for the Toffees as Everton climbed up to seventh in the Premier League table. It was hardly an encouraging all-round performance from the striker, though.
0 dribbles attempted
19 touches
2/4 aerial duels won
1 big chance missed
As one Everton fan said on the TalkingPoints app, Barry’s inability to play as the target man for Moyes is providing players like Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall with so much extra work to do.
Our ‘ world beating’ transfer team can’t seem to source a decent striker. How do clubs like Brentford & Bournemouth find hidden gems like Thiago & Rayan? Imagine we had signed Thiago?? I feel as though our midfielders have to always put a double shift in as we haven’t had a striker who can hold up the ball. Possession given away every time we go long.
The 28-year-old midfielder played in the 10 role on Monday night against Newcastle and in comparison to Bournemouth’s Justin Kluivert – who was playing behind Evanilson – the Everton man had to cover considerably more ground.
Dewsbury-Hall covered 11.9km against Newcastle on Monday, whereas Kluivert only covered 8.5km on Saturday in Bournemouth’s convincing victory against Leeds United. Although a number of different factors will have contributed, having to chase after Barry’s inability to hold up the ball in transition will have contributed to Dewsbury-Hall covering so much of the pitch.
It was another gritty performance from Dewsbury-Hall, who actually ended the game having completed more tackles (2) than all four of Everton’s starting defenders. However, that is not necessarily the role he was put out to play as the creative midfield option.
Not only is this taking away from Dewsbury-Hall’s ability to play off the striker and provide his own goal threat, but it could also have an impact on the midfielder’s durability over the course of the season. This was an issue for Moyes last year after his side’s form faded in the final seven games of the season, partly because of Everton’s limited squad options.
James Tarkowski has praised Barry’s fitness, and the striker has plenty of positives to his game, but the raw nature of his talent is certainly hindering players like Dewsbury-Hall.
However, as Everton’s ownership saga rumbles on in the background, there will naturally be concerns on Merseyside as to what funds are going to be made available for Moyes to spend on a new striker when the January window opens.
Manchester United winger Marcus Rashford.
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