David Moyes is a master at producing results from low-scoring teams but he is not a miracle worker and his need for a new striker has become painfully obvious
Thierno Barry reacts during the Premier League match between Everton and Liverpool at Hill Dickinson Stadium
Thierno Barry is still struggling to adapt to the demands of the Premier League
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At some point in the near future, the Premier League’s Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel will rule that Mateus Fernandes should have been penalised for handball in Everton’s loss to West Ham United. That is for certain.
In case you didn’t know, the KMI Panel consists of five members - one from the Premier League, one from the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), and three former players or coaches. They review controversial incidents in Premier League games and then vote on whether the officials got it right.
And that’s it. Their findings are made public and everyone moves on.
Just as everyone will move on after the PGMOL have responded to Everton’s inquiry about the Fernandes incident. Presumably, they will say something along the lines of mistakes happening.
Everton registering their dissatisfaction is not a bad thing, not a waste of time. But it should not soften the focus on elements of the performance on Saturday that were not up to the required level.
And one of those elements was upfront, where Thierno Barry put in a reasonable shift, effort-wise, but did not show enough quality.
David Moyes has been patient with Barry, coaxing him along, constantly saying how he just wants a bit more from the French striker.
But on the evidence of the season so far, the brutal truth is that there might not be a lot more to come. After his unfortunate cameo against Liverpool, the display at West Ham was an improvement. His body language was better, for a start.
And there was the odd moment of threat. But Everton supporters will not forget his demeanour in those dismal 20 minutes in the Merseyside derby.
For a moment, though, park those reservations about Barry’s attitude. The real concern for Moyes is that the 23-year-old’s technique and skill-set do not look adequate for Premier League level. That sublime finish for the winner against Aston Villa is looking like the exception to the rule.
He had that spell of four goals in six games but Barry simply does not have the look of a prolific scorer. He is clearly now second choice to Beto, who is hardly prolific himself.
The bottom line is that even though both forwards have had good spells this season, the need for Everton to recruit a top-class striker remains starkly obvious.
And that is why, if needed, every penny of this summer’s transfer budget should be spent on recruiting different striking options. Ideally, more than one.
If that means not shelling out for a second season of Jack Grealish, then that is what it will have to take. Elsewhere on the pitch, Moyes has a squad that is more than capable of challenging for a European place, assuming there are no significant sales this summer.
But only four teams have scored fewer Premier League goals than Everton this season.
Moyes is a master at collecting points while struggling for goals - there is no-one more adept in the Premier League. But he is not a miracle-worker.