Everton were thumped 4-1 by Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday evening.
David Moyes suggested that Tim Iroegbunam had a poor game, although he didn’t directly name the Everton midfielder.
Clearly, the Toffees missed Idrissa Gana Gueye’s ball-winning ability in the middle of the park, as Newcastle ran riot in the first half.
Struggling to think of a worse performance under David Moyes
Everton fans questioned Jack Grealish after the game, with many admitting he’s been underwhelming of late.
Thierno Barry didn’t manage to get his first goal, after VAR chalked one off, although Moyes has clearly made one thing very clear about the Frenchman.
David Moyes has clearly made Thierno Barry the first-choice striker
Up until the start of November, Everton’s first-choice striker was Beto, as he was starting pretty much every Premier League game.
However, that’s all changed rapidly, as Barry made his fourth consecutive start against Newcastle last night.
It’s become quite obvious that Moyes has decided to make the £30m summer signing his main man up top.
STAT: Thierno Barry had the lowest amount of touches (26) of any player who started in Everton’s 4-1 loss to Newcastle. Even Jordan Pickford (36) and Aaron Ramsdale (37) had more.
The Scotsman probably wants to get him into a proper rhythm, rather than chopping and changing like he was doing before.
Barry wasn’t involved enough in the play against the Magpies, but it certainly wasn’t for the lack of trying. The 23-year-old is evidently giving it his all and is desperate to get that first goal.
David Moyes says Thierno Barry is growing in confidence
Speaking after the Manchester United win on Monday, Moyes noted that Barry is starting to grow in confidence.
“He’s beginning to (gain more belief), I thought he led the line well in some ways,” the Toffees manager said.
“His numbers are always big and we needed it even more to somehow help us. So yeah, I’m pleased. I still want goals from him, obviously that’s the thing that you get judged on as a centre forward.”
It’s up to Thierno Barry to change Everton’s mind from here until January…⌛
Everton have been eyeing strikers ahead of the January transfer window, so Barry has five weeks to cancel those plans, otherwise, he could find himself back on the bench in 2026.
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