Everton shelled out around £30m on Thierno Barry’s signature in the summer transfer window.
After Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s departure, David Moyes was keen to bring in a similar profile of striker, and so in came Thierno Barry from Villarreal.
The 6ft 4in centre-forward had just come off the back of an 11-goal season with the La Liga outfit, so he arrived with great fanfare.
However, it’s been a really tricky start for Barry as he’s often played second fiddle to Beto, and he’s yet to really convince in the game time he’s had.
Moyes opted to start the Frenchman against Crystal Palace, but he was dragged off after a poor 45 minutes.
Here’s what Everton fans had to say about Barry and his start to life on Merseyside after the Palace game.
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Everton fans have contrasting opinions on Thierno Barry
Everton fans have taken to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share some very contrasting opinions on Barry.
“Thierno Barry has played 210 minutes of Premier League football, only starting two games and I’m seeing him already written off as rubbish. Young lad, new league, new country, new team, playing more than I reckon he was meant to be. It’ll take time like many young players,” @JamesBrownEFC posted.
@Everton_Dad added: “To anyone who says Barry needs a run and that Beto is s—, watch that game today. Beto may not be easy on the eye but he f—— tries and had a major involvement in both goals today. Barry needs loaning out.”
@jackoefc27 said: “My question is, who’s looked at Barry and said he’s good enough for us as a striker and spent 27m for him? That for me is on the manager and his recruitment structure he’s put in place.”
“Please can you put to bed these shouts that Barry should start over Beto. Hopefully you saw today in the 45 mins he played, just how far away he is from starting or playing for Everton. Yes, Beto isn’t great, but he is the best we have at the moment and he influences games,” @Ironman_Ste commented.
David Moyes wants to protect Thierno Barry
At the time, Everton fans weren’t happy with Moyes’ decision to substitute Barry at half-time against Crystal Palace as they feared it would damage his confidence.
But, based on Moyes’ previous comments, it seems like it was more from the lens of protecting him and not applying too much pressure.
“I’m also introducing a boy who has not played in the Premier League, a centre-forward I should say who has not played in the Premier League,” the Scotsman said last month.
“I want to give him the opportunities to see what he can do and if he can keep stepping up. But I don’t want to put too much pressure on him straight away to be, you know, to show.”
It’s going to take time with Barry, that’s evident, but as soon as he gets that first goal, his career on Merseyside could really take off.
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