Thierno Barry is the striker nobody talks about, and that's exactly how Everton like it

While the back pages obsess over Newcastle's goalkeeping howlers and Jack Grealish's disciplinary drama, Thierno Barry has quietly become Everton's most reliable source of goals. Eight in 12 games, matching last season's tally, yet barely a whisper in the national conversation. That silence is a mistake.

From nightmare debut to indispensable starter

Barry's first season at Goodison Park was a slow burn. A nightmare debut, adaption issues, and the usual questions about whether he could handle the Premier League's physicality. But the numbers this term tell a different story: eight goals in 12 appearances, including the winner at Newcastle that lifted Everton to seventh. That's not a purple patch; that's a pattern.

Compare him to other strikers who arrived with far more fanfare. Darwin Núñez cost £85m and has never scored at this rate. Rasmus Højlund, at £72m, took months to find his feet. Barry, signed for a fraction of those fees, is outperforming them both in raw output. The 22-year-old's movement in the box is reminiscent of a young Jermain Defoe — sharp, instinctive, always anticipating the half-chance.

The case for Barry as Everton's most valuable asset

Everton's resurgence under David Moyes has been built on defensive solidity and set-piece threat, but it's Barry's goals that have turned draws into wins. Without his strikes, Everton would be mid-table at best. Here's why he's indispensable:

  • Clinical conversion rate: Barry has scored with 28% of his shots this season, a figure that ranks among the league's top five for players with 20+ attempts. He doesn't need volume; he needs one chance.
  • Big-game mentality: His winner at Newcastle was no fluke. He also scored the equaliser against Arsenal in December and the opener at Aston Villa in November. These are points that have directly contributed to Everton's top-half positioning.
  • Defensive contribution: Barry averages 1.2 tackles per game and 2.1 aerial duels won in the defensive third. He's the first line of Moyes's press, not a luxury passenger.

For a team that often cedes possession, having a striker who can hold the ball up and relieve pressure is vital. Barry's link-up play with Abdoulaye Doucouré and Dwight McNeil has been central to Everton's attacking transitions. He's not just a poacher; he's a focal point.

But he's just a tap-in merchant, right?

The counter-argument is predictable: Barry's goals are scruffy, reliant on goalkeeping errors or defensive lapses. The winner at Newcastle came from a Hornicek howler, after all. But that ignores the intelligence of his positioning. Barry anticipated the error before it happened, gambling on the mistake. That's not luck; that's instinct. Furthermore, his equaliser against Arsenal was a beautifully guided header from a corner, and his strike against Villa was a first-time volley from the edge of the box. The variety of his finishes suggests a complete forward, not a one-trick pony.

Prediction: Barry will hit 15 league goals and Everton will finish in the top eight

By the end of the season, Thierno Barry will have scored at least 15 Premier League goals, and Everton will secure a top-eight finish. If either of those fails to materialise, I'll admit I was wrong. But the evidence is there: a striker entering his prime, in a system designed to feed him, with a manager who trusts him. The mainstream media can keep ignoring him. Everton fans won't.

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