David Moyes offers honest verdict on Thierno Barry’s first season at Everton

The Blues boss offered some defence of the France youth international after a rollercoaster debut campaign

David Moyes offered a sympathetic view of Thierno Barry’s first campaign in English football, despite his recent struggles.

The 23-year-old hit a purple patch in the winter, scoring big goals in victories over Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa. His last goal was the winner at Newcastle United in February, though, and he has lost his place to the in-form Beto. Issues off the pitch have also led to him being booed by sections of his fanbase.

Moyes has challenged him to respond by scoring more goals and, ahead of the visit of Manchester City, stressed the wider need across the game for supporters to be patient about young players.

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Barry has six goals from a debut season that has had good moments after a slow start following his £27m move from Villarreal. His form has dipped though, not helped by comments he made on social media after the defeat at Arsenal, in which he criticised a section of supporters in the away end following an incident involving his friends. Police are investigating what was referred to as an “altercation” in appeals for information.

Barry’s run without a goal continued in the second half against Liverpool and at West Ham United, when he was called upon after Beto suffered concussion.

Asked for his thoughts on the forward’s progress Moyes, who is expected to review his striking options in the summer, said: “I am saying a general thing here, and it is that football supporters are not having much patience with many things. You might not get two or three years to become that player.

“There is a bigger emphasis on: We need things now, we are looking for that to happen quickly. It is not just here at Everton. I think all clubs are the same. He is young as well, first year in the country, at the moment we have four games to go and if he scores a couple of goals you might say it has not been the worst return for a young centre-forward.”

While few would call Barry an immediate success, he has just one Premier League goal fewer than Nick Woltemade, who Newcastle United signed in a £65m summer deal. The Magpies spent £55m on Yoane Wissa, who has just one league goal to his name this season. Nottingham Forest spent around £26m on Arnaud Kalimuendo, who did not score in nine league appearances before being loaned to Germany.

Moyes added: “There are a lot of clubs who have paid a lot of money for centre forwards and you wouldn’t say that has been worth it. We took a chance on a young up and coming striker, we tried to get him in quickly and early to see how he was going. He has not done bad. I actually think he is improving as he is going along. The first season in the Premier League, it is not that easy.”