Yakubu sees “new Barry” and challenges Everton striker to hit 15 league goals

Yakubu believes Everton have seen a “new” Thierno Barry this season and has challenged the striker to build on his encouraging start by delivering 15 league goals.

The former Blues striker was particularly impressed by Barry’s movement and positioning for his goal against Crystal Palace on the opening weekend, as the Frenchman found space in the area to head home Iliman Ndiaye's cross.

The 23-year-old followed that goal with a hat-trick in the League Cup win at Preston. Barry has talked up his desire for an improved second season at Everton, following a challenging first campaign with the club.

The pressure has been heightened on Barry, following Beto's exit and the failed deadline day move for Folarin Balogun. It leaves him as the sole centre-forward in David Moyes' squad.

Yak viewed Barry's positioning as a sign of improvement from last season, but warned that he must continue producing.

“When you see the way he scored the goal from Iliman’s [Ndiaye] cross, he was standing behind the central defender in the middle, which is really, really good [movement] as a striker," Yakubu exclusively told ToffeeWeb as part of our Once a Blue series.

"I think last season we didn't see much of that. I think we saw the new Barry [against Palace]. He was between the two central defenders and that's why he got that goal.

“We need players who can be in the box and score goals. We struggled a lot last season, with Barry and Beto not scoring enough. If he can continue like this, he will get his chances. He got a chance already and he took it.

“You know, with the manager there, with Moyes, you know if you are not scoring goals he will keep rotating. I think he took his chance very well. It’s going to be pressure."

‘We need 15 goals from him’: Yakubu sets Barry Premier League target

'He [Barry] needs to do more. It’s just the first game of the season and he needs to do more in the next one. Scoring goals, creating changes for other players. They need to be able to kick the ball to him and his hold-up play needs to be good. But for him to be in that area [for his goal] it was really a sign of improvement.

“If he can give us fifteen goals a season, it'll be great. We need fifteen from him.”

With experience of shouldering the goalscoring expectation for Everton, Yakubu advised Barry of the importance of quickly forgetting missed chances.

“You do think about it [missed chances], you know. For me, I always think about getting another one. I’ll get another one with players like Stevie [Pienaar] and Mickey [Arteta] behind you. With [Leighton] Bainsey, you know they will always get you another one.

“For him he needs to score goals. As a striker you need to score goals, if we wanna be in Europe. We struggled a lot last season because we're not scoring a lot of goals. When you look at the goals they've [Barry and Beto] scored between them it’s just not good enough. We need more."

 

 

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