Alan Smith on Thierno Barry and Everton’s thin squad under Moyes

• Thierno Barry is Everton’s only recognised centre-forward after Beto’s deadline-day sale to Fiorentina and the collapse of a move for Monaco’s Folarin Balogun.
• Barry has already scored five goals this season, a tally he did not reach until 26 January last year.
• Jarrad Branthwaite has earned his first England call-up under Thomas Tuchel, despite hamstring injuries limiting him to ten games last season.

Thierno Barry: how Everton reached a single-striker crisis

Thierno Barry has scored five goals for Everton this season, a mark he did not reach until 26 January last year.

That early return says everything about how far Moyes now leans on one man. The Thierno Barry Everton squad depth question has moved from theory to the centre of the club’s season.

Beto left Goodison Park for Fiorentina on transfer deadline day, and a parallel deal to bring in Monaco forward Folarin Balogun fell through before the window closed.

By the end of that day, Barry stood as the only recognised centre-forward in Moyes’ first-team squad.

His form has kept the questions quiet so far. Barry scored the winning goal against Ipswich Town to reach five for the campaign, though he had a second effort chalked off after Brennan Johnson was judged to be interfering with play from an offside position.

The expert angle: David Moyes faces major risk over Barry injury

Former Premier League striker Alan Smith addressed the problem directly, speaking to the Liverpool Echo.

“It’s an obvious shortage there. I was looking at him at the weekend and you can see the weaknesses in his game, but he’s a very game player as well,” he said.

Smith pointed to David Moyes’ central defence as the one area offering real cover.

Jarrad Branthwaite has recovered from the hamstring trouble that restricted him to ten games last season and has now won his first England call-up under Thomas Tuchel.

“It’s good to see Jarrad in there, and he was one of the men of the match against Spurs, I think,” Smith said.

He linked that form to the partnership alongside James Tarkowski.

“There have been some brilliant back four displays, and he’s next to James Tarkowski. We talk about a shortage of players, but that enables understandings to grow sometimes, because there aren’t maybe too many other options,” Smith added.

“Those two present a formidable barrier, I think, they will do that to a lot of attackers. So, it’s good to see him enjoying his football and nailing down that place at the moment.”

The warning came when Smith turned back to the attack. “David Moyes will be a little worried about what happens in the event of Barry getting injured, but even with him in the team, it’s not ideal.

“But that’s when you’ve got to look to people like Jack Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to provide some goals and not just depend on the centre-forward,” he added.

What happens next for Everton’s depleted squad

Smith did not soften his view of deadline day itself. “There’s no doubt what happened on transfer deadline day leaves Moyes short.

He’s trying to put a little spin on it, saying he likes to work with a smaller squad, but maybe not this small.”

He was equally direct about what it means for the manager’s planning.

“So, Moyes will be disappointed that players didn’t come in, having let those lads go. He’s going to have to use all of his experience and expertise, this season,” Smith continued.

The Thierno Barry Everton squad depth issue will not disappear on its own; it sits with Moyes until the next transfer window opens.

For now, Smith still expects the team to hold its own.

“I think they’ll keep their heads above water, and we saw against Spurs and Ipswich what a well-organised outfit they can be, and they might have to depend on that even more this season because of the shortage of options,” he said.

Readers can find our full report on Alan Smith’s comments for his complete assessment of the squad.

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