2025/26 Thierno Barry

[preposterousvelios]

I think there’s truth to both. We create no chances and give poor service to him. He’d no doubt be better, score more goals if we had a more cohesive attacking game plan. Probably true of any striker.

Comparing him to DCL at the same age though is night and day. DCL gave defenders a real tough time, he had physicality and presence - it’s a stroll in the park to play against Barry. He’s absolutely miles off it for the job Moyes is asking him to do.

DCL was never ever a good finisher though. Had every other tool in his locker, could battle and link play and was great in the air. But if he had any time to think about the finish he would hit it straight at the keeper. Every single time.

Barry is less tidy in the rest of his game but he's a better finisher than DCL, and I'll take that tbh.

 

[Lanolin]

I feel like I'm existing in a different reality when I believe he was able to carry and link up the ball In a capable way yesterday, he was provided scarce opportunities on goal ,banging in crosses over his head or kicking set piece or set piece into a crowded group of players near the goalkeeper doesn't count either. People just like to moan and be theatrical, bunch of urine soaked babies in here

I didn't think he was particularly bad last night, but so much of what he does is just sort of centre-forward-by-numbers stuff; get the top of his head on a few long balls, lay the ball off to the nearest player, be half a yard behind a defender chasing the ball etc. It's not that he's useless, but it's very rare that he does anything remotely impressive, it's all fairly basic stuff and - as others have said - just a bit too easy to deal with.

 

[Ruairi77]

I dunno how anyone expects any striker to do well the way we play.

 

[Jebus_lives]

I feel like I'm existing in a different reality when I believe he was able to carry and link up the ball In a capable way yesterday, he was provided scarce opportunities on goal ,banging in crosses over his head or kicking set piece or set piece into a crowded group of players near the goalkeeper doesn't count either. People just like to moan and be theatrical, bunch of urine soaked babies in here

I genuinely don't know what people expect of him. It's the same moans that people used to make with DCL.

Our strikers are lucky to get 1 chance per game, and people expect them to score every time.

No consideration of the effort required to constantly battle two CBs in the air, chase down a back 4 witb the rest of the team 30 yards away.

We seem to simultaneously want our strikers to be like Drogba and Messi.

 

[Curtis]

I didn't think he was particularly bad last night, but so much of what he does is just sort of centre-forward-by-numbers stuff; get the top of his head on a few long balls, lay the ball off to the nearest player, be half a yard behind a defender chasing the ball etc. It's not that he's useless, but it's very rare that he does anything remotely impressive, it's all fairly basic stuff and - as others have said - just a bit too easy to deal with.

I think thats a fair assessment and people are entitled to their own perspectives its more the posters who state he is not premier league level and other exaggerated derisive comments that I get rankled with

 

[preposterousvelios]

I didn't think he was particularly bad last night, but so much of what he does is just sort of centre-forward-by-numbers stuff; get the top of his head on a few long balls, lay the ball off to the nearest player, be half a yard behind a defender chasing the ball etc. It's not that he's useless, but it's very rare that he does anything remotely impressive, it's all fairly basic stuff and - as others have said - just a bit too easy to deal with.

This is a fair take on his game last night, though I would agree with posters who are questioning what exactly it was that any of Barry, KDH, Ndiaye and Armstrong were supposed to be doing with the ball in the Utd half.

Keep playing long balls in behind and not getting anyone up to support at all. Best case scenario is usually them finding a backwards pass to the fullback.

 

[Mr Mig]

I didn't think he was particularly bad last night, but so much of what he does is just sort of centre-forward-by-numbers stuff; get the top of his head on a few long balls, lay the ball off to the nearest player, be half a yard behind a defender chasing the ball etc. It's not that he's useless, but it's very rare that he does anything remotely impressive, it's all fairly basic stuff and - as others have said - just a bit too easy to deal with.

Hes not useless….yer ok

 

[BigDuncTributeBand]

DCL was never ever a good finisher though. Had every other tool in his locker, could battle and link play and was great in the air. But if he had any time to think about the finish he would hit it straight at the keeper. Every single time.

Barry is less tidy in the rest of his game but he's a better finisher than DCL, and I'll take that tbh.

I don’t think he’s a better finisher than DCL at all. DCL played the last four seasons in some of the worst teams I’ve seen in 40 years. Created absolutely nothing, we were terrible.

The team this season with Grealish, KDH, N’Diaye is such a massive upgrade on players DCL was getting supply from. If he’d been playing in this team this season with the number of games Barry’s had he’d have more goals than him, no doubt in my mind.

 

[Jebus_lives]

This is a fair take on his game last night, though I would agree with posters who are questioning what exactly it was that any of Barry, KDH, Ndiaye and Armstrong were supposed to be doing with the ball in the Utd half.

Keep playing long balls in behind and not getting anyone up to support at all. Best case scenario is usually them finding a backwards pass to the fullback.

Top one is a breakaway with Barry in between 3 defenders. He managed to get the ball to KDH.

3 seconds later, Barry is our only legitimate attacking option and he's in the middle of 5 Utd players.

A break away chance and we have 3 players in the Utd half.

 

[MACCA75]

I feel like I'm existing in a different reality when I believe he was able to carry and link up the ball In a capable way yesterday, he was provided scarce opportunities on goal ,banging in crosses over his head or kicking set piece or set piece into a crowded group of players near the goalkeeper doesn't count either. People just like to moan and be theatrical, bunch of urine soaked babies in here

It’s just really basic stuff that though isn’t it. The lad is 6 foot 5. Has he ever been, even once an ariel threat in the box? Has he got an assist himself this season? Has he created a yard of space and got a shot away on the edge of the box? Would you trust him with a penalty?

It’s nearly March and you’re answering ‘No’ to all of the above.

 

[Joey66]

DM has to take full responsibility for his team selection & tactics imo

 

[preposterousvelios]

I don’t think he’s a better finisher than DCL at all. DCL played the last four seasons in some of the worst teams I’ve seen in 40 years. Created absolutely nothing, we were terrible.

The team this season with Grealish, KDH, N’Diaye is such a massive upgrade on players DCL was getting supply from. If he’d been playing in this team this season with the number of games Barry’s had he’d have more goals than him, no doubt in my mind.

Have to disagree with you there I'm afraid. To talk up Dom's finishing ability would be to rewrite history.

I was a supporter of DCL and one of those that would have kept him over Beto, but I've watched him be played through on goal and hit it straight at the keeper more times than I can count.

And while I agree that we have a much better calibre of creative player at the club this season, both my eyes and the available data show me that we haven't translated that into a system that actually creates chances.

 

[preposterousvelios]

View attachment 344474View attachment 344475
Top one is a breakaway with Barry in between 3 defenders. He managed to get the ball to KDH.

3 seconds later, Barry is our only legitimate attacking option and he's in the middle of 5 Utd players.

A break away chance and we have 3 players in the Utd half.

Thank you for providing a perfect example of what I'm talking about.

There's goals in this team. Barry, KDH, Ndiaye are all good finishers imo. Need to look at why it is that we regularly go 90 mins without any of them having a real chance to take a shot on goal.

 

[Jebus_lives]

Thank you for providing a perfect example of what I'm talking about.

There's goals in this team. Barry, KDH, Ndiaye are all good finishers imo. Need to look at why it is that we regularly go 90 mins without any of them having a real chance to take a shot on goal.

It's clearly down to our tactics. We refuse to commit players in open play, but throw everyone forward for corners.

Percentage football. It's designed for 0-0 with a possible goal from a set piece.

 

[JLW]

How any times last Armstrong on the left in the second half got space to cross, looked up and Barry is just standing there, zero movement its shocking for a 30mil player, like shocking.

The biggest problem at this football club is the scouting and recruitment.