By Graham Ruthven
Thierno Barry signed off for LaLiga’s winter in break in fashion. Certainly, 22-year-old scored thrice in Villarreal’s closing match earlier than Christmas – a 5-2 win over Leganés. This was Barry’s greatest haul of the season up to now, nevertheless it highlighted the potential of a participant who has rapidly settled into his new environment at El Madrigal.
Signed from Basel final summer season, few actually knew what to anticipate from Barry at Villarreal. The Frenchman had proven glimpses of his means in Switzerland, however scored simply 9 targets in 35 video games over the course of his one and solely full season at St Jakob Park throughout which Basel battled relegation.
Since becoming a member of Villarreal for a reported €14m, although, Barry has taken a significant step ahead in his growth. His seven targets in 17 video games (solely 12 of them begins) make him LaLiga’s top-scoring teen alongside Jude Bellingham with the Yellow Submarine as soon as once more incubating the expansion of one other elite degree centre ahead within the making.
Alexander Sørloth led the road for Villarreal final season, scoring 26 occasions in all competitions. This satisfied Atlético Madrid to spend €35m on the Norwegian who’s now a key determine in Diego Simeone’s title-chasing group. This was the void Barry stepped into final summer season and the 22-year-old is doing job of filling it.
When it comes to his all-round sport, Barry would possibly even be an enchancment on Sorloth who’s a penalty field poacher. Bodily, Barry is an imposing determine. Standing at 6’5”, the younger Frenchman is harmful within the air and might maintain his personal towards even the strongest opposition defenders. He provides Villarreal a focus to focus on with crosses and lengthy passes.
Barry’s clever motion is one other trait that makes him particular. This permits him to play on the shoulder of the final defender and get in behind, taking on good goal-scoring positions contained in the field. Numerous LaLiga defenders have been caught out by the Villarreal striker’s shape-shifting within the closing third this season. Barry’s motion is arguably his highest quality.
For somebody of such bodily stature, Barry is outstanding comfy on the ball. And cell, too. He likes to float out large to create overloads and is helpful in tight areas. He can dribble and carry possession. These are qualities which absolutely have scouts from even greater golf equipment holding an in depth eye on the younger French centre ahead.
No one is averaging extra pictures per 90 minutes for Villarreal this season than Barry (3.6). It helps that he has the likes of Álex Baena and Dani Parejo to create for him, with Ayoze Pérez a helpful foil and attacking associate, however Barry is undoubtedly Villarreal’s attacking focus. Their ahead line is constructed round him.
Critics might argue that Barry has been wasteful in entrance of objective at occasions this season. In spite of everything, he’s underperforming his Anticipated Targets (xG) of seven.9. Nonetheless, this exhibits that Barry’s goal-scoring kind is not any fluke. Prime-level scouts worth forwards who get into excessive proportion positions to seek out the again of the web and Barry does that constantly.
Villarreal have a robust monitor report of harnessing younger forwards and sending them on their solution to the elite degree. Earlier than Sørloth, the Yellow Submarine had Nicolas Jackson who’s now main the road for Chelsea within the Premier League. Samuel Chukwueze is one other attacker – albeit a winger – who used Villarreal as a platform with the Nigerian now at AC Milan.
Below Marcelino, Villarreal have gone from preventing relegation to being in European competition. The previous Athletic Membership and Valencia supervisor is evident in his tactical concepts. He likes a compact defence that may handle a sport. He favours a hard-working midfield unit that may supply lots on each side of the ball.
Within the assault, Marcelino desires forwards who can press from the entrance and assault open area. Towards the strongest opponents, Villarreal can play on the counter-attack. Towards decrease calibre groups who sit deep in a low defensive block, although, Marcelino’s method provides his group sufficient management and creativity to manage.
Barry is the proper striker for this method, though he might nonetheless afford to refine some areas of his sport. His passing numbers aren’t the very best. He’s solely within the third percentile for passes accomplished per 90 minutes, averaging simply 7.9. It is because Villarreal funnel their attacking play into the Frenchman, however the very best fashionable forwards can create as properly.
On a elementary degree, although, Barry has a novel ability set. On his present trajectory, the French teen is destined for the highest and has even been tipped for a world call-up. Les Blues want new attackers after the worldwide retirement of Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezmann. Barry might match the invoice.
In the meanwhile, Barry is spearheading a resurgent Villarreal group and creating at a fast tempo few might have envisaged when he made the transfer to LaLiga from Switzerland. The 22-year-old is following within the footsteps of Jackson and Sorloth in yellow. He could have extra alternatives to showcase his potential when the LaLiga season resumes this weekend.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
You possibly can observe each sport from LaLiga on FotMob – with in-depth stat protection together with xG, shot maps, and participant rankings. Obtain the free app right here.