Thierno Barry shares first impressions of Everton fans and Hill Dickinson Stadium
Thierno Barry’s arrival at Everton is a signing that has sparked plenty of intrigue over the last few weeks.
The frontman notched 11 goals and four assists in La Liga last time out, and the Toffees worked hard to secure his signature and bring him to the Premier League.
Barry was one of the first signings of the summer for Everton, as the Merseysiders moved quickly to address a key area of weakness within their frontline.
It has been a frustrating pre-season for the Frenchman and his teammates, and they rounded off their summer preparations with a 1-0 defeat to Roma on Saturday.
Barry praised Everton fans and ‘magnificent’ Hill Dickinson Stadium
Barry has struggled to find his feet in the limited gametime that he has received at Everton so far this summer.
The frontman had been limited to just substitute appearances, with Moyes looking to slowly bed him into the side. That was until the Roma clash, when the boss opted to throw his new arrival in at the deep end from the start.
Barry has found it difficult to adapt so far, and it was clear once again in the Roma game that he will need to be afforded plenty of time of patience if he is to come good.
Nevertheless, the 22-year-old appears to be fully embracing being an Everton player, and he took to Instagram after the game to praise the fans and the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Saturday’s clash was the first time that the Toffees’ new home has hosted a capacity crowd, and Barry was full of admiration for the new ground and the atmosphere it provided.
He wrote: “First minutes in this magnificent Hill Dickinson Stadium. Incredible atmosphere, hungry for more.”
Everton need to quickly adapt to Hill Dickinson Stadium
The anticipation surrounding Everton’s move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium has been growing ever stronger as the start of the season approaches.
However, the new ground could easily be a hindrance for Moyes’ charges in the first few months, if they do not make a swift adaptation to playing there.
| Date | Opponent |
| 24 August | Brighton |
| 13 September | Aston Villa |
| 29 September | West Ham |
| 4 October | Crystal Palace |
| 25 October | Tottenham |
West Ham suffered a similar issue in the past, where they endured a massive hangover after leaving Upton Park, and with Goodison Park a similarly historic and raucous ground, they must be wary of the potential for a similar issue.
The Toffees have some winnable fixtures on home turf in the opening 10 league games, and that presents the perfect opportunity to both kick-start their campaign and settle into their new home.
If they can get a win under their belts early on, then any slight concerns about the move will soon evaporate.
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