While Idrissa Gueye gets the headlines, Barry’s improvement has been superb.
After Everton beat Sunderland 3-0 on Monday evening there was one man who garnered all the praise, Idrissa Gueye.
The midfielder had once again turned in a top quality performance in the heart of the Blues’ midfield to continue his fine start to the season.
So far he has been the standout man for Ronald Koeman’s team, with his all-action performances earning rave reviews from fans and pundits alike.
After the game, former Everton captain Phil Neville told Sky Sports Monday Night Football that he felt his old team had found “someone really special.”
While the praise for Gueye is richly deserved, his midfielder partner Gareth Barry merits equal commendation.
It had appeared the veteran midfielder could be coming to the end of his career this season, but just as Gueye has breathed fresh air into Everton, he has done similar to Barry.
| Season | Won Tackle | Duel Won | Poss Won Mid 3rd | Ball Recovery | Accurate Pass | Passing Accuracy | Touches | Appearances | Mins Played | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gareth Barry | 2016-2017 | 11 | 31 | 23 | 37 | 214 | 84% | 312 | 4 | 355 |
| Gareth Barry | 2015-2016 | 9 | 26 | 13 | 29 | 200 | 81% | 302 | 4 | 315 |
The difference is noticeable when you look at the stats compared to his last four games last season.
This year he has won more tackles, more defensive duels and won possession in the midfield third more often.
He has also registered more ball recoveries and accurate passes as well as enjoying a better overall passing accuracy. He has even managed more touches.
That was evident in the win over the Black Cats as Barry sat back and allowed his teammate to push forward and flourish.
That is an impressive improvement, to say the least, and if he continues in a similar vein it will not be long before the veteran is making the headline as Gueye has done.
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