Football Season Guide

Barnsley

In


Nathan James (def) Barnsley; Ben Killip (gk) Hartlepool; Kacper Lopata (def) Woking; Liam Roberts (gk) Middlesbrough; Andy Dallas (att) Solihull Moors; Max Watters (att) Cardiff City.

Out


Mads Andersen (def) Luton; Clarke Odour (att) Bradford; Luke Thomas (mid) Bristol Rovers; Brad Collins (gk) Coventry; Jordan Helliwell (mid) Released; Jamie Searle (gk) Forest Green; Jasper Moon (def) Burton Albion; Obbie Oulare (att) Lierse;

The Tykes ended the 2022/23 season strong, finishing inside the playoff places. They'd lose the final in heartbreaking fashion to fierce rivals Sheffield Wednesday, meaning they're set for another season in League One. Barnsley have endured a tough summer off the field. They're facing a potential points deduction after being found guilty of breaches concerning ownership. The Yorkshire club also have a new manager in place. Neil Collins has taken charge following Michael Duff moving to Swansea City. Losing key centre-back Andersen is a blow, while first-team regulars Collins and Helliwell have both departed. Thomas has also moved on. He played a role last season. Isted ended the season strong during a loan spell with Barnsley. He will not return. Roberts (loan) and Killip have been signed to fill the goalkeeper spot left by Collins. They'll battle it out for the starting job. James has been signed from Burnley to fill their centre-back void. Watters has been brought back on a permanent deal, while Dallas' signing adds extra depth up top. The squad has been largely kept in tact which is a big plus for Barnsley. This is a side that play well together as a tight-knit unit. They're tough to score against and they'll be using that as their platform once again this season. A potential weakness could be manager Collins. He has never been a boss at this level before, so it's going to be intriguing to see how he adapts. The goalkeeper position is another possible issue, depending on how both Killip and Roberts play. A good start could be key for Barnsley. If they hit the ground running and play some positive football, it could be a season to remember at Oakwell.

Target


Despite some player turnover, a managerial change and off-field issues, Barnsley will be there or thereabouts. A top-six finish still feels like a genuine possibility.