In the seventh of a series of pre-season reports, HarryfromBath assesses the mood around the Championship clubs by delving into their forums, looking here at how the Tykes have gone about rebuilding their squad this summer. Reports on Bolton and Preston will follow later today and all of the teams in the division will covered by the start of the season.
"It’s going to be a real challenge this year. I would be happy to survive knowing we have a raft of players who might be able to give it a real go the following season”, "There is so much money in the Championship these days. It’s a totally different proposition to what it was 10 years ago.”
"If we don’t get relegated and I see as many good games as I saw last season, I will be pretty happy.” Although Barnsley finished last season in a creditable 14th place, the latest two transfer windows have seen their team picked apart by wealthier Championship rivals. A major squad rebuild is under way.
"Money continues to ruin the game”, "I don’t want us to tread water but I don’t see a better option than doing what we’re doing at the moment. It would be nice to finish inside the top 10, but given the number of new players we must get hitting the ground running, I would just settle for survival.”
"It’s a big ask. We have gambled with untried players at this level”, "I sort of expect us to struggle because of the lack of experience at this level, but on the other hand we have a team of youngsters with potential who, with a good start and a bit of belief, could do far better than last year’s team.”
"You have got to hand it to Hecky. The man’s a legend”, "He’s a man to treat triumph and disaster both the same and that is to his credit. He’s not one to go overboard when we succeed or become too downcast when we don’t”, "I fell that he can get the squad to gel into a unit that can survive.”
Heckingbottom was credited by Tykes for securing the loan signing of highly-rated teenage Chelsea striker Ike Ugbo. "Ugbo is one of the most talented of his age group and was wanted by all accounts by Leeds, Wolves and Vitesse Arnhem. For him to come here speaks volumes about our head coach.
"The more I listen to Hecky, the more I’m convinced we have a top head coach. He is aware of where we are in respect of buying and selling players. He hits the nail on the head when debating an issue and he loves his job, discussing coaching and improving players. This modest bloke has got the lot.”
"I don’t find selling players for mega bucks exciting. I find it draining, especially given the levels of the clubs to whom they have been sold.” The Tykes went into this window having previously lost key players James Bree and Conor Hourihane (to Villa) and Sam Winnall (to Sheffield Wednesday) last January.
Three high-profile players have left this summer. Birmingham have signed defender Marc Roberts, midfielder Josh Scowen has left for QPR and striker Marley Watkins has joined the Canaries. Elliott Lee (to Luton), Cole Kpekwa (to Colchester) and Ryan Williams (to Rotherham) have also departed.
"What we have signed so far looks good”, "The club has done very well so far in the transfer market. It’s frustrating at the moment regarding strikers and wingers but I’m sure the club will sort it”, "We need three or four more including at least one very good fast striker and one very good winger.”
The Tykes’ defence has been strengthened by the addition of 24-year-old full-back and one-time Ipswich loanee Zeki Fryers from Crystal Palace, centre-back Liam Lindsay, 21, from Partick Thistle, 21-year-old Jason McCarthy from Southampton and Ethan Pinnock, 24, from Forest Green Rovers.
"We are desperately lacking a third winger.” Midfield has seen the arrival of Steve Mallen, 21, from St Mirren, 22-year-old Cameron McGeechan from Luton and winger Lloyd Isgrove, the 24-year-old released by Southampton, while Joe Williams, 20, has arrived from Everton on a season long loan.
Ike Ugbo, on loan from Chelsea, is the only addition up front and many Tykes feel that the 18-year-old is a work in progress. "Up front we are still lacking. The lad from Chelsea isn’t lightning quick. He is still adjusting to men’s football and it shows. I think he’s likely to be a grower over the season.”
Barnsley’s pre-season fixtures so far have seen them draw 3-3 with Guiseley, lose 2-1 at Grimsby, beat Coventry 3-1 at home, lose 1-0 away to Huddersfield and most recently win at Rochdale 2-0 courtesy of two goals from second-half substitute Ugbo.
"Looking at the teamsheet for the Rochdale game tonight, it looks a decent set of players”, "Hecky is shuffling his pack and giving everyone a rest.” The head coach has used the pre-season friendlies to try different combinations, as he did with his starting XI (above) and finishing XI (below) at Rochdale.
"I don’t think the starting XI looks great but the squad looks OK”, "We have good options at the back and our full-backs have plenty of pace and creativity out wide.” Several Tykes can foresee this season’s team being built around a spine of Angus MacDonald, George Moncur and Tom Bradshaw.
"The main thing that has stood out in friendlies is the lack of a punch up front, but that’s what we expected to see”, "We need a decent striker or we will regularly see the same outcomes, competing well but losing narrowly. The team makes mistakes and is inexperienced, but it has exciting players.”
"We would be naïve to think the squad we are currently assembling will be ready to be competitive in the first weeks of the season. The opening 10 or so games look very tough in this developmental learning period”, "All in all a top 10 finish would represent a great season given all of the changes.”
"It could be the opposite to last season, in that we start slowly and get better and stronger as the season progresses”, "My only hope next year is that whatever happens we stick with Hecky. I don’t think I could bear the fans turning on him à la David Flitcroft”, "I would gladly settle this year for survival.”
The busiest Tykes’ message board is the friendly and knowledgeable BBS Fans Forum.