Were Barnsley truly ready to be promoted back to the Championship?
The honest answer is no. Their supporters knew it and critically, those in the corridors of power will have known it deep down as well.
Yes, the Reds’ play-off semi-final elimination at Bolton on Tuesday possessed elements of pain that you normally associate with such occasions and there was disappointment after winning the battle, but losing the two-match War of the Roses.
However, there was also an air of inevitableness about the whole event, even down to the way Reds defenders were punished for further unruly behaviour shortly before halftime in a 3-2 win, but a 5-4 loss on aggregate, as they added to their long list of disastrous recent set-piece concessions.It came after the charity match at Oakwell four nights before; since late November, Barnsley has preserved two clean sheets and let up nearly fifty goals. Within is a narrative.As does the squad’s contract summary.
With several key stars also out of contract – and seemingly set for pastures new – what would Barnsley have had in the building if they had got their act together and somehow been promoted in any case
Herbie Kane and Devante Cole, whose performances have declined, are probably leaving with Jordan Williams and maybe Nicky Cadden.
When you consider that Liam Roberts and John McAtee’s loan periods are coming to an end, there’s a good potential that six of the team’s star players won’t be there when the 2024–25 season kicks off.
Let’s face it, if recruitment had not been remarkably excellent, the Championship could have been a nightmare the next season.
Not to mention that a fresh face will be leading a harsh section that has the potential to quickly destroy reputations.
The ultimate goal of Barnsley is to acquire young players, give them a few years to grow, and then sell them.
There is nothing wrong with that, according to many. To be fair, the club’s recruitment department has shown in the last ten years that it can recognise quality, but how many major players stay for more than three or four years?
That’s the catch. It is necessary for building.
It is not the Barnsley approach to hold onto a solid core of top players in order to finally build something sustainable in a Championship that is becoming more and more competitive every season.
Unlike clubs like Luton and Coventry, their real interest lies in player development and recruitment rather than small steps towards improving the table. That’s the main point.
The Reds’ defence has been lacking for a considerable amount of time.
Indeed, Donovan Pines’ injury—which coincidentally occurred against Bolton during the league game at Oakwell on March 5—was inopportune. As it turned out, Barnsley’s season did not fully bounce back from being derailed in the 2-2 tie at the very end.
It takes time to develop a solid backline. Barnsley had the outstanding axis of Mads Andersen, Liam Kitching, and Bobby Thomas to call upon in two tense play-off matches with Wanderers in May of last year.
In the most recent doubleheader, they were everything that the current central defence trio was not.
It was generally agreed upon that Barnsley’s class of 2023–24 lacked depth at the back and was not prepared for a championship.
There were also obvious problems up top. By February 3, Cole had achieved 17 of his 18 goals.
Sam Cosgrove, meanwhile, tied his regular season goal total with three goals in two play-off games.
Nevertheless, the striker’s performance in the previous week is a positive sign. In 24–25, when Cole is probably going to be absent, Barnsley will need him.
It is no accident that Barnsley staggered into the end-of-season lottery and were eliminated at the time most observers predicted, with manager Neill Collins having been an earlier casualty, given issues at both ends of the pitch.
In the highly regarded promotion campaigns of 2018–19 and 2015–16, when the Reds finished with a wet sail and Oakwell was a lively and exciting place to be, the club’s late-season form was practically the complete reverse of their results.
Indeed, during this campaign, Barnsley qualified for the post-season. However, it won’t be recalled with any nostalgia.
With problems on both ends of the game, it is no coincidence that Barnsley stumbled into the end-of-season lottery and were eliminated at the time most observers projected. Manager Neill Collins was one of the first casualties.
The Reds’ late-season form was almost the exact opposite of their outcomes during the widely acclaimed promotion campaigns in 2018–19 and 2015–16, when the team finished with a wet sail and Oakwell was a vibrant and exciting place to be.
In fact, Barnsley made it to the post-season this season. But there won’t be any sentimentality attached to it.
An additional source of discontent has been the club’s unsuccessful recent search for an Austrian head coach and the off-field scandals surrounding their November FA Cup expulsion.
Any such errors in the future must be minimised by the Reds’ hierarchy. Although the board members are honest, candid, and well-meaning, supporters’ tolerance is becoming thin.
