Barnsley August Review: good home form

During this two-week break from the Championship for internationals, we review how all 24 teams have looked in their first five league games. Here’s our assessment of Barnsley.

What we said in pre-season

“More key men leave Barnsley, who have won just twice since Conor Hourihane and Sam Winnall’s January exit. Young summer signings have talent – right-back Jason McCarthy and winger Lloyd Isgrove could threaten – but arrive from inferior leagues. Without leaders to guide them, these fresh-faced Tykes are thrown in at the deep end. 22nd“

Have they surprised us so far?

Those fresh-faced Tykes have performed better than expected, with two wins under their belts already. Isgrove hasn’t yet featured in the league due to injury, but McCarthy has been named by summer as their signing of the summer. Of the right-backs in the Championship, only one has blocked more shots than the ex-Walsall man, one has blocked more crosses and two have blocked more passes (WhoScored).

The positives

The 3-0 win over Sunderland means Barnsley have won two of their three games at Oakwell. The performance showed Paul Heckingbottom’s side can control a game – albeit without the ball – from start to finish. George Moncur, Harvey Barnes and Ike Ugbo all opened their goalscoring accounts in that match. Moncur has played more key passes (10) than any central midfielder in the Championship bar two and is improving at this level while Barnes looks a talent. Ugbo meanwhile has become the division’s youngest goalscorer this season and could profit from the club’s aptitude for developing youth.

The negatives

That aptitude though could cost Barnsley defensively, given the dearth of leaders at the back. They have conceded seven goals – ten if you include the cup tie with Morecambe – and it could have been more had Forest or Sheffield United brought their shooting boots. Their most-used back four has an average age of 23, with a combined three minutes of experience in the top two divisions of English football. We’re not expecting Hecky to shell out for Chiellini but a little more knowhow wouldn’t go amiss.

Late business

25-year-old Gary Gardner is the oldest player Barnsley have signed since adding Matty James midway through last season. He will hope to get over the injuries that have knocked his career off balance, while loanee striker Oliver McBurnie and permanent right-back Dimitri Kevin Cavare are young wildcards.

The Football Lab’s Grade

The early signs are that Barnsley have re-produced enough talent for them to hold their own, so long as the defence learns quickly. B