Football News: Barnsley Transfer Window Round Up
Image from: theeastsideofoakwell.wordpress.com
Barnsley manager Lee Johnson was not appointed in time to take advantage of the January transfer window, so this summer was his first chance to build a squad to suit the way he wishes to play. Unfortunately he will have to manage without the brightest star coming through after Mason Holgate was sold to Everton. Alongside the loss of Dale Jennings, Johnson will have to work hard to make up for the loss of those two players.
While Jennings has never lived up to the potential that saw Bayern Munich buy him as a youngster from Tranmere Rovers, he still poses a real threat to opposition defences at this level. He will be a big miss this season to a team looking to win promotion back to the Championship. Barnsley fans will be hoping Johnson has invested the funds received from the sale of Holgate well, unlike the last time the club lost a young up and coming star to Everton.
The outs:
Mason Holgate has moved to Everton, where he will be hoping to emulate John Stones success on Merseyside.
Jean-Yves Mvoto and Nana Boakye-Yiadom have been released.
James Bailey has headed off to Asia to play in the Indian Super League for FC Pune City on a free transfer.
Leroy Lita has headed to Greece to play for AO Chania on a free.
Dale Jennings has also left on a free transfer, but he has moved up to the Championship to play for MK Dons.
Mike Phenix has gone on loan to Southport.
Rhys Oates has moved on a free to Hartlepool United.
Dominic McHale went to Ramsbottom on a free move.
Martin Cranie joined Huddersfield Town for free.
Milan Lalkovic has headed to Walsall, also for free.
George Williams moved to Barrow on loan.
Kane Hemmings returned north of the border to join Dundee on a free.
Ross Turnbull has moved to Leeds United.
Luke Berry has gone to Cambridge United.
A lot of outs there that the club has had to replace with these ins:
Ryan Williams was the big money signing as the Australian arrived from Fulham.
Joe Rothwell has joined on loan from Manchester United.
Conor Wilkinson has arrived on loan from Bolton Wanderers.
Callum Evans has moved on a free from Manchester United.
Reece Wabara has made the move from across the Pennines to join Barnsley from Doncaster Rovers.
Marc Roberts has stepped up from Conference National side Halifax Town.
Ben Pearson has become another arrival from Manchester United, on a loan in his case.
Kadeem Harrison has joined on loan from Cardiff City.
Alfie Mawson has been added to the squad on a free transfer from Brentford.
Nick Townsend, the young keeper, has arrived from Birmingham City.
Marley Watkins has signed on a free transfer from Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
Harry White has joined from non-league side Gloucester City.
Michael Smith has been added on loan from Swindon Town.
Dan Crowley has also come on loan from Premier League Arsenal.
The worrying thing about this squad is the reliance on loan signings, which mean that each season the whole team is being rebuilt and continuity can never be established. How do the likes of Holgate and John Stones come through in future, when the team is already packed with youngsters on loan? Managers like to mix experience in with youngsters, so they will not put too many in at once, and you can be sure the ones coming in from the Premier League will play most games.
The quality of this team, and its chances of promotion, are being based on how good the loan players are, rather than how well the team has been built and coached. Luck is going to play a huge role, because of that, though good management to create a well drilled and cohesive team unit will be essential to build on the luck. This is a big season for Barnsley, they need to get back into the Championship soon, each season that passes makes it more difficult.
Written by Tris Burke September 07 2015 06:05:21
