2011/12 Season Preview: Barnsley

The countdown to the 2011/12 season begins by looking at Yorkshire outfit, Barnsley

The countdown to the 2011/12 season begins by looking at Yorkshire outfit, Barnsley

Gaffer: Keith Hill – snapped up from League One overachievers Rochdale after the Tykes board inexplicably parted company with Mark Robins who had just guided his side to their highest league position in five years.

Hill spent five years as manager at Spotland, guiding the ‘Dale to promotion in 2010 before comfortably securing their third-tier status last season.

Position 10/11: A respectable 17th.

In: Miles Addison (Derby County, six-month loan), Craig Davies (Chesterfield, free), David Perkins (Colchester United, free), Matt Done (Rochdale, undisc.), Scott Wiseman (Rochdale, undisc.), Jimmy McNulty (Brighton, undisc.) and Rob Edwards (Blackpool, free).

Out: Hugo Colace, Martin Devaney, Matt Hill, Liam Dickinson (all free transfers) and Jason Shackell (Derby County £1m)

Star Man: Having lost arguably their two best players in the last two transfer windows – Adam Hammill to Wolves in January and Jason Shackell to Derby this summer, blistering forward Danny Haynes is surely the Tykes star man.

The former Ipswich Town and Bristol City forward scored six in 20 after a January move to Oakwell and big hopes will be pinned to the Peckham-born frontman this season.

Best Business: Defender Miles Addison on a six-month loan. Built like the proverbial brick outhouse, Addison impressed at Derby before serious injury set him back in his Rams career. With former Barnsley skipper Shackell essentially taking his place in the starting 11 at Pride Park the opportunity to regain match fitness on-loan at Barnsley is an excellent one for both parties.

Prediction: There are very few poor teams in the n.Power Championship this season but Barnsley look like one of them. They lack genuine firepower and a lot of the squad including new boss Hill are new to this level. It could well be a baptism of fire and I expect them to be in the relegation scrap.