With Barnsley once again featuring at the wrong end of the Championship table the supposedly imminent takeover of the club cannot come quick enough for fans and players alike. A point against local rivals Sheffield Wednesday is to be applauded but just one win in the last eight games shows that the uncertainty around the club needs to end.
Although all fans have been touched by the way Patrick Cryne has battled his illness and kept them informed of developments concerning the future of the club, there are some who have been vocal about the time it has taken for the takeover to complete and frustrations are beginning to show.
Imminent Takeover?
If – as had been hoped – the consortium headed by Chinese billionaire Chien Lee manages to formally take over in the next couple of months then it would give Paul Heckingbottom a chance to invest in some new players in the January transfer window and potentially push for promotion or a playoff spot.
The club are third favourites for the drop at around 6/4 and that’s an adequate reflection of the season so far. Sunderland are expected to recover after a disastrous start so it’s surely the time for quick action.
But these kinds of business deals can drag on and if it doesn’t go through in time then that would be a massive blow for the club – leaving Barnsley in a perilous position going into the New Year.
The Season So Far
It has been a tough few months for the club and with only a handful of victories Barnsley are already looking nervously towards the bottom of the division. It could be argued that the club’s position belies the way the side has played and performed so far but – as the saying goes – the table doesn’t lie and more three point hauls are definitely needed quickly.
Don’t Wait and See
One thing that manager Paul Heckingbottom will be very clear on is the need for the squad he has right now to be performing better. Barnsley may have been unlucky against Hull and Wednesday but they need to make their performances count – and put away chances – if they are going to climb the table.
Only Burton Albion have had fewer touches in the opposition box in the Championship this season and that needs to change quickly. Tom Bradshaw is the top goal scorer at the moment but he needs some help from his fellow attackers to ensure Barnsley are taking three points home on a more regular basis. Chelsea loanee Ike Ugbo has only one goal in a Barnsley shirt this season so he is one player that needs to make a bigger contribution to the side.
A Step Into the Unknown
With uncertainty over the completion date of the Chien Lee led takeover it is very difficult for Paul Heckingbottom - and the club as a whole - to plan ahead and that makes it difficult to know what the January transfer window holds. The summer saw a lot of players coming in and out of the club – including the loan signings made before the deadline – and without a takeover deal in place it would seem unlikely that much business could be completed in the New Year.
On the other hand, if there is money to spend, Barnsley may be able to pick up some new players – including some from overseas – to push the club back up the table. Chien Lee’s association with French club Nice will excite many fans as it could mean some squad players from the Ligue 1 club swapping the south coast of France for Oakwell in the New Year.
Uncertainty Reigns
With recent rumours of the takeover collapsing, Paul Heckingbottom has gone on record to vent his frustration at the situation - and with an injury to defender Adam Jackson he knows that an influx of funds would be ideal come the turn of the year. But with the fans still squarely behind the team it may be the support that helps Barnsley stay up this season – even if the takeover eventually goes through.
Although all fans have been touched by the way Patrick Cryne has battled his illness and kept them informed of developments concerning the future of the club, there are some who have been vocal about the time it has taken for the takeover to complete and frustrations are beginning to show.
Imminent Takeover?
If – as had been hoped – the consortium headed by Chinese billionaire Chien Lee manages to formally take over in the next couple of months then it would give Paul Heckingbottom a chance to invest in some new players in the January transfer window and potentially push for promotion or a playoff spot.
The club are third favourites for the drop at around 6/4 and that’s an adequate reflection of the season so far. Sunderland are expected to recover after a disastrous start so it’s surely the time for quick action.
But these kinds of business deals can drag on and if it doesn’t go through in time then that would be a massive blow for the club – leaving Barnsley in a perilous position going into the New Year.
The Season So Far
It has been a tough few months for the club and with only a handful of victories Barnsley are already looking nervously towards the bottom of the division. It could be argued that the club’s position belies the way the side has played and performed so far but – as the saying goes – the table doesn’t lie and more three point hauls are definitely needed quickly.
Don’t Wait and See
One thing that manager Paul Heckingbottom will be very clear on is the need for the squad he has right now to be performing better. Barnsley may have been unlucky against Hull and Wednesday but they need to make their performances count – and put away chances – if they are going to climb the table.
Only Burton Albion have had fewer touches in the opposition box in the Championship this season and that needs to change quickly. Tom Bradshaw is the top goal scorer at the moment but he needs some help from his fellow attackers to ensure Barnsley are taking three points home on a more regular basis. Chelsea loanee Ike Ugbo has only one goal in a Barnsley shirt this season so he is one player that needs to make a bigger contribution to the side.
A Step Into the Unknown
With uncertainty over the completion date of the Chien Lee led takeover it is very difficult for Paul Heckingbottom - and the club as a whole - to plan ahead and that makes it difficult to know what the January transfer window holds. The summer saw a lot of players coming in and out of the club – including the loan signings made before the deadline – and without a takeover deal in place it would seem unlikely that much business could be completed in the New Year.
On the other hand, if there is money to spend, Barnsley may be able to pick up some new players – including some from overseas – to push the club back up the table. Chien Lee’s association with French club Nice will excite many fans as it could mean some squad players from the Ligue 1 club swapping the south coast of France for Oakwell in the New Year.
Uncertainty Reigns
With recent rumours of the takeover collapsing, Paul Heckingbottom has gone on record to vent his frustration at the situation - and with an injury to defender Adam Jackson he knows that an influx of funds would be ideal come the turn of the year. But with the fans still squarely behind the team it may be the support that helps Barnsley stay up this season – even if the takeover eventually goes through.