Barnsley are back in the Championship after gaining promotion from League One last season.
Across the past six campaigns, the club has spent three seasons in the Championship and three in League One.
This suggests that the club is too good for the third-tier of English football and perhaps not good enough to compete in the second-tier.
With the odds stacked against them, can Barnsley stay up this time around?
Last season
Barnsley finished second in League One last season after accumulating an impressive 91 points.
The team finished with the best defensive record in the division and manager Daniel Stendel will be hoping that his team can replicate such solidity at the back in the upcoming campaign.
At the other end of the pitch, Kieffer Moore and Cauley Woodrow scored 17 and 16 league goals respectively to help fire their side to promotion.
Next season
Given The Tykes’ inconsistency in recent years, it’s difficult to make a case for them avoiding relegation again this season.
If they are to steer clear of the drop, the dangerous duo of Moore and Woodrow must continue to score goals for the team at a similar rate to last season.
If one of the star-strikers suffers a dip in form, it’s tough to see where the goals will come from elsewhere in the squad.
The acquisition of 20-year-old Luke Thomas from Derby could prove to be a great bit of business by the club. The young attacking midfielder showed promising signs last season on-loan at Coventry.
With that being said, considering the strength of the top teams in the division, Barnsley could struggle to compete judging by their lack of Championship quality.
Players in
Luke Thomas - €1.35m from Derby County
Mads Juel Andersen - €1.00m from AC Horsens
Mike Bahre - €150k from Hannover 96
Samuel Sahin-Radlinger - Free from Hannover 96
Brad Collins - Free from Chelsea
Aapo Halme - Undisclosed from Leeds United
Conor Chaplin - Undisclosed from Coventry City
Toby Sibbick - Undisclosed from AFC Wimbledon
Mallik Wilks - Undisclosed from Leeds United
Bambo Diaby - Undisclosed from KSC Lokeren
Players out
Ethan Pinnock - €3.35m to Brentford
Liam Lindsay - €2.25 to Stoke City
Ryan Hedges - Free to Aberdeen
Adam Jackson - Free to Hibernian
Zeki Fryers - Free to Swindon Town
Adam Davies - Free to Stoke City
Lloyd Isgrove - Released
Predicted league finish
The predicted league finish for Barnsley is 24th. The Tykes have been up and down in recent times and it will be tough for the club to buck the trend in an extremely strong Championship.
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