"It truthfully doesn't surprise me" - Barnsley FC questioned for transfer action | OneFootball

The Tykes need more cover up front, but failed to provide that in the transfer window.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Barnsley have had a very inconsistent season, and after a difficult end to the 2023/24 campaign, there has not been a great level of improvement.

The Tykes are just a point off the play-off places right now, however, with the battle for the final spots in the top six incredibly tight in League One right now.

Darrell Clarke's side sit 10th in the third tier, but they know that they could go into next week as high as sixth if results go their way. Nevertheless, a disappointing January transfer window has left the South Yorkshire side light in one department.

Barnsley need more firepower up front, and while a forward was brought in during the winter, there will be a regret that more was not done to help hand them a further advantage over their rivals.

Barnsley berated for not bringing in more strikers

The decision to allow Sam Cosgrove to join Stockport County was a bizarre decision considering the Hatters are in a direct battle against the Tykes this season, and Max Watters is out injured.

If Clarke is going to get his team into the play-offs, he will need his defence to be strong, while those in midfield will have to pick up goals as well to help cover those that have been lost through the departure of Cosgrove.

Football League World asked their Barnsley Fan Pundit, Andy Symcox, what is the one thing that he wishes his club had done in the January transfer window but did not do.

He told FLW: "I certainly wish that Barnsley signed another striker. We have Max Watters injured for approximately 5 weeks, and now Sam Cosgrove has left the club.

"It truthfully doesn't surprise me. However, we have only brought in one striker, Clement Rodrigues."

Barnsley have left themselves in a difficult position

Rodrigues now has a lot of pressure on his shoulders to start firing in the goals straight away, and this is a situation that Barnsley have caused themselves.

Stephen Humphrys has struggled to find the back of the net consistently, and Davis Keillor-Dunn has picked up a lot of the responsibility and is currently the Tykes' top scorer.

However, considering their league position, and just how close the teams involved in the fight for the play-offs are, there may be some regrets over the decisions made in January come the end of the season.

Barnsley have missed out on promotion in the previous two campaigns, and while they are within a chance of a return to the Championship once again, they have made their job a lot harder than it should have been.