Barnsley FC sent huge warning after 'really disappointing' transfer situation - 'I have to worry' | OneFootball

FLW's Barnsley fan pundit is concerned by the club's situation after replacing Davis Keillor-Dunn with Conor Hourihane's former teammate Tom Bradshaw.

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 re-signed Tom Bradshaw on transfer deadline day on loan, with top scorer Davis Keillor-Dunn departing the club for Wrexham in the process.

In total, it was six in and six out for Conor Hourihane's men. However, the major talking point was the late departure of arguably the club's best player over the last two seasons at Oakwell.

It leaves David McGoldrick and Tom Bradshaw as the club's primary strikers for the remainder of the campaign. The Irishman has 159 goals in the EFL, while the Welsh striker has 110 during his spells in League One, League Two, and the Championship.

Despite their experience and pedigree, they have a combined age of 71. To go into around 20 matches in less than three months could be tough on the players and is perhaps a concern for many Barnsley fans.

Barnsley's view of the January transfer window business

We asked FLW's Barnsley fan pundit Andy Symcox for his immediate reaction to the transfer window's end, with particular focus on the situation in the forward line. We asked if the free agent now ought to be explored, too.

He said: "To put the January transfer window into context, we have strengthened the defence with the signing of Eoghan O'Connell, and midfield with the additional wingers — particularly Scott Banks to enable Conor Hourihane to play with two wingers.

"He can have Cleary on the left and Banks on the right. However, it has been clear for a considerable period of time that we have insufficient numbers up front. With, realistically, only DKD and David McGoldrick filling those positions.

"It was clear last Saturday against Stevenage that playing both of them as twin strikers — or one just behind the other — that it worked much better than having either of them as an isolated striker So, there is no doubt, in my mind, that reinforcements of good quality were needed.

"That’s particularly during the number of games that we will have to play in a short period of time — due to all the games in hand we have over our rivals. I personally had no problem with us signing Tom Bradshaw, but thought that we needed another striker.

"Conor himself has said that he wanted a fast and pacey striker. And that’s certainly lacking. However, given that we also sold DKD to Wrexham on the last day of the transfer window, it means that Bradshaw is not an additional striker to share the burden, but he’s a direct replacement.

"I am personally very disappointed that we have weakened and not strengthened our offensive positions at the top end of the pitch. Looking at social media, many, many Barnsley fans are unhappy that this has happened. And I share that opinion quite considerably.

"Another striker — or two strikers — was essential to enable us to finish the season strongly and cope with the number of games, but this was not forthcoming. I have no personal idea how close we came to signing an additional striker, or perhaps two. But, either way, it’s immaterial because it did not materialise.

"It’s a really disappointing end to the transfer window, for me. And we are weaker as a result of it. That is no reflection on Bradshaw himself but just the situation that we now find ourselves in. After Saturday, I hope that we would be looking up the table.

"To see if we could take advantage of the games in hand and to make a late surge up the table. Given that we are, at the time of recording this, five points above the relegation zone, I have to worry.

"I have to worry that we may soon be looking down rather than looking up. Relegation would be disastrous. Whether or not we have settled for mid-table obscurity or not, I don’t know. But we could easily find ourselves quickly dragged into a relegation battle."

Barnsley's January transfer business and League One survival hopes

Barnsley are arguably weaker now that the window has closed, with attacking players in short supply, even if they have more quality out wide and in attacking midfield than before.

They must be cautious, given how tight the division is in the bottom half and even the bottom teams in the top half. The games in hand are all well and good, but they are not guaranteed points.

Hourihane will be working with two strikers he featured with in his playing career, but can they be enough without Keillor-Dunn's quality? It really could go either way with regards to their season from here.