Whilst a weary Championship season has come to a temporary halt due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, of all the teams who surely must be vying for the null and void option would be rock bottom Barnsley FC.
The South Yorkshire side have been less than worthy of survival this season, as the Tykes are seven points adrift of survival and have the second worse goal difference in the entire league. However, following a switch in management at Oakwell, one thing has remained stable and an ever-present quality throughout the 2019/20 season, is the amount of time and promise Barnsley are showing their youth.
Barnsley have earned the plaudits for giving the most minutes in the Championship to players under the age of 23, giving opportunities to the likes of Jacob Brown, Conor Chaplin and Ben Williams. Brown and Williams were products of the club's youth system and have contributed to the impressive 23,448 minutes given to under-23 players in the squad. Alongside those three, manager Gerhard Struber has also given chances to under-23 players who the club have acquired from other teams, such as Conor Chaplin, a prolific striker who has netted 10 goals in 35 appearances for the Tykes, former Leeds United defender Aapo Halme who has made 27 appearances at the back, and Kilian Ludewig alongside Halme, a German defender who has made 9 appearances on loan from Red Bull Salzburg.
Whilst Barnsley have failed to successfully compete in the English second tier, it is likely that with the right coaching and management, Struber's Barnsley side have heaps of potential ahead of them, with at least fifteen registered under-23 capable players in the club's arsenal, many who will be eager to fight for their place at any level; Championship, or League One.
Furthermore, the emphasis on the usage of youth players will heavily aid the club's financial situation, as the Tykes do not have pay substantial wages required with the world-class footballers we see to this day. Whilst they have struggled to cope with the likes of Derby County, who will be paying Wayne Rooney a ridiculous amount for his services, or even Leeds United on the wages of former Real Madrid goalkeeper Kiko Casilla, Barnsley are arching an eye to the future to the likes of Chaplin, who was flourishing at League One level at the age of 21, on a small wage to give him a chance at Championship level, and it looks as if he matches Barnsley's ambitions. Chaplin signed on a four year contract, and Chief Executive Officer Dane Murphy publicly stated: "The latest addition further improves our young, dynamic, attacking core."
Whilst the Championship season remains up in the air as of it's future, Barnsley fans can remain confident that if they do suffer relegation to the depths of League One, they can expect an instant title challenge from a strong, young squad who will hopefully dazzle Tyke fans for years to come; and if not at least financially boost their status.
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