SKY BET CHAMPIOnSHIP
2019-20
Thebigtalkingpointamongthefans
waswhethercaptainAdamDavies
wouldleave.Hiscontractwasn’t
extendedandhehasjoinedStoke.
Thisseasonwillbedifferentbecause
we’reintheChampionship.Better
oppositionandfullerstadiums.
I won’tbehappyunlesswestayup.
It willbea greatplatformforthe
developmentofthisyoungsquad.
OurmostunderratedplayerisDani
Pinillos.Hestruggledinhisfirstsix
monthsbutlookedsharplastseason.
LookoutforJacobBrown.Hecan
provehisworthona biggerstage.
ThebestawaygroundisGriffinPark
forsentimentalreasons.Wemightbe
thelastvisitorsevertoplaythere.
ThebestawayfansareLeeds’,as
theyalwaystakea lot.I’mnotsaying
thisthroughgrittedteeth,I promise...
TheoppositionplayerI secretly
admireisTomCairney.Classact.
ThepantomimevillainwillbeSam
Winnall.Duringhisfirstgamebackat
OakwellafterhistransfertoSheffield
Wednesday,hehada PeppaPigsoft
toythrownathim;whenhescored,he
celebratedinfrontofthehomefans.
SavethedateforAugust10,against
SheffieldWednesday.Ourfirstaway
gameandtheirfirsthomegame.
ThebestTykessocialmediaaccount
isthe@RedsReport_podcast.
Thebestthingaboutthematchday
experienceatOakwellisthegeneral
familyfeel,whichkeepstheyounger
generationinvolvedona matchday.
Thesignaturelocaldishisa porkpie.
DidyouknowthatBarnsleyhave
spentmoreseasonsinEngland’s
secondtierthananyotherteam.
OurkeyplayerwillbeAlexMowatt
[below].Gota redcardonhisdebut,
buthewasexcellentinLeagueOne.
Thefans’opinionofthegafferis
thatthepositivityofDanielStendel
[above]givesusanexcitingidentity,
pressinghighandscoringforfun.This
seasonwillbea testnotonlyforhim
buteveryoneattheclub.
Ifheleft,heshouldbereplacedby
someonewhomatcheshisenergy,
positivityandpassion.JurgenKlopp?
We’llfinish13th.Solidmid-table.FAn FILE
LEWISROBINSON
@_robinsonlewis
LASTSEASON
LEAGUEONE2ndFACUPThirdRoundLEAGUECUP
FirstRoundTOPSCORERKiefferMoore(19)LASTSEASON
CHAMPIONSHIP 17th FA CUP Third Round
LEAGUE CUP First Round TOP SCORER Che Adams (22)46 Season Preview 2019-20 FourFourTwo
BARnSLEY BIRMInGHAM CITY
FFTVERDICT
17TH FFT VERDICT
23RD
The Tykes were only relegated on
the last day two years ago, then
appointed Daniel Stendel as boss
and secured an immediate return
to the second tier. With no Joey
Barton around to wind him up this
season, the German could help
them adapt to the Championship.Garry Monk’s summer departure
is a real cause for concern - he’d
done an impressive job in difficult
circumstances, keeping the Blues
comfortably in mid-table. They
struggled before his March 2018
arrival at St Andrew’s, and could
struggle again now he’s gone.The big talking point among the fans
is the small matter of Garry Monk, the
most popular manager at St Andrew’s
in my lifetime, being given the sack.
This season will be different because
we’ve lost Monk, Jota, top scorer Che
Adams and captain Michael Morrison- and Maikel Kieftenbeld is injured.
I won’t be happy unless our owners
prove they have finally learned since
the Rowett/Zola/Redknapp debacle.
Our most underrated player is
Maxime Colin [below]. A very classy
full-back, never fazed in possession.
Look out for Jude Bellingham, who
has featured heavily on Best Teenage
Footballers in the World lists recently.
Our best celebrity fans are Jasper
Carrott, David Harewood, Troy Deeney
and Jeff Lynne.
The best away ground is Griffin Park.
No seats, right next to the action and
a fine chippy around the corner, too.
The pantomime villain will be Neal
Maupay – a loathsome character.
The opposition player I secretly
admire is Hull’s Kamil Grosicki. I can’t
help wonder why he has stayed in the
division. Aside from the obvious.
The one change I’d make to the club
would be the ownership.
Save the date for if we get drawn in
the cup ‘at’ Coventry: we’ll be in the
away end of our own stadium.
The best Blues social media account
is @almajir for various off-field things.
The best thing about the matchday
experience at St Andrew’s is hearing
Keep Right On belted out in full voice.
There’s no better anthem in football.
Did you know that we were the side
who lost the FA Cup final to Man City
despite their keeper Bert Trautmann
having broken a bone in his neck.
Our key player will be Harlee Dean
[above]. Without Morrison, he could
have a huge role to play this season.
The fans’ opinion of the managerial
situation is that “caretaker head
coach” Pep Clotet is popular, though
how long he lasts remains to be seen.
If he left, he should be replaced by
Garry Monk! Seriously, Lee Bowyer.
We’ll finish 17th at best. But I’m
a pessimist and I fear a disaster.FAn FILE
RYAN DEENEY
@RyanDeeney2194