Opposition Lowdown: Daniel Stendel’s Struggling Barnsley

Reyes Cleary / | NurPhoto via Getty Images FormBarnsley finished 15th in League One last season, three places and four points behind Reading. This is their fifth straight year in the third tier, after suffering relegation from the Championship in 2022, when they finished bottom of the league.They have had a tough start to the current campaign, currently sitting in the relegation zone in 22nd place after only picking eight points out of a possible 30 in their first 10 games. Their recent form has been poor, having seen four losses and one draw in their previous five, with their last win coming at the start of September at home to Blackpool. They come into this weekend’s game off the back of a 2-1 away loss to Luton Town on Tuesday. Barnsley beat Reading 3-2 at home last September, before the sides played out a 2-2 draw at the Select Car Leasing Stadium back in January. The bossDaniel Stendel: Stendel was appointed Barnsley manager in May this year, starting his second stint in charge of the Tykes.The German had a 14-year playing career, appearing up front for teams such as Hamburger, Hannover 96 and FC St Pauli. He took on coaching roles post-retirement and secured his first managerial role in 2016 at one of his former clubs, Hannover.He was sacked after a year but then went on to join Barnsley for his first spell in charge in June 2018. Stendel guided the Tykes back to the Championship in his first season, finishing runners-up in League One, but he was sacked by the Tykes just four months later. A move north to Scotland followed that December, when he became manager of Hearts, where he stayed for 18 months, leaving after their relegation from the Scottish Premiership. Spells in France with Nancy and Germany with Hannover 96 II followed before he returned to Barnsley earlier on this year. It’s been a tough return to Yorkshire, with Barnsley winning only four of his first 15 games in charge so far. The 52-year-old likes his sides to play a high press with high energy.SquadA total of 14 players signed for Barnsley over the summer, with 10 arriving permanently and four joining on loan.The Tykes paid transfer fees for defenders Tyrese Noslin, who joined from Dutch side Telstar; and Sam Gale, who signed from Gillingham, with forwards Amani Richards and Ben Hamed Toure coming in from Leicester City and French side Annecy respectively. Six players were brought in on free transfers, including defenders Isaac Smith and Jubril Okedina; midfielders Cameron McGeehan, Clayton Taylor and Daniel Johnson; and striker Tobi Adeyemo.Their loans were goalkeeper Cieran Slicker, who signed from Ipswich Town; defenders Connor O’Riordan and Ziyad Larkeche, who joined from Blackburn Rovers and Queens Park Rangers; and forward Makenzie Kirk, who arrived from Portsmouth.Expected setupFormation: 4-2-3-1Style: Direct, high pressLineup: Slicker, Larkeche, O’Riordan, Shepherd, Kay, McGeehan, Connell, Brownlie, Yoganathan, Cleary, KirkKey player19. Reyes Cleary: Forward Cleary joined Barnsley in July last year, signing on a free transfer following the end of his contract at West Bromwich Albion.It was at the Baggies where he started his career, and he signed his first pro deal with the club in 2021. Cleary went on to make another six appearances for the Baggies, while also spending time on loan at Walsall and Hartlepool United.Since joining Barnsley last summer, the 22-year-old has made 64 appearances and had 30 goal contributions (12 goals and 18 assists). He also picked up the EFL young player of the month award in November last year and has been capped by England at under-19 level.Cleary is pacey and skilful forward who typically plays on the wing. One to watch2. Arley Kay: Defender Kay is a Barnsley academy graduate who also spent time in the youth systems of Everton, Tranmere Rovers, Bury and Crewe Alexandra.He signed his first pro deal at Barnsley in June this year and made his debut this August in a League Cup game against Wigan Athletic. He has now become a first-team regular and has gone on to make 14 appearances so far this season, with two assists to his name.The 18-year-old is a left-back who can also play as a centre-back. Kay is strong defensively but also an attacking threat, working his way up the field on the wing.