Players to watch next season
With pre-season beginning on Monday, here’s an early list of players that are worth keeping an eye on next season. I’ve avoided obvious mentions and this list includes players I feel could drastically improve this season or players we might see in a completely different light.
1. Mael de Gevigney.
An ever-present last season from October onwards. I was very impressed with him in glimpses. He’s a player who I can only see improving next season, for a couple of reasons.
First, having moved from France last season: he will have a full season of L1 experience in his tank. He will be more settled off the field too having embedded into a new culture.
Second, he will (hopefully) be part of a more settled and better-coached backline next season.
He will only improve.
2. Donovan Pines
Donovan Pines will be crucial next season, having recovered from an ill-timed injury last season.
1 crucial reason why is his threat from set-pieces. In the 3 games he started last season, Barnsley scored from set pieces in all of them. With Pines scoring 2 goals.
Combine this with the fact that we have arguably signed the best set piece taker in the League with Conor Hourihane, our set piece threat will be much greater.
3. Sam Cosgrove
I don’t think Neill Collin’s style really suited him last season. But in the play-off semi-final, we saw what happened when we played to his strengths.
If, as expected next season’s style is akin to what we saw in the play-offs he could have a strong season.
Upon this, Darrell Clarke (in his own words) gives goalscorers the chance to be goalscorers. If given his chance I think we could see a completely different Sam Cosgrove to the one we saw last season.
The video below shows Sam Cosgrove’s 3 play-off goals.
4. Fabio Jalo
Fabio Jalo, highly rated both inside and outside of Oakwell. We’ve heard of Jalo’s promise and seen in it in the academy too. However only in glimpses for the first team notably against Horsham, Doncaster as well as Reading home and away. I feel next season could be the season where we see more consistent performances, with him now having a little more experience of professional football.
5. Last summer’s non-league signings
Finally, I think it will be interesting to see how the 3 players we signed from non-league last summer fare this season.
All of which gained EFL experience on loan last season:
Kasper Lopata started the season strongly but lost his place to MDG after injury.
Jack Shepherd made a big jump up after signing from Pontefract Collieries, he certainly showed why he was signed and has obvious talent. Spent the 2nd half of the season on loan at Darrell Clarke’s Cheltenham, interesting to see how he fares after a season of EFL experience.
Finally, Kyran Lofthouse had 2 loan spells at MK Dons and Gateshead last season. Will provide strong competition to Corey O’Keeffe and Barry Cotter at right wing-back.