A Deep Dive Into Barnsley’s Current Attacking Identity

Barnsley FC’s now four year long stint in League One has been characterised by an unwavering commitment to a 3-5-2 system that has seen three managers try and fail to meet the expectation of promotion back to the Championship.

Connor Hourihane’s return to Oakwell has dismantled almost half a decade tethered to a high intensity, vertical back three that prioritised transition over control.

Within this article, we will look to dissect the Reds current setup and breakdown the structural core, build up and final third dynamics that have resulted in Barnsley scoring the fourth most goals in the division so far.

The Blueprint

As mentioned in the introduction, Hourihane has moved away from the 3-5-2 system that defined Barnsley under Micheal Duff,Neill Collins and Darrell Clarke. He has instead implemented an asymmetrical 4-3-3 that prioritises central overloads and structural ball progression.

This transition is not merely a change in formation but also in the team’s technical requirements, moving away from a transition heavy side to one that is more possession orientated.

The primary tactical shift lies in how Hourihane utilises his wide players. Unlike a traditional 4-3-3 that aims to keep two wingers high and wide to stretch the backline, Barnsley operate with a ‘lopsided’ front three.

Typically the right winger, a position that has seen frequent change in personnel throughout the season, does not operate as a touchline winger.

Instead, he occupies the right half-space, tucking inside to act as an inverted number 10. This creates a 4v3 or 5v4 advantage in central areas, forcing the opposition’s left back to choose between staying narrow to track their runner or holding their position in the back line.

With the right winger moving inside, it often triggers an overlap from the right back. This creates a 3-2-5 or 2-3-5 shape in possession.

With the fullback providing width on the right to stretch the defence, the left winger is free to stay wider for longer, looking to isolate the opposing right back 1v1.

Not only does this create deep crossing opportunities for the right back, but it also opens up the opposite side of the pitch. Often times Barnsley have used this brief numerical advantage on the right to switch play to Reyes Cleary, who thrives in isolation and is one of the best 1v1 dribblers in the league.

Buildup Phase

Barnsley’s buildup play is characterised by the deliberate invite of the opponent’s press. They rank fourth in League One for average posession (56.3%), yet their distribution is notably vertical.

The goalkeeper is used as a “deep pivot”, averaging more touches outside the six yard box than most League One keepers, allowing the centre backs to split extremely wide.

The deepest midfielder of the three, usually Luca Connell acts as a single six. His primary role is to drop into the spaces between an oppositions strikers and midfield to receive the ball. If marked out, he will often move into the defensive line to create a back three, in turn allowing the full back to push higher.

Despite their high possession, Barnsley lead the league in accurate long balls (28.1 per match). By circulating the ball slowly at the back, they draw the opposition’s midfield line forward.

Once the gap between the oppositions midfield and defence exceeds 15-20 yards, the Reds will “clip” the ball over the press into the feet of the inside winger or dropping centre forward.

Final Third and High Value Change Creation

The most significant data point in Barnsley’s attacking output is the efficiency in their shooting.

They are currently over performing their xG by 6.7 goals. In many cases, this suggests luck, but the nature of Hourihane’s system suggests a focus on high quality chance selection.

They average fewer shots from outside the box than previous seasons, focusing instead on cutbacks from the byline or central combinations involving the wide men.

Key Player Roles in the System

• Lucan Connell: He is the tactical floor of the team. Averaging 50.5 accurate passes per 90, his role is to maintain the “rest defence” structure. When Barnsley lose the ball, Connell is positioned to stop the immediate counter, allowing the fullbacks time to recover from more advanced positions
• Davis Keillor-Dunn: Benefitting from the space created when the opposition shifts their defensive block to the right, his clinical finishing in front of goal and off ball movement make him one of the more premium strikers in the division. He is a large part of why Barnsley are outperforming their xG, having a remarkable shot selection and IQ. He knows where and how he is most likely to score, and puts himself in those positions.
• Reyes Cleary: In his breakout season, Cleary is ripping up League One with his more traditional and direct style of play. He perfectly slots into a system that highlights his talents as an explosive dribbler. The only downside to his constant threat is the double and triple teams he often faces to nullify his impact on the game.
• Patrick Kelly: Much like Cleary, Kelly looks too good for this level in his first season as a Barnsley regular. The pragmatic midfielder offers the ability to drive the ball through the thirds, often disrupting low blocks and remaining a threat on the counter. He offers something different to the sometimes ridged buildup under Hourihane.

Defensive Transition: The Vulnerability

The trade off for this attacking fluidity is a vulnerability to direct counter attacks. Because the full backs are often caught up high, Barnsley can be exposed if the initial counter-press fails.

In attempt to mitigate this, the right sided midfielder is often instructed to sit deeper than usual during sustained possession, providing a secondary layer of protection to counter attacks.

This isn’t a flawless system however. The Reds have the fourth worst defensive record for a reason and the on ball structure has a part to play in this.

Often times they are exposed on the right hand side with the winger inside and full back overlapping. Guilty of being caught on the back foot far too often, they have to improve transitionally if they are to push into the playoff places in 2026.

Concluding thoughts

Barnsley, for the most part, are a fun team to watch. With some of the best attacking players in the league, they have the ability to score goals for fun when things click. Their issue lies with when things don’t click.

Due to a slight reliance on drawing oppositional press, they have often struggled to break down low blocks. Added to an over-reliance on Reyes Cleary to produce something special, their attack can sometimes feel one dimensional. If Cleary is marked out of the game with double or triple ups, there seems to be no plan B.

We don’t see this as a tactical issue, it is more to do with the squad’s personnel. With no out and out right winger at the club (ignoring the recent arrival of Charlie Lennon), Hourihane has often had to put square pegs in round holes on that side of the pitch.

When the crux of your attacking philosophy relies on the right winger’s ability to invert and provide more than simply stretching play, it is pivotal to have a profile that fits this. Barnsley do not have that.

They also lack sufficient depth up front, a big part of their struggle to break down low blocks is their lack of differing player profiles.

Though Keillor-Dunn is great, his less imposing stature gives Barnsley no out-ball when a slower buildup isn’t working. They need to bring in a bigger, more athletic striker in January, someone that will occupy centre backs both aerially and with runs in behind.

A few minor tweaks, both tactically and individually could allow Hourihane’s complete vision to play out on the pitch. If these tweaks come, there is no reason that Barnsley can’t push for promotion in the latter half of the season.

With up to five games in hand on the clubs around them, refining their current attacking philosophy and adding more unpredictability going forward could be the key to finally escaping the clutches of League One that have held them so tight.

What do you fans make of Barnsley’s current attacking setup, if you’ve seen them play this season and have any thoughts, let us know in the comments below!