The Tykes Go Gaga Over Their New Keeper: Gabriel Slonina at Barnsley (olf Chelsea)

Started:

📋 Your Reds XI to face Stockport County this evening!#BARSTC pic.twitter.com/CYsLdx2GzJ

— Barnsley FC (@BarnsleyFC) September 28, 2024

Up 1-0 in the 8th.

 

Barnesly conceded late (90+1’), 1-1 final.

 

Slonina with fives saves today but two conceded on 1.41 xGOT against Huddersfield. Barnsley outplayed pretty badly according to the stats. He's certainly getting tested, and not getting the blame for today. DNP for Donovan Pines and Jaheim Headley.

 

I don't know if this qualifies as blame, but this writeup from the BBC does seem to fault him for the 2nd goal a bit: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/cvgdqznq9xzt?page=7

Kasumu then scored a rare goal in the final minute of added time, catching Slonina out of position with a 25-yard strike to the bottom corner to seal maximum points.

 

25 yard well placed shot into the corner and he was in the middle of the goal. I wouldn't really say he was out of position.

 

Slonina with a solid performance today - 1 conceded on 1.34 xGoT, 4 saves (two diving), as they win 2-1 over Blackpool on a stoppage time winner by Roberts that happened immediately after Pines subbed on. Distribution stats continue to be below average, with very low longball completions that may be as much a reflection of poor hold-up play as anything.

Barnsley even on points with the last promotion qualification spots, which should be a legit goal for them.

 

Slonina with a 2-2 draw today against Charlton. Appeared to have allowed a game winner, but Barnsley scored right after to equalize. 3 saves, 2.72 xGOT and solid ratings - not taking the blame. Just outside of the playoff spits. Pines DNP.

 

Slonina has to do better here. Barnsley and Charlton finish 2-2 pic.twitter.com/dKfig8gH78

— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) October 22, 2024

 

Yikes.

On those balls, the GK has to call - yell, actually - "mine!!" or leave it to the CBs. Indecision is the worst thing a GK can possibly show.

And even with that, he still had enough room to get a decent fist on the ball.

He's only 20. It's a learning process.

 

How much has he actually improved since moving to Chelsea?

 

The question we're all afraid to answer.

 

He is having the best season of any YA keeper.

(Insert something about low bars here)

 

AJ Marcucci is legit top 5 on that list which speaks to how bleak it is.

I just don't see much growth in Slonina from when he was in Chicago. Makes some athletic saves, prone to bone headed errors, distribution is fine, nothing special in the air.

If you swap Chris Brady for Slonina, I'm not sure either Chicago or Barnsley would see any real difference in outcomes.

 

Slonina is on the bench (Pines starting). Barnsley visiting Shrewsbury Town.

 

Ouch.

 

Hopefully a one game lesson. If not, then there’s some other young GKs that are showing more improvement.

 

Not by enough, evidently

 

Why are people assuming he even stayed the same? That was a terrible formative experience getting shellacked by Brugge in his Euro 1st team debut. Hurt his confidence. While simultaneously he seems delusional so isn't necessarily improving otherwise to compensate. He's talking about getting called up to the senior nat'l team and starting in '26, as a mediocre League 1 keeper.

At this pt he's a rare keeper that peaked at 17-18. He was mediocre at a higher level (MLS) at that age. Though there's plenty of time to change his record.

 

Injured.

Expecting a fiery Friday evening as Barnsley host South Yorkshire rivals Rotherham. Phillips returns for the home side while Slonina misses out through injury. RUFC’s academy graduate Ciaran McGuckin starts for the Millers! #BarnsleyFC #RUFC pic.twitter.com/8RS6WeUyF8

— Journo_Blake (@Journo_BM) November 8, 2024

 

A damn shame he couldn't have just found another loan in Belgium.

 

Barnsley are a bigger club than Eupen and probably just as good at futbol.

 

Belgian D2 is no better than League One. It's about the same on average, but League One has one or two teams, notably Birmingham, that would kerb-stomp that division and another half dozen that would monopolize the automatic promotion and playoff places. Barnsley are one of them.

Barnsley are also a far bigger club than Eupen - 12k average home gate versus 1.3k. The pressure there is a lot more intense.

 

That seems very generous to Belgian D2.