Manchester City fans are excited for the new season – and it is very possible we could be seeing the birth of a new star in 2024/25.
Manchester City beat Manchester United in the Community Shield on Saturday.
Pep Guardiola‘s side triumphed in a penalty shootout, after Bernardo Silva had scored an equaliser after Alejandro Garnacho gave United the lead.
It was Oscar Bobb who set Bernardo up to score, wriggling away from Lisandro Martinez before hanging up a cross to the back post.
The Norwegian starlet had been a standout performer for City on the pre-season tour of the US and was always likely to start against United.
He did indeed get the nod from Guardiola – and it was very much the same story as pre-season.
Bobb shone, and former City striker Shaun Goater was left hugely impressed with the youngster.
Shaun Goater thinks ‘phenomenal’ Oscar Bobb will now start the season for Man City
Bobb made his first-team debut for City last year after being promoted from the academy ahead of the 2023/24 season.
He made a handful of appearances last term, but most of those came from the bench.
With Julian Alvarez leaving, there is now a strong chance that Bobb will see more minutes for City, and his performances in pre-season suggest he is ready for a greater role.
He was fantastic once again on Saturday against United, and Goater now expects him to have a starting role next week against Chelsea.
He said (via mancity.com): “If I was a betting man, I would say Oscar will start the very first game. I think he deserves it.
“His performance suggested he will be knocking on the door to Pep as if to say: ‘I’m not here to make up the numbers – I want to be a regular part of this.’
“His pre-season has been brilliant and the way he created that goal was phenomenal.
“He is really dynamic and if there is maybe one area we can get even better it’s with the wide players and assists and he’s just putting a reminder out there that there is a quality kid here.”
Pundit Don Hutchison also reckons that Bobb is going to see more minutes this term, branding him ‘a beautiful player to watch’.
Bobb deserves to be a starter for Man City
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Many City fans will share the sentiments of Goater, having seen how good Bobb has been over the last few weeks.
Pep has most of his stars back now, and Rodri and the England boys are returning this week after their extended breaks. But Bobb deserves to begin the season as a starter.
He has the wind in his sails already from pre-season, and has an impressive sharpness about him that Pep would perhaps be foolish to overlook at this point. If Bobb can play that well against United, he surely can against Chelsea.
He has had to be patient for his chances since coming into the first-team squad. But Bobb now looks like he is ready to explode for City.
The departure of one attacking player in Alvarez may create more of an opening for him, and hopefully he can make the most of his opportunities.
