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What has happened to him? He has been rubbish when played this season. I guess it could be the injury or confidence. Seems to have lost that ability to beat a man. Sad really, had high hopes for him this season. Let's hope it's a temporary thing and he will soon be back to his best.

I don't think he was ever very good. Classic 'give xxxx a go' case by hysterical posters who assume every academy kid is brilliant.

Last night the commentator said that the Norway manager said he 'lacked everything in the game of football ' or similar.

Should get 40 million for him off Chelsea.

He needs a break from the team, for whatever reason he is not performing well enough to be a regular starter. Same for Savinho not good enough at the moment, they should not be automatic starters in tough games.

I think Pep likes to let a clamour build, so he doesn't get accused of not giving people a run

Been drilled to not take anyone on or try anything fancy. Standard

Nothing. He rose to fame while injured on the back of one senior goal. Had he not been injured last season I truly think we’d have seen similar.

I never want to give up on an academy player with potential but it’s hard to think k if he started 30 odd games this season that he’d get past 5 goals. Just sideways passing to Haaland a computer player will get that many assists. Those numbers won’t get us close to winning anything.

We really need to get Foden, Marmoush and Cherki scoring and playing regularly. Doku too.

never been good enough

john@staustell wrote:I don't think he was ever very good. Classic 'give xxxx a go' case by hysterical posters who assume every academy kid is brilliant.

Last night the commentator said that the Norway manager said he 'lacked everything in the game of football ' or similar.

Should get 40 million for him off Chelsea.

Agree with this. I think he really lived on that hype after the Newcastle goal. I would have loaned him out this season and see if he is good enough. If anyone missed it, he was crucified by his national team coach a few weeks ago.

It seems that our academy is good enough to make money, but doesn't deliver proper world beaters or when they do, they are shipped out (Palmer, Rodgers).

PeterParker wrote:

john@staustell wrote:I don't think he was ever very good. Classic 'give xxxx a go' case by hysterical posters who assume every academy kid is brilliant.

Last night the commentator said that the Norway manager said he 'lacked everything in the game of football ' or similar.

Should get 40 million for him off Chelsea.

Agree with this. I think he really lived on that hype after the Newcastle goal. I would have loaned him out this season and see if he is good enough. If anyone missed it, he was crucified by his national team coach a few weeks ago.

It seems that our academy is good enough to make money, but doesn't deliver proper world beaters or when they do, they are shipped out (Palmer, Rodgers).

Don't get this Rodgers was shipped out bullshit. Rodgers himself is on record as saying he did not do enough at our place but it did give him the kick up the arse that he needed. So fair play to him. As for Bobb, he needs to buck his ideas up else he will find himself out the door

Went ' to shit ' after he signed his deal - Same happened with Foden,for a while.

Coincidence ?

carl_feedthegoat wrote:Went ' to shit ' after he signed his deal - Same happened with Foden,for a while.

Coincidence ?

Salah and VVD too!!

IMO Bobb has had a couple of good first team games, the rest of his time he is bang average. Last in the pecking order for me at the moment

Pep Guardiola is on record saying Bobb “has something unique… be stopped then go, first one or two steps, right or left are unbelievable".......which would reflect what we're seeing, get him the ball in a tight spot and he seems to be insanely talented - but give him acres of space to run at a defence and he seems less effective, even slow and ponderous.

This would also reflect what we saw for the Newcastle goal - he seems to have an insane level of natural ability in tight space/without thinking, but doesn't appear to be right fit for the wing position he's playing where he often has a lot of time/space/options.......he may be more effective more of an inside forward right up against the defenders, eking out opportunities/shots out of nothing, and could perhaps be one way of unlocking a low block/congested area just outside the box.

He's 22 now though and doesn't seem to have kicked on much since he made his debut - this is definitely an area where you look in the past we had Mahrez and Sterling available, and we desperately need matchwinning quality in this position rather than gambling on an academy product.

If he doesn't step up soon, he'll be gone unless we just keep him around as a squad player for the CL quota.

The glimpses of real talent happened before a year long injury. Easy to say his long term development has taken a blow.

While not nearly as bad, think Michael Johnson.

Probably in the minority but I think he'll come good

Mase wrote:Probably in the minority but I think he'll come good

Well, you did hang on in there a long time with McAtee.

Before eventually joining the rest of us

Had high hopes for him. Looked very good in the snippets we saw before his injury.

But there's a world of difference between cameos and the odd start in a title winning team to being a regular starter. And that's a mentality thing. As anyone who makes it into our squad is already a very good player, but as with all top sports people, the difference between the very best is small, fine margins that for a large part are psychological.

A year out with injury for a young players just making his way could be very damaging. Especially how his recovery seemed to take longer than was originally expected. And I do worry his lack of pace will ultimately stop him from progressing to the next level.

I also wonder whether our possession at all costs playing style is also hampering him. I think he is worth keeping until an ultimate change in manager or playing style

Mase wrote:Probably in the minority but I think he'll come good

I'm with you on that. But hasn't he already had 2 very serious injuries in his short career?

The longer it goes on like this the less faith I have of him reaching that initial potential

Issue is hes not got much competition. Savinho not showed much more, when bernardo played there not looked great recently. Options arent great.

I think he still has a chance but needs to find a bit of form asap.

Id prob give him a rest play foden there and get cherki in the middle.

Dubciteh wrote:Issue is hes not got much competition. Savinho not showed much more, when bernardo played there not looked great recently. Options arent great.

I think he still has a chance but needs to find a bit of form asap.

Id prob give him a rest play foden there and get cherki in the middle.

I'd go a little bit different and switch Doku there(I believe he plays right for Belgium), play Phil on the left and unleash Cherki in the 10 spot.

Slim wrote:

Dubciteh wrote:Issue is hes not got much competition. Savinho not showed much more, when bernardo played there not looked great recently. Options arent great.

I think he still has a chance but needs to find a bit of form asap.

Id prob give him a rest play foden there and get cherki in the middle.

I'd go a little bit different and switch Doku there(I believe he plays right for Belgium), play Phil on the left and unleash Cherki in the 10 spot.

Left wing isn’t and never has been Foden’s best spot, the manager sticks him there just to fill other gaps - bit like you suggested to carry on doing.
Central number10 role is where he does the most damage and the stats back that up (from what I’ve found )

1.09 G+A/90 career average vs 0.69 out left - Last season he bagged 19 PL goal involvements, mostly central. This year he’s already got 5 in 320 mins through the middle, 2 in 185 on the left.
Pep needs a rethink.