some words on bobby zamora's return

[LRCN]

i've always thought that zamora is a fascinating player and with his return on monday i wrote a few words. feel free to read...

http://hammyend.com/index.php/2013/03/the-return-of-bobby-zamora/

I remember feeling genuine shock when Bobby Zamora's transfer from Fulham to QPR was announced. In fact I was so disappointed I treated the situation at the time with complete apathy. It really was a demoralising blow to lose a striker who had been so key to our success over the last few seasons and won who earnt a lot of adulation, if not love, for his stunning 19 goal season during that incredible Europa League run – to our most vicious rivals, no less! But hindsight is a wonderful thing; we've gone from strength to strength since he left, and his immediate replacement, Pavel Pogrebnyak, coincided with a fantastic run of form, demonstrating that actually Zamora was maybe more of a hindrance to the team than a help by the time of his departure. Monday marks the first time Zamora will line up in QPR colours since his switch, and as such it's a good opportunity to have a look at a player who I appreciate, but can probably never really respect again.

The supporter-player dynamic between the fans on the Cottage terraces and Zamora himself was fascinating however. There was a genuine love-hate relationship, with fans wanting him to score goals for the good of the team and demonstrate limited appreciation without ever really warming to a player who visibly disliked them.

After a catastrophic goal return over his first few months at Fulham – after a goal on his debut in August he didn't score again until we beat non-league Kettering in the FA cup – a number of fans were on his back. The supporters were split into two camps: those with him (responsible for the "his hold up play" cliché which became a running joke) and those against him. It was a huge shame though that there was even an "against him" camp for a player who did genuinely contribute significantly on the pitch to our highest ever league finish despite his lack of goals, and who showed little negative contribution really (you could never question his work rate and he didn't say anything out of turn). The abuse was vicious and unnecessary and I do have some genuine sympathy for him.

However, there were two paths Zamora could have gone down after this. He could have risen above it and taken the one Chris Baird has since travelled; the Irishman has certainly undergone a remarkably transformation from boo-boy to cult hero. Instead, Zamora took the other and responded in kind. After Kettering he scored twice more in the 2008-09 season, both in front of his home crowd and both celebrated with a hand cupped to his ear as if to say "So what're you saying now?" before hurling a few choice comments of his own at the stand.

This was the start of a frosty acquaintanceship, whereby Zamora would generally celebrate as if he just discovered his wife was being unloyal before cupping his ear to the crowd. There were a couple of extreme episodes between the striker and the infamous Babygrow Man, a fan at the front of the Hammy End who did not like Zamora nor think much of his ability and let it be known too, so when Zamora scored against Sunderland at home at the Putney End he turned, pointed, mimed himself eating a burger (presumably in reference to Babygrow man's large belly) before quite clearly yelling "f*** off" in Babygrow's direction. A surreal moment but a very real demonstration of how Zamora felt.

Then there were his inexcusable actions while he was managed by Martin Jol. The two clearly didn't get on and Jol implied as much in his press conferences, once saying "He does't like crosses, he doesn't like defending, he doesn't like the fans.", but in that situation both parties must remain professional. Zamora instead leaked information to the press about players discontent in what really amounts to slander. Zamora's exit was inevitable and clearly motivated, even if he tried to cover it up with a false impress of QPR's ambition.

As I said, it was a real shame that this is how Zamora chose to behave. While I do not, and would never, condone malice from the stands – and would even go as far to say as if you give some then you should expect some back – I believe Zamora could have been a genuine legend in the same ilk as McBride had he chosen to behave differently. Strong, hard-working and possessing genuine guile and quality following a rocky career carved in the lower leagues, when on song Zamora was undeniably supreme (just ask Cannavaro!) and just the sort of player we love to support. Instead, we are left unfortunately disliking someone who fired us to a European final and unable to celebrate a forward's 19 goal season.

So when Zamora returns on Monday, expect a chorus of boos and a player utterly determined to bite back. A crying shame indeed.

LRCN

[Forever Fulham]

Thoughtful provocative message.  Thanks, LRCN.  Made me rethink my position on Zamora.  I never liked him but never really knew why. 

[leonffc]

Great read Lork. I for one am a Zamora (ex)fan. Loved what he bought to the side and in particular the way he played with shoulder, back and Achilles injuries to get us to 'that' final.
As you say, could have been a legend but chose not to be. I won't boo him on Monday but I won't clap him that's for sure.

[SmithyFFC]

Personally think he deserves a decent reception simply because of his goals in 09-10 season. I don't really care how/why he left, no harm done, and he gave me probably some of the best nights of my Fulham supporting life.

[MJG]

Its clear he was the source of the bad press we were getting before he left.
For that reason alone he's not getting any support from me on Monday.

[Texas White]

Complete t@sser.  I think most people will agree thats very accurate.

[Scrumpy]

Complete t@sser.  I think most people will agree thats very accurate.

Typical Texan, just skirting around the issue. Why don't you say what you mean?  :dft011:

[Berserker]

I think Bobby's comments a while back about not liking football strange.

[HatterDon]

I think Bobby's comments a while back about not liking football strange.

I still find this strange. I know of any number of professional athletes who never watch the game on television or evince any intention to watch it once they've retired. It's a job that they do for money, and many would rather play golf than do anything else with any kind of ball.

[malcbridger]

Fulham rescued the 'laughing stock' (at the time) Zamora from obscurity and he gave us 1 decent season under Roy, for which he was rewarded with a couple of England caps. Zamora was almost unplayable that season but like many before him got much too big for his boots? Over the years, the likes of Conroy, Baird, and many others have suffered a bit of abuse from the crowd, but you don't 'bite the hand that feeds you'. After petulantly attempting to destabilise the changing room, the childish ear cupping and his laughable quest for a club with 'ambition', for me he has eroded any positives whatsoever and isn't fit to clean the boots of a real legend like Sir Brian McBride. I think we should show a bit of class by adopting an indifferent approach (no applause, no booing).

[A Humble Man]

I thought we were not allowed to use rude words on this site?  Those are the only words I can think of to describe the way I feel about Zamora's antics.  I hope he disappears up the aspirations of QPR.

[Me-ate-Live, innit??]

Ahhh Lork !!! excellent post
I liked The Dazzler, he just needed to be managed
I will not boo him,  but then I have have never a Fulham Player or an ex - player 

[MoussasGawn]

Personally think he deserves a decent reception simply because of his goals in 09-10 season. I don't really care how/why he left, no harm done, and he gave me probably some of the best nights of my Fulham supporting life.

As a person I would probably choose not to have a beer with him.  But he (and others) gave me the most joy I  have experienced in supporting my team in 35 years.  For that alone I will not boo him ...

[SouthfieldWhite]

As I said in a different post, my most hated ex fulham player ever, and there's only Mark cooper who I would say I disliked

It's not the first time he's played against us as he played last season at Loftus subbuteo ground

There's been quite a few instances when he's disrespect the fans, once as I mentioned away to fc Twente and another that sticks out is Everton away in the cup, took most us fans nearly 7 hours to get there on a Friday night, at the final whistle he sprinted off down the tunnel( fastest he ran all right) Si didn't even bother to come clap the fans, what with the ear cupping to us fans and the way he left, he deserves nothing but stick

[Texas White]

Complete t@sser.  I think most people will agree thats very accurate.

Typical Texan, just skirting around the issue. Why don't you say what you mean?  :dft011:

Just being honest. The ear cupping was so disrespectfull.

[HatterDon]

Ahhh Lork !!! excellent post
I liked The Dazzler, he just needed to be managed
I will not boo him,  but then I have have never a Fulham Player or an ex - player 

And that says it all for me.

[Forever Fulham]

Never say never.   What if Fulham had briefly signed, say, Joey Barton, and he had acted like, well, Joey Barton, until we finally got rid of him?  I'd probably boo him.