Comments on: More on Bobby Zamora

By: b+w geezer

b+w geezer — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:17:57 +0000

MJL’s conclusion is very overblown. Does he attend? Just as there weren’t 24,000 fans singing Zamora’s name, there won’t be 24,000 losing too much sleep over this. Divide by ten in each case, possibly. Most of us needed camera closeups and press writeups to even notice, and only a subset are seriously bothered as opposed to slightly hacked off. (There will be a wider concern, sure, that the feedback loop may affect performances,).

He’ll be *judged* by his performances, like Pantsil, and their respective demeanours will give them only a slight start or hindrance in that regard. (Bottom line: when they stop performing, fans will wish to see the back of both.) It’s nice to be nice — and yes indeedy, not nice to be nasty — but these are not issues that preoccupy most spectators on the actual day. Even a feeding frenzy lasting far longer than the current one will do is unlikely to alter that.

If you’ve not seen a player mouth off or gesture to the crowd before, you’ve not been to many matches or else you’ve had your eyes closed. There’s a long history even at sweet FFC. Should it be a first for anyone, consider it a rite of passage. And a bonus: if you’re actually there you can always gesture back.

By: Chopper

Chopper — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:34:08 +0000

I think saying “Bobby has the next home match to make amends – or he’ll never be respected in the Cottage again” is a bit of an over reaction but I agree it would nice to be recognised a bit more by the squad as a whole.

JP has been great from the moment he signed, and Hangeland has got more and more involved. It’s noticeable that he comes all the way down to the Hammy End to applaud us these days. It’s taken a long time for the rest of the team to venture much further than the centre circle but in recent weeks they are noticeably making the effort. Maybe they’re all starting to feel a proper part of our club. Schwarzer came a long way to do so on Sunday and I thought it was a shame, following his man of the match performance, we didn’t manage to sing his name in return.

By: MJL

MJL — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:34:21 +0000

I disagree that the outrage is unwarranted. To me this issue has nothing to do with Zamora’s performance and whether you believe he has been an asset to the club this season (which, aside from a few lapses, I do). To me this is about how you act on the pitch and represent your team. Regardless of how harsh the media or internet criticism becomes, that is no excuse to vent your frustrations following a goal. It is an extremely selfish act, which I can’t believe that Hodgson (or Duff or Murphy or Hangeland) let stand behind closed doors. Not only do you disrespect the 24,000 fans who were singing your name before and after the goal – but you disrespect your teammates as well. No excuse for his behavior (and not the first time we’ve seen this display from him).

I think the bigger story this week – and why this is getting “blown up” – relates to his behavior as perceived by all of the fans who stand behind him and the team every week win or lose (not the few dozen who criticise him online). A little kindness would go a long way for Bobby. In contrast, take a look at the adoration for John Pantsil who is excused the occasional bone-headed play because the fans have never once doubted his commitment to them or the team. Looking up and applauding his song before the kickoff is a simple gesture that has made Pantsil an instant fan favorite in less than two years. In my estimation, Bobby has the next home match to make amends – or he’ll never be respected in the Cottage again.

By: Tweets that mention More on Bobby Zamora — HammyEnd.com -- Topsy.com

Tweets that mention More on Bobby Zamora — HammyEnd.com -- Topsy.com — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:26:05 +0000

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