Poor old Bobby’s had his doubters this season. Plenty of people have had a pop at him for not sticking enough in the onion bag or not contributing enough to our general play. But, for me, they are wrong. Yes, he could score more but he helps us to play in the way that Hodgson likes and offers us a real option up front.

Yesterday, against Manchester United, he was on fire. Poor old Jonny Evans, a highly rated Northern Ireland international, didn’t have an answer to Zamora’s power and movement. On another day he could have a first-half hat-trick. Don’t forget it was Bobby causing a nuisance in the United penalty area that forced Scholes to fatefully use his hands. It was natural that he’d struggle to have the same impact after the break as United pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but this was Zamora at his best.

Don’t believe me? Just ask the Observer:

Zamora, in particular, was transformed, a man possessed. In the first half he did a passable impression of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and United could not get close to him as he battered three shots that forced Van der Sar into emergency action, and a fourth that Patrice Evra blocked.

He was outstanding. Just look at his energy throughout the contest. His distribution was brilliant and his passing helped us keep hold of the ball at crucial moments.


 by Guardian Chalkboards

And he got his shots off too.


 by Guardian Chalkboards

It was a fine exhibition of centre forward play. Keep it up, Bobby!