The Guardian gives Bobby Zamora some stick today:

“He gives his all for the shirt he’s wearing. It means, as a defender, you’d never be comfortable with Andy Johnson buzzing around you. And I thought that applies to Bobby Zamora today as well.”

The afterthought was generous. If Fulham are to improve further next season, Johnson badly needs a new more mobile partner up front.

Doubtless that will be more grist to the anti-Zamora mill. Personally, I thought his performance on Saturday showed just why he’s so important to the team. Yes, he could do with getting a few more goals but we are a much better side with him in than without him (sit through the Blackburn defeat again if you don’t believe me).

The point about a new strike partner for Johnson is interesting. I doubt it will be Eddie Johnson, despite the American hitting some form right now at Cardiff. He scored his first goal in English football a couple of weeks ago and made a real impact for the Bluebirds in their draw with Bristol City yesterday. He came agonisingly close to scoring himself, hitting the post in a move that set up Cardiff’s equaliser. That might be good enough to get him back in the USA squad but I reckon Roy’s looking elsewhere for other options.

The one player who probably would be thought of as a potential partner for AJ is Diomansy Kamara, since Roy has always striker to convince Joe that he can play on the left side of midfield. Kamara’s still being eased back to full fitness at the moment and has been very effective as a substitute but he might get a start before the season’s out.

And remember Roy’s already tried to bring in additional strikers, which suggests that Zamora might not be a first-team fixture beyond May. We all know about the surprise move for Brian McBride, but one of the Fulham directors has confirmed that we were in for two other strikers during the January transfer window. One of them is now currently banging in the goals at Racing Santander, adding millions of euros to his value every week. The other hasn’t been shy in front of goal in La Liga either. We weren’t willing to match £10m-plus valuations for either player but the moves show that Roy’s focussed on making progress.