According to the ESPN commentators, a superstition of Bobby Zanora is to eat banoffe pie from a certain cafe! I don’t care if this is true or not but something has definitely changed withour big front man and tonight was just another chapter in his and Fulham’s story.
The Europa League quarter final (who would have thought!) first leg score was: Fulham 2- 1 Wolfsburg. This is a decent result, but I won’t go any further than that. Fulham seemed nervous and were subdued in the first half tonight and Wolfsburg were certainly the happier team at half time. However, another motivational team talk from Hodgson seemed to have kn0cked some urgency into Fulham at half time and the second half was much more positive.
Zamora’s goal was superb. The pass, the preparation and, finally the execution was excellent. Zamora’s 18th of the season was definitely one of his better goals. Zamora played a key part in the second as well by producing some more of the hold up play that makes him so valuable to Hodgson’s side. He pulled the ball out the air and perfectly set up Duff for another smashing goal. I would have taken the full time whistle there and then as Fulham seemed to want to just defend for the final half an hour.
Unfortunately it was Wolfsburg who finished stronger and got a very valuable away goal. But I am definitely not writting Fulham off! We have something to bring to Germany which is what we wanted. Now it is just a matter of getting an early goal. We can do this, we can definitely make the semi- final!
Lydia,
I know Wolfsburg got the away goal, but I think Fulham showed they can score against Wolfsburg.
I think they can get that early goal in Germany. It will be tough, but Fulham have been in this position before.
I’ve read something similar about Bobby’s superstititions. He was excellent again and a lot of European defenders just can’t seem to handle him.
I was a little disappointed coming away from the ground last night, but I certainly think we can progress. There’s enough there to suggest we can create chances against this Wolfsburg defence and the lead is so fragile that we won’t be able to be too conservative in the second leg.
I definatly think that we can get the away goal. Remember Roma, Basel, Shaktar and Juventus? Its definatly within our capabilities.
Also, Zamora has been superb at annoying european defenders so I think that experience will boost his chances of being in the England squad.
I wouldn’t get too excited about Bobby making the England squad. I don’t think Capello will pick a new player so close to the World Cup.
Agree about scoring out there. It’s very possible. Plus we should bring Bairdy in for Etuhu for the second leg.
Zamora has played his way ahead of Carlton Cole. But the only way he’ll make the World Cup squad is if Heskey gets injured. Heskey is such a key player in Capello’s side that he’s not going to be left out. If he can’t make the World Cup, then I think Capello will opt for Zamora as his replacement, as he is the only viable alternative who can do the job that Heskey does. There will be shouts for the likes of Darren Bent, but he will only go if Defoe is out.
Yeah, I’d agree with that Nick. Doesn’t make it right, though.