Comments on: Pub Debate: Is Bobby Zamora Good Enough For England?

By: liam P

liam P — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:11:56 +0000

I think Bobby is a great goalscorer when he’s on form, but my biggest issue with him is his inability to find the right pass when counter attacking. By that I mean when with the ball at his feet as he often gives it when he can’t chest it off or give it away straight away. Saying that I don’t think its a fair point about international refereeing as he has scored goals in Europe this year including a brace against Basel which we needed to qualify and we all know that the refs in europe are harsher than in the premier league.

Btw I’m a Fulham season ticket holder too.

By: Tor

Tor — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:06:57 +0000

Another Fulham ST holder here…

In the domestic games I’ve seen Zamora’s had to be physical as he’s always got a defender (or 2) hanging off him and I can’t see that going down too well with international referees.

He’s strong, he’s a big physical presence and I think he’d complement Rooney superbly. I don’t think his temperament has much bearing: look at Rooney in the last World Cup. Zamora’s older, I know, but that doesn’t mean he can’t still mature as a player.

My concern is the confidence aspect that has been mooted above – if he’s not confident then he won’t play as well as we all know he can, and it’ll take time to build up that confidence in an England shirt. Whether Capello has the patience I don’t know so it may be a bit of a vicious circle of Bobby getting only occasional games, not performing to the best of his ability, Capello not being that impressed, Capello not playing him for a couple of games.

I’d love to see him play against Egypt next week (although slightly concerned about our FA Cup game 3 days later if he does…). He deserves a shot though. Anyone who says otherwise needs to watch videos of our last few games more closely.

By: AFJ

AFJ — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:46:13 +0000

I hope he gets the chance to show what he can do against Egypt in the upcoming friendly. On the basis of Bob’s form, I think it is worth starting him with Rooney for the first half to see how he gets on. I think the only way you can say whether he is England material or not, is by seeing him play for England. He may not be one of the BIG name strikers and he may not of always had the form but you cannot argue that he is the ‘in form’ english number 9 at the moment. I can see Capello definately taking Rooney, Defoe and Crouch. Whether he takes Gabby, Cole or Bob is something to certainly ponder.

By: Bluebybirth

Bluebybirth — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 05:46:58 +0000

Can’t say the lad should be on the england squad. we got rooney conreted up there then crouch, defoe, owen and other big names to throw around. There’s a difference between suddenly making a couple goals and playing world class.

By: Hirsty

Hirsty — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:14:05 +0000

One half-decent season suddenly makes him England class? This is Bobby freakin’ Zamora we’re talking about!!

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:58:26 +0000

Tom: Funnily enough, I’m not actually a great ‘Bobby lover’. I was one of those who wondered in the summer whether we could get a better finisher in when he looked like he was off to Hull.

My point regarding Bobby’s physicality was that he’s hardly Nat Lofthouse or your archetypal hulk of a English centre forward. He’s a lot more subtle than the lower league battering ram.

By: Bobby for England in 2010 - - The Offside - Fulham FC English Premiership Football Blog

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:25:30 +0000

[...] Irish over at Who Ate all the Pies is polling his readers if Bobby Zamora is good enough for England. He personally thinks not and offers actual [...]

By: Andy

Andy — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:12:02 +0000

As a West Ham fan I’ve seen the best and worst of Zamora and much as I love him can’t see him being anything but a flop for England. As you mention, his mental fragility is well known, even one of the Fulham fans that has commented cites this. This has plagued him throughout his career, and whilst Zamora full of confidence is a brilliant striker, when he’s down he is pretty shocking. Too big a risk for Capello I think. Perhaps if he kept up his form he’s worth a punt for the European Championship campaign though?

By: tom

tom — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:03:21 +0000

Dan, he is physical though. Don’t let your love of him cloud your vision. He’s got so many great abilities but he is ‘a handful’. If that was taken away from he’d be much less of a player, just accept it. He might get away with it, mainly cos he normally isn’t doing anything wrong, but possibly he wont. So the only way to tell is to give him a go.

By: Ollie

Ollie — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:58:36 +0000

And I’d say he’s mentally too up and down. I could see him freezing for England.