Sometimes it’s hard to remember that James Tomkins is only 23 years old. His performances are that of a composed defender at the peak of his career not that of a player who could still be seen playing U21 football last year. His assured performances have quite rightly seen him voted last season’s Hammer of the Year runner-up and also be included in the provisional 35 man squad for the GB Olympic football team.
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But it could’ve been very different for him. He initially started out a striker in our youth academy eventually switching to central defence and he made his debut at 18 away at Everton gifting Yakubu a goal but after this he adapted quickly and ended up as the Young Hammer of the Year that season.
The 2009-10 season saw Tomkins play on a regular basis as James Collins had departed to Aston Villa and Danny Gabbidon remained injured for long periods. The 2010 -11 saw Tomkins make his 50th first team appearance for West Ham in a 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers. However it was last season when he truly flourished building a solid defensive partnership between Tomkins and Winston Reid/Abdoulaye Faye which saw West Ham have one of the best defensive records in the Championship.
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His performances led him to be voted into the PFA Championship Team of the Year and also led him to be linked with linked with a £4 million move to both QPR and Newcastle United but the speculation soon ended when he signed a 4 ½ year deal until 2016. He stated his love for the club by saying “I’m a local boy and have come through the ranks at the club and loyalty is a far bigger currency to me than money”
But will he step up to the Premiership having spent a season Championship?
Personally I believe next season Tomkins will continue on from last season and show the Premiership that he is one of the best defensive talents in the country. My only concern is that we need a solid back four come the start of the season but currently there are question marks over the full back positions. Plus the cover still needs to be found for the centre back positions since the departure of Faye.
What do you think? Will James Tomkins step to the Premiership this time round? Will we have a settled defence by the time the season kicks off? Who do you think we sign improve the defence? Let us know.
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I rate Tomka to become a Hammers legend and the future of the England defence but fear that after another great season following our return to the prem he may have his head turned by promise of league titles etc however, if he is true to his word he could become the Moore of his generation.
This whole blog is dross. It’s only saving grace can be that it is an affiliate site. Never any form of useful analysis, just pure filler.
Tomkins is a talent, that doesn’t need discussing at any point. I assume a lack of interest in this blog means you’ve written this.
The lack of any full backs, the need to re-establish West Ham as a Premier League team all need analysis, not this type of rubbish.
How lovely. Thanks for another intrested blog. When all you see are footballers jumping ship from there club for more money else where, it nice to remember there is some loyalty out there.
I think we will see more improvement from Tomks and if he carries on the way he has been and with most of England’s defence get on a bit, we may see Tomks in the white of England as well as the claret of West Ham.
COYI
You’re a tosser mate. Why even bother to open the page if you think its dross. Get back to collecting those trolleys in the car park.
Bill, you’ve.got right full of yourself since you got promoted to shelf filler. Remember you had to collect trolleys too until you proved you could be trusted to do the shelves. I hope you don’t look down on the shelf fillers as well if you reach the lofty heights of working on the tills.