James Tomkins was one of the best performers for West Ham United last season in the Championship. He is a good, young; British centre half, who we all love due to being an Academy product. However, this has been a difficult season for the youngster, and not the progression we all hoped for.
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I was looking forward to seeing the blossoming partnership between Tomkins and Reid go forward this season. Two young centre backs, who could form a solid partnership for the next ten years. But it has not quite worked out that way, for a number of reasons.
Due to the summer Olympic Games in 2012, Tomkins was selected for Team GB by Stuart Pearce. I don’t blame Tomkins for going; it’s not often, as a sportsman, that you can get involved in an occasion such as the Olympic Games. However, a poor performance in a warm up game against Brazil whereby Team GB got torn apart by the likes of Neymar, Tomkins was substituted then dropped by Pearce.
Now while the West Ham team went ahead with their pre-season schedule at the start of July, Tomkins was left on the bench, not playing any football, therefore, not gaining any fitness. Pre-season for a footballer is massive in terms of fitness and sharpness, and when Tomkins eventually returned, he was a few weeks behind the rest.
Sam Allardyce had also recruited James Collins from Aston Villa, another solid centre back, and it was Collins who played the majority of games with Hammer of the Year, Winston Reid. Had Tomkins been fit enough at the start of the season, he would have stood a chance of staking his claim when Collins made a few errors. However, Collins managed to settle back in, and keep his place.
It was only injuries that allowed Tomkins to get the games he did, but there is no doubting that Allardyces preferred choice was Collins and Reid.
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I’m not a big fan of Collins. Yes, he is brave in the challenge and blocks he makes, but if we want to evolve as a team, then we need defenders who can also play a bit. This is what goes in Tomkins favour. He can play short passes out of defence, rather than launching it long every time. My opinion is that this summer is going to be key for Tomkins. A good, solid pre-season, and some good performances in the friendlies, will boost his confidence, and also make Allardyce stand up and take notice. With 3 fit centre backs, it means there is competition for places, something that will make any team better!
keep Tomkins sam don’t know what he is doing we will struggle next season
Tomkins is a good player,but has rarely impressed in the premiership, unlike a few of our recent academy players Tomkins has had good runs in the first team I think he defends well, it´s when he gets the ball he does not seem read the game ,nine times out of ten if a player passes to him he passes it straight back he´s 23 now if he wants to be a premiership player he should start taking more responsibility be the one who always (wants the ball ) try to turn defence into attack ,not as he has seemed to been this term just a good helper.please don´t sell him as article above says Tomkins & Reid could be a great partnership for years to come.
Get rid of him for whatever we can get . Slow with zero positional sense. The bad run around Xmas was down to his inability to read the game and defend. He will not make the grade … Championship at very best .
Get a grip of yourself
Keep him. He’s got time to improve … if he plays. I can remember slagging Trevor Brooking off years ago but all he needed was time. James needs the same. Don’t go knocking him out to any other team. It’ll come back and bite you in the arse. Believe me
No time to improve in Premiereship ! He does not have the basics to build on . Get rid before everyone sees his short comings .