Before you begin reading this article, I want you all to forget that I think James Tomkins is the best looking player West Ham United have ever had. I know if you follow me on Twitter than that’s going to be difficult, but for the next 400 or so words that’s what I’m asking you to do.
Tomkins has been third choice central defender for a while now, with James Collins and Winston Reid forming a solid partnership in the middle. Although I do think our defence has been good this season, conceding just one goal in open play, I do get nervous when Collins is on the ball sometimes. To me, he seems to just punt it forward, which can often instantly lose possession, when it could be played out through the midfield. He also makes the occasional mistake – I know all players are guilty of this, but recently he seems to be slipping up a bit more than others.
JT started against Spurs on Sunday (what a result that was!), to the initial dissatisfaction of a lot of Hammers fans. And do you know what, I think he proved a lot of doubters wrong. Reid and Tomkins had an intuitive partnership during our spell in the Championship, and it doesn’t look like they have lost their mojo. With Tomkins, rather than hoofing the ball forward and hoping for the best, we seemed to play more confident football from the back and frustrated the opposition. To me, Tonks has emphatically regained his place in the starting eleven – and doesn’t deserve to lose it for our next match against Manchester City.
Talking to Mark Chapman of BBC 5 Live, Tomkins said: “Ginge and Reidy have built a good defensive partnership up, and me and Reidy seemed to do the same. I think there’s good competition at the club in that kind of area. We defended well but it wasn’t just us two, it was the whole team really.”
I know one good performance doesn’t mean that he’s the perfect player, but I would love to see him start in front of Ginge if the Spurs match was him starting as he means to go on! While I’m here, I just want to also mention Razvan Rat who looked pacey and impressive. I think he’s been a bit overshadowed by the impact of Ravel Morrison, but do think he looks like a good addition to the team.
What do you think? Which defensive duo would you like to see at the back? Let me know by leaving a comment or tweeting me at @alwaysintune.
To listen to the rest of Tomkins’ 5 Live interview, go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03c2s9j. The Tomkins part is from about 37 minutes in.
Rat yes ….. Tomkins Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo. One reasonable game when Defoe should have scored twice . He is poor…slow in body and mind and doesn’t read the game well . Collins not great but miles in front .
Tomkins great player should start before ginger I thinkrivieralet is spurs supporter
sibbo … don’t be so rude…….. . 45 years a Hammer …… Don’t know who you compare Tomkins with because there is no one that bad in the Premiereship . The reason he doesnt play is he isn’t good enough . No he can’t read the game … he has trouble reading the Daily Star and he has trouble passing wind . He is POOR .
Collins is great against direct physical sides – he puts his body on the line and will head long balls out all day. Trouble is, hardly anyone plays like that in the Premiership (except us, pre ‘plan b’). Tomkins is a better all round player. He’s not quick, but then neither is Collins, but he reads the game well, tackles cleanly and can actually pass the ball.
Any one who calls Tomkins POOR worries me. Better footballer than Ginge and can read the game well. Passing better and great physicality. Lack of pace can be an issue at times, but now his positional play is much better than his early days so not such an issue. Home grown boy who deserves support rather than the usual negativity that he, Mark Noble and Jack Collison often get.
They get “negativity ” because they are all NOT GOOD ENOUGH !!!!!!
Brilliant team set up against the Spuds. Tonks had a very good game. I would put him & Ginge on an equal footing. Also, I have been very critical of Mark Noble recently but must admit that he also played well in that game. Nolan dropping deeper seemed to help. I’d like to see that more often with Morrison supporting the striker.