The selection dilemma that has got me thinking this week is who should play alongside Winston Reid in the heart of the Hammers defence.
Just for the record I think James Collins and James Tomkins are both very good defenders in their own right but their style is lacking in similarities.
Collins is a typically old school centre half that likes nothing more than crunching tackles and blocking shots with any part of his body. What fan or manager can dislike someone that gives 100% and will do anything for the team?
My main issue with Collins is he doesn’t pass out from the defence, he is always looking to go long up towards the striker which frustrates me, whether that is Sam Allardyce’s instructions or not, I don’t know, but I would like to see us play out into our talented midfield more often!
I have heard and read a lot of criticism directed at the Welshmen about some mistakes he has made, but the number of clean sheets he has mustered since re-joining is very impressive.
Tomkins on the other hand is cut from the mould of a ball playing central defender, he likes to stay on his feet to make tackles and then play out from the back, which is exactly the style most West Ham fans want.
Saying that when Tomkins plays I always feel we become a little lightweight at the back and miss the presence of Collins. However, Tomkins must be applauded as a centre back for the way he tries to play football.
We all know which type of defender that Big Sam likes. He was a Collins himself!
So, which defender is really the best partner for Reid? Collins and the New Zealand international are the preferred choice when everyone is fit but are they too similar? Perhaps part of the reason we are considered a long ball side? Then you have the more technical Tomkins, can he compliment Reid better to play a more attractive style of football?
Who would you like to see next to Reid in the middle of the West Ham defence?
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TOMKINS ALL THE TIME AND I THINK THE TEAM ARE CALMER WITH HIM AS THEY ALL KNOW WHAT HE IS GOING TO DO. I MYSELF AM ON A KNIFES EDGE WHEN COLLINS GETS THE BALL, NEVER KNOW WHAT HE IS GOING TO DO APART FROM HOOF IT EVERY TIME UP THE PITCH.
Im guessing, im still the only person who thinks Tomkins is still the best center back we have. Reads the game well, blocks shots, plays the ball out of defence and has started to cut out the small mistakes. People see collins and they think, oh he will get in the way of every shot and is 100% committed. But the amount of times I see collins get skinned or just pulled out of position because hes to quick to throw himself in the way of everything. Reid is not as good as people think he is, he has to play with an experienced head otherwise he goes missing and doesnt know what to do. Its also about time we dropped Jussi and gave Adrian some games.
Tomkins solid defender and happy to play out from back, Collins solid but far to accident prone and tomkins is claret and blue thru and thru