Return of the Cockney Rejects!

Yes indeed, Stinky Turner and Co. did provide one of the more memorable Top of the Pops moments for Hammers fans, but Today the 'rejects' are none other than James Tomkins and Cheik Kouyate.

The departure of Tomkins for 'just' £10million a few seasons back proved to be poor business for SuperSlav as we suffered from a lack of a defensively sound right back and ultimately towards the end of the season could have done with him at CB! That said, its a measure of the improved strength of our squad that Tonks would struggle to get game time (or even bench warming opportunities) in the current squad.

Similarly, Kouyate's sale fetched nearly £10million and has probably been wise business. His energy was a real asset a few seasons back, but last year he struggled for form and seemed perpetually distracted. His poor first touch was always going to catch up on him as we have moved to a more possession hungry style, so maybe his departure was the best thing all round.

As for our current squad, we are once again looking seriously depleted as Marko seems set to be absent until January with his hamstring injury. We will miss his energy and guile. Lucas Perez did well against Cardiff and will be hoping to push on in Arnautovic's absence but given his performances prior to Cardiff, the jury is out for now.

Kouyate's departure in the Summer almost certainly extended the enigmatic Michail Antonio's career at West ham. He has really struggled for form since his injury last year but finally looks something like the player who was, lest we forget, at times almost unmarkable two years ago! He seems to have recovered that extra yard of pace that is so central to his success as, again, first touch is not his main asset. He is back in the goals and his physicality will be important in Arnie's absence.

Its hard to call how Pelle will set things out today in terms of using Snoddy, Antonio, Perez and the exciting energy that is Grady Diangana. We can expect Chicharito to continue up front and our guess is that Perez will get a rare start alongside him. Snoddy will probably start ahead of Pedro Obiang, while we expect Antonio will move up to right wing to allow the return of Zabaleta at right back while Diangana can be our gamechanger from the bench along with Big Andy if things aren't going our way.

Rory Nostradamus says 3-2 with Palace getting a dodgy penalty from Anthony Taylor but the gallant Hammers proving too much against familiar faces.

Predicted starting XI: Fabianski, Masuaku, Diop, Balbuena, Zabaleta, Noble, Rice, Snodgrass, Antonio, Hernandez, Perez.

Tomkins Not Royalty at the Palace

Reports today suggest that ex-Hammer James Tomkins has fallen out with Eagles fans after Palace slipped ever closer to relegation at the weekend. Apparently frustrated with the strong and persistent criticism of the team, Tomkins verbally remonstrated with fans in the time-honoured way. Tomkins has done well since his surprise £10 million move last Summer but subsequent events have demonstrated how the move was bad business for West Ham as they have greatly missed his versatility.


With Palace's Premiership position ever more precarious
and West Ham still struggling for cover at right back
and James Collins well into the autumn of his career
and Jose Fonte no spring chicken at 33 years of age
and the fact that Tomkins is clearly too good for Chumpionship football
and the need to infuse the squad with a sense of local identity after the Payet saga
and the fact that Tomkins would almost certainly jump at a return to his boyhood club (is that enough reasons?),
we suspect that the Summer will see Tonks do a boomerang.

Just saying...

  

Jenkinson Move Paves Way for Tomkins Return

The latest transfer gossip is that Carl Jenkinson is on his way from Arsenal to Crystal Palace today. Big Sam needs to shore up a defence that is rapidly sinking the Eagles into a relegation scrap. On Saturday, the Hammers ripped Palace apart in the second half as their unbalanced back four were stretched by a carefree Hammers attack.

But how it could have been so different if ex-Hammer James Tomkins had netted his excellent first half opportunity which he scuffed just wide! Tomkins made a shock move to Palace in the Summer in search of first team football and although this has been delivered, his opportunities have been principally at right back.

In the interim, it has become more than apparent that West Ham are regretting the short sightedness of letting Tonks depart as they have struggled for leaders as they try to maintain their sense of tradition and identity. Many fans have called for a return of the lad who graduated through ouyr academy and is Claret and Blue through and through.

With the likely arrival of Jenkinson at Palace to take up the right back position, Tomkins may find himself looking for a starting berth again. From West Ham's perspective, recapturing Tomkins would be a real coup right now to lesson the disappointment of the whole Dimitri Payet debacle. Palace need cash to strengthen their side and have lots of options at centre back.

Is this a no-brainer for all concerned? Come on Sully & Co. - give us a lift why don't you?

Hammers Want Jenkinson Back

The victory over Crystal Palace was an important moment in West Ham's season as they demonstrated that there is much more to our current team that just a certain want-away Frenchman. Importantly, the introduction of Sam Byram as a specialist right back made a massive difference to our set up, allowing Michail Antonio to play up top alongside Andy Carroll - to devastating effect!

However, despite Byram's return, we are still light on right back cover as Superslav has clearly decided that Alvaro Arbeloa is not to his liking. Former Hammer Carl Jenkinson has been mooted as a possible signing and our recent fans' poll indicates that the majority (70%) want him back at the club.

With Jenks given the freedom of the city by Arsene Wenger, there are a host of interested clubs. The current favourites are Crystal Palace where he could link in again with Sam Allardyce and allow James Tomkins to shift to centre back. Rumours have it that Palace hope to seal this deal today but there is still time for a late Hammers swoop!

The Player Who Should be Top of Our January Transfer List - and he wants to PLAY for West Ham!

Still ridiculous!

For many Hammers fans the image of James Tomkins playing in Crystal Palace colours is simply repulsive. Even worse, his fine form for the Eagles since his shock Summer move from his boyhood club has only served to further emphasise how poorly West Ham did in the Summer transfer lottery.

At the core of West Ham's problems is the lack of stability in defence. What we would give for a defender who can play in the centre or at right back and who has positional sense and tackling as his main attributes. Tonks may not be so great at flying down the wing but he proved last year that he brings stability and cohesion to the defence. His versatility would also allow for consistency in defensive personnel.

Having now established himself at the heart of the Palace defence, Tonks is now weighing in with goals - three already this season which, as Hammers fans know, is more than our six strikers have managed all season!

Tomkins allegedly departed because the club couldn't guarantee him a starting spot - ironically, our injury problems have meant that he would have played in the vast majority of our games to date! At £10 million the club imagined they were getting a decent deal. Now we are constantly rumoured to be in the market for another centre back - at what price one wonders?

And then there's the identity issue - letting one of our dyed in the wool Hammers leave was truly bonkers as we faced an identity-testing move to a new stadium. Superslav says we lack dedication and intensity - hardly attributes that Tomkins could ever be accused of lacking.

While some might suggest that Tomkins would be unlikely to move back so soon, here's one Hammer who suspects that it's part of his long-term plan and with all the nonsense these days with agent, we all know that a player who wants to leave will depart no matter what their contract says.

Sadly, Hammers fans are likely to embrace that reality in the near future in respect of Mr Payet.

So, it's time to beak the news to Palace that we want our boomerang back, and soon!

 

 

Who is the best option at right back for West Ham? Time for you to have your say...

As our defensive woes continue, we at VERYWESTHAM have launched a fans poll to assist Mr Bilic in dealing with what appears to be a rare blind spot in his footie vision. With your help, SuperSlav can get his head around the options at right back and hopefully we can rediscover our defensive brilliance of last season.

Get your vote in now!

Come Back James Tomkins...

After yesterday's comical defensive implosion against Watford, Hammers fans are wondering what has gone so wrong at the back?

In contrast to last year, where Bilic's side demonstrated an impressive capacity to shut games down, so far this year the Hammers have been remarkably porous at the back.

Chief to their defensive problems has been the chaos at right back. Bilic persisted with playing Michail Antonio as a wing back despite repeated evidence that Antonio lacked the positional and tackling nous of a Premiership wuality defender.

Meanwhile, Sam Byram has returned from injury but has struggled to acclimatise to the pace of the top flight and to manage the twin demands of defence and attack. In simple terms, giving a yard of space to Premiership forwards is foolhardy and subject to repeated punishment.

All of which begs the question: what can Bilic do to restore a stable back line? Arbeloa has arrived to provide options but is still well off match fitness and at 33 years of age is only a temporary solution.

This time last year Bilic faces a similar issue as Carl Jenkinson lost form and confidence. Up stepped James Tomkins to fill in at right back. Defensively Tomkins was excellent and despite a lack of explosive pace, also linked in well with the attack.

Unfortunately, Tomkins became frustrated with the lack of starting opportunities under Bilic and in a move that shocked Hammers fans, departed for Crystal Palace during the Summer. The £10million fee was touted as a decent deal for West ham but right now we could certainly do with Tomkins experience. One suspects that he would have come on as a substitute at half time yesterday to replace either Byram or Collins who were both misfiring but alas, Tonks is warming the Palace bench at present and yet to make a Premiership start for the Eagles.

Bad business all round it seems!

Three Irons on the Shirt!!!

Allardici.....Last man standing

Sam for Engerland....such a notion would have been bonkers any time until two weeks ago but now it seems the FA are about to lurch from one extreme to another - from the laissez-faire formations of Hammers-hating Roy Hodgson to the defensive fascism of Big Sam!

Sam has never won nought, mostly cos you've got to attack to win! It really is a measure of the lack of British managerial talent on offer than Allardyce now looks odds on to become the England boss.

One definite positive is that the embargo upon West Ham players getting the call up for England is surely over - great news for Nobes, Cressy and Antonio.

What's the bets that Tonks also breaks back into the reckoning....Grrrrrrr!

Oi....Where's Our Right Back?

As the Summer transfer rumour mill turns over it's apparent that the newest entrant to the privileged clubs gang is being linked with exorbitant bids for just about every potentially available striker on the planet! Lacazette, Bacca, Van Persie, Carlton Cole....the list is endless! However, one thing which seems lost in all of this is that the Hammers are light at right back.

Last season saw the departure of Carl Jenkinson through injury (and poor form) and the arrival of young Sam Byram was viewed as an ideal longer term solution. Byram out in a series of solid performances after his arrival but clearly has quite a bit to learn yet before he can secure a starting place in the defence of a side that has series Premiership and European aspirations.

James Tomkins loyally provided tremendous cover at right back but has now (astonishingly?) departed much to the chagrin of many diehard hard fans. Michail Antonio also put in some decent shifts but quite frankly, he is a super attacking threat and is wasted at right back where he also lacks the positional sense to be relied upon in big matches.

So far there hasn't been a peep about the right back berth apart from some silly rumours that Byram might switch to join the other dozen or so right backs currently on the books at Arsenal?.......hmmmm.

 

Oh No! IT'S TRUE, he's really leaving after all...

That should silence that creepy Icelandic chant thing...

The major discussion point of last weekend was, for once, not whether Dimitri Payet will leave West Ham after the Euros, but rather, that academy graduate James Tomkins might be off to Crystal Palace. This time last year such a move would have been laughably unlikely, but wind on a year that has seen the arrival of the impressive Angelo Ogbonna coupled with the further development of the Reece's, and suddenly Tonks departure is not so crazy an idea. 

The level of debate has been intense, with those in favour citing that Tomkins' distribution when coming out of defence is not sleek enough for Bilic's set up. Conversely, many others (VWH included) still regard Tonks as our best centre back after Winston Reid. Undoubtedly, his versatility as a makeshift right back is an asset but seems to have gone against him under Bilic.

 However, with James Collins well into his thirties, one would think that three experienced centre backs are a mandatory requirement in these days of soft suspensions and high speed injuries. Campaigns in the two seasons prior to Slaven's arrival were both derailed by our lack of adequate cover at centre back that left a gaping hole in our defence that was only partially plugged by the arrival of Roger 'the relegator' Johnson. Can anyone erase the painful trauma of the back to back 6-goal concessions to Man City and Nottingham's Florist?

Initially the rumours sounded as daft as those that suggested he was heading to rejoin Big Slam at Slumberland, but his visible omission from the US trip raised eyebrows and now there are reports this morning that he is on his way for a medical after the agreement of a £12 million deal. For those that see us as a family club that emphasises blending incoming stars with our home grown talent, this has to be seen as a disappointing moment. For those avaricious types who view £12 million as good money, the purpose of the OS move is to end our history of selling off our best talent. In that regard, Tonks has been the best graduate from our academy since Noble before him.

Meanwhile, on the Payet front, despite a relatively quiet night by his standards last night, he demonstrated his two-footedness with a stunning strike with his lesser (?) left foot in a 5-2 mauling of Iceland. The latest display will only serve to further energise the interests of Europe's top clubs and as Tomkins departure highlights, at the right price we are still as selling club! 





 

Bilic's First Major Mistake...and what a howler!

Two Basildon Boyz getting Ready for another season

Since his arrival at West Ham, Slaven Bilic can seem to do no wrong. Having smashed the record books and ended a variety of irritating runs of bad results against the likes of Arsenal, Everton and Liverpool, Bilic has cleverly built a talented and loyal squad. For the first time in many many years, west Ham fans believe that their side is never beaten until the final whistle sounds and have enjoyed brave comebacks from two goals down on a number of occasions last season.

In all of this there have been some stand out heroes - Dimitri Payet as the obvious first choice, but the whole squad have been selfless in their commitment to the cause and perhaps none more than James Tomkins. The versatile Tonks was willing to shift to right back during the Hammers time of need last season but must surely feel that he can regain his starting berth at centre back next season.

Tonks playing for our U18s in 2004

All of which makes the rumours of a £10 million switch to Crystal Palace hard to fathom. Tomkins is West Ham through and through, having been at the club as a boy and graduating through our academy system. For anybody watching last year, he was really unlucky to get displaced from centre back and watched patiently as the Reid-Ogbonna partnership blossomed. With Ginge now coming to the twilight of his Hammers career, Tomkins has an obvious role to play as we face the demands of a long season in Europe.

However, repeated reports suggest that Tomkins is on his way to Selhurst Park and has not travelled with the squad on their USA trip. Let's hope the rumours are just talk.....otherwise, it's hard not to think that Slaven is about to make a massive mistake!

 

Tomka or Tonka?

Those of a certain vintage will well remember the status symbol that was the toughest and most indestructible toy on the market - the Tonka truck! And so it seems West Ham have their very own indestructible machine in James 'Tomka' Tomkins who has made a remarkable recovery after receiving 13 stitches to a head wound at the weekend!

This is Tomka's second nasty head wound this season but his rapid recovery is a godsend as Sam Byram is out for tonight's clash. If needed, the ever willing Joey O'Brien is available to do a shift with last weekend's Anfield encounter demonstrating his various abilities - solid in defence but a little uninspiring going forward!

The Hammers will want to stretch a static Villa defence tonight and will want both full backs to push on to try and open up some space. In less positive news, both Mark Lawrenson and Michael Owen have predicted a Hammers victory, which given their accuracy record is worrying!

COYI!!!



 

Time to Stop This Tomkins Right Back Nonsense

West Ham's fortunes are very much on the rise at the present as they face 2016 with high expectations. With their key attacking talents returning from injury and a solid defence that is parsimonious in the extreme, Hammers folk are in danger of becoming smug!

At right back most observers are trumpeting the qualities of James Tomkins. Last season, Carl Jenkinson was excellent and looked destined to make the switch to the Hammers on a more permanent basis. However, Arsenal offered him a new five year deal and then pushed him back out on loan to the Boleyn for another season.

however, things have not gone smoothly and Jenkinson has suffered a dip in form and confidence. A series of defensive errors prompted Slaven Bilic into action and the versatile James Tomkins was switched to right back. Suddenly we looked defensively intact again and everybody has been happy.

Everybody except yours truly. Tomkins is an excellent centre back - strong in the air, astute in the timing of his tackling, and although not lightening quick, he is reasonably pacey for a centre back. However, right back is a highly specialised position that has possibly changed more than any other position in the modern game and now represents a hybrid of the old role and a traditional outside right.

Watching Tomkins against Liverpool a number of issues were evident. His capacity to push forward is clearly limited compared to a natural full back but more importantly, he was continuously pulled in centrally leaving space out wide that thankfully Liverpool failed to capitalise upon. For sure, he was compelled to come across as we became stretched, but his natural inclinations towards the right centre back position were clear to see.

By no means is this to criticise Tomkins - on the contrary, its a measure of his footballing maturity that he has adapted so well to his current role. If anything, he should be a starting centre back for West Ham and should be looking to add to his international credits. Roy Hodgson attended the recent game against Southampton and one wonders which players most attracted his attentions? For the Hammers it was known well in advance that Aaron Cresswell would be missing, which leaves Tomka and Mark Noble.

As for Carl Jenkinson, he looks to regaining his confidence with some useful performances off the bench. Whethere he can re-establish himself as our starting right back is uncertain, especially as his new contract with Arsenal makes an end of season exit more likely. With rumours that Sam Byram may be on his way from Leeds, it is clear that Bilic has recognised right back as an area where we need cover. Byram is very much an attacking full back in the mould of Cressy and Bilic's preferred system ultimately requires full backs who are offensively inclined.

With James Collins in such sparkling form it seems prudent to maintain the current defensive set up, but longer term Tomkins needs to be restored to his centre back role and a specialist right back should occupy that position. With our pattern of injuries it shouldn't be long before we have to reshuffle at the back again!

Cyclopsian Centre Back to Start for Injury Ravaged Hammers

Yippee! Tomka can start. Ogbonna switches to left back, while Jenkinson gets an opportunity to reaffirm his place at right back.

Carroll and Lanzini await from the subs bench as Bilic's boys prepare to launch an almighty second half  assault on the saints.

Courageous stuff from Tomkins that should inspire his team mates to break our eight game winless streak... We can do this.

Adrian, Jenkinson, Ogbonna, Collins, Tomkins, Song, Noble, Kouyate, Antonio, Zarate, Valencia.

Subs: Randolph, Obiang, Cullen, Oxford, Carroll, Lanzini, Hendrie.

Manboobs Spare Hammer's Blushes

Thursday nights encounter with Maltese outfit left Hammers fans frustrated but ultimately relieved as we managed to snatch a late winner and some Premier League pride.

Thanks to James Tomkins 'header' the Irons will take a slender one goal lead to Birkirkara for the second leg. However, the goal was not technically truly a 'header' as it seemed to come off Tomkins torso region.

In these times of endless stats datailing the precise source of attacking successes, fans are understandably keen to clear up whether the goal should register as an aerial success or might be better attributed as a lower limb effort.

While some observers have put the goal down to James well shaped Pecs, thus claiming the first ever manboob strike, others have suggested that Tomka may have notched up a 'middle  leg' success citing that the principal goal bound force behind the effort was 'mid central' rather than left or right footed. Either way, this is the kind of creative attacking play that the Hammers need to overcome their offensive difficulties.

Moreover, Tomka's efforts again emphasize how he has responded positively to the challenge for places in the Hammers defence by turning out a classy clean sheet plus goalscoring performance.

There's nothing like pressure for places to bring out the best in the squad. Top footie young man!

Winning Ugly is a characteristic of top six sides

After yesterday's victory over Hull City - described by some outlets as a 'thrashing' - Hammer's fans need to not get carried away as, despite the 3-0 scoreline, we were truly dreadful for the first half and hardly deserved to be at parity as we headed down the half-time tunnel.

Sam's assertion that we were off the pace and 'tired' rings true, especially when one considers that the wily old Steve Bruce almost certainly told his troops to run at West ham to test their energy levels. James Tomkins in particular looked well-weary and was repeatedly tormented by the pace of Hull's Sone Aluko. Maybe he was still upset after the 'row' with Mark Noble during Tuesday night's tense affair?

At half time Sam reverted to the diamond and it all clicked. Hull barely threatened and after establishing a lead, West Ham duly put Hull to the sword catching them on the breal twice in a matter of minutes. It was pleasing to see Andy Carroll score a classic striker's goal from McGregor's unfortunate spill as his repertoire would be improved by adding more 'easy' goals to his tally. We are told that Teddy is providing special sessions for Carroll and in all fairness he looked like Dean Ashton at times yesterday with some nice interplay.

Valencia is a conundrum - undoubtedly talented, he has struggled a little due to inconsistent game time and immediately after Sakho's injury he looked ring rusty. However, yesterday he was excellent and created two of the three goals and was unlucky not to add to his goal haul. One senses that over time if managed correctly that Enner will become a Premiership sensation. The best players often have a lukewarm first season in this uniquely frantic league.

So, the Hammers ran out easy winners against a decimated Hull city team who cannot score for fun. Perhaps not such an amazing result but how many times over the years have we come out the wrong side of a comprehensive scoreline against top sides having performed well for much of the game?

Dare we say it......are we really now a top side? The next four Premiership fixtures against Liverpool, Man United, Southampton and Tottenham will certainly test our credentials to sit at the top table....

Hammers Slide Home Against Saggy Baggies

At half time we looked ready to tear the Baggies asunder - having come from behind to totally take control of the game and with some beautiful fluid passing aligned to the almost un-markable performance of Andy Carroll, it looked like we were in for a pleasant ride.

You score the next one - they'll never expect that!

Both Hammers goals emanated from the pony-tailed one; first up an acrobatic overhead kick produced a reflex save from Foster - that fell straight to the perfectly positioned Nolan, while later a panicked West |Brom defence went AWOL in search of Carroll for a corner right on half time and the much-maligned James Tomkins strolled into the box to head home unchallenged. 

Tomkins has been in the news a lot after his 'thespian' moment against Everton, and no doubt will be front page after scoring the winner tonight, but all of this distracts from the fact that the lad is really on top of his game and defending superbly after waiting patiently to get back into the first team. He has pace and aerial power, and is becoming more and more disciplined in his overall game. Surely the best player to emerge from the academy since Noble? 

Is it time yet to start the 'Tomka for England' cries?

However, if we were preparing for more mayhem that's not how it panned out as much of the second half was tense and ugly from a Hammers perspective as we lost our way and eventually, after a series of fumbled West Brom chances, we stumbled over the line. 

We missed the likes of a Noble or a Song during that second half, where only for the ever gamey Kouyate, we were over-run in midfield by a hungry Baggies side who sensed that a turnaround was more than just possible. Thankfully, we held out. We haven't played especially well over the past 5 games - lacking the free-flowing rhythm of earlier games - but still picking up a decent 8 points. 

Valencia is back, and Song, Sakho and Noble are all ready to return soon. If we can get results when so many key players are out, we can certainly get points against anyone when they are all back. We remain a couple of points ahead of where we were at the same time in 1986. 

Happy days...

Tomkins seeking move to La Liga

Julio Tomkins

In the latest evidence that mighty West Ham are preparing for the challenge of European football next season, Ace defender James Tomkins took the opportunity to practice the European art of feigned facial injury during Saturday's match against Everton.

Widely castigated by pundits, including the majority of Hammers' fans, Tomkins has opted to remain silent on the issue. Given the unchecked and escalating nasty physical nature of challenges from the Everton camp (Naismith maiming Noble, McCarthy clattering Amalfitano, Mirallas leaping into Amalfitano) maybe Tomkins thought that the only way to waken dozey ref Mark Clattenburg up from his daydreams about upcoming pop concerts was to take a dive. 

Taking a leaf from Ross Barkley's book, who earlier managed a triple twirl and double pirouette after a non-challenge from Kevin Nolan that WAS spotted by Clatts, Tomkins merelt chose to highlight the increasing blight of referred pain injuries. Moreover, as a top international model, he is extremely sensitive to peri-facial movement.

Either way, maybe if Clattenburg had taken some control of the game earlier then perhaps Tomkins might not have felt the need to resort to such drama.