James Tomkins shocking play-acting at Everton on Saturday – during that handbags confrontation with Ross Barkley – was quite simply shameful!
A couple of comments from the Facebook forum – and nobody excuses the Everton midfielder – say it all: “Both players were a disgrace. I don’t want to see that from any player, regardless of what shirt they’re wearing.”
And: “They were cheating. Plain and simple. Just embarrassing. I’d be interested to hear Tomkins explanation to my seven year old son asking me: “Why is he pretending the other player hit him the face.”
In a word Tomkins behaviour was inexcusable and you really have to worry when you see one of our guys rolling around like that when absolutely nothing happened of any consequence.
The club will never tell us of course but if the bloke isn’t hit with a wage deduction as punishment that will be equally shameful.
It’s not the first time he has been guilty of bad behaviour of course and it has to stop. We can hardly be throwing stones in the direction of others when we see that sort of behaviour going on from our own.
Word to the co-chairman and manager: “Punishment  required AND NO REPEATS!”
He did wrong, we know it and he will know it by now. We won’t ever see it from him again, he is 27 and we have never seen it before, as far as I know he doesn’t have previous on the pitch. I think he did it in the heat of the battle, if we saw it week in week out then that would be different but since he is one of our own move on I say.
Btw I can forgive the drunken nonesence. Been there got the t-shirt, and the fine! We have all done silly things when we are drunk if you haven’t you haven’t lived!!
We all have but not as West Ham United first teamers
Agree Hugh but equally when we have misbehaved around the booze we haven’t thought “I’m a father” or “I’ve a professional position” etc. ive always made a point of trying to forgive people around drink although of course as a footballer at West Ham he would only get one chance.
We’ve all been there. I have been dry 18 years but was a nightmare. He has a bigger public responsibility and must expect to be judged as such. Goes with territory I’m afraid