James Tomkins seems entirely overwhelmed by new boss Slaven Bilic!
And all his thoughts on the new boss seemed summed up in one sentence when trying to describe the former Irons star’s presence.
He declared: ““When he comes in the room, you can almost hear the silence.”
Captain for the night in the Europa Cup qualifying game against Lusiens, Tomkins is clearly ready to do all he has to impress the new boss.
He said: “It is hard to criticise the old manager. He brought us up to the Premier League and he kept us there.”
But he added: “Slaven was a face here, wasn’t he? He’s a legend, even though he played only 30 or 40 games. Why? I think it was the way he played, the passion he showed. He does that on the touchline as well.
“I have seen him with Besiktas and Croatia. It is the same. He is an animated man and that is what he was like on the pitch.
“That is what the fans like to see. I was only young when he was here, but I remember seeing him play and I know he loved a challenge! He has that presence about him that good managers do.”
Everything Tomkins is hearing from big mate Mark Noble at the Irish training camp is exciting as he declares: “I have heard that the training has been unbelievable.”
“I keep speaking to the lads over there and they keep telling me how good and sharp it is. I can’t wait to start training with him.”
“As for myself, I thought I did well last year. My game was coming along nicely. In the first half of the season I felt I had a massive say in what we were doing in the league.
“We were fourth in the league at one point. We were flying. It was really disappointing for me to get injured at that point. I felt I was improving and getting better and better. But these things happen in football. It is how you bounce back that is important.
“As for the Europa League, it is better than playing friendlies. The match on Thursday was a proper game and we prepared properly for it.”
Talking very sensible,has a old head on a young body,when he played in the Olympics we all thought he was about to break into theEngland set up but never moved on.
This could be his season under Slav he could even cover at right back ?
Will be a very big season for him. Small doubts hanging over him. These early EL ties are the ideal games to show Slav that he is good enough to start. Could find himself as a back up..
we will see in the nxt few weeks.
Slaven was actually one of the first BIG signings I saw after becoming a hammer, and his presence on the pitch really took me straight away. Seemed to me he brought something new and special to the league!
Exited to hear about a sharp training regime, but then again these things always gets said when a new manager comes in. Both Tomkins and Noble will need something extra to follow this club into the future, hope Slav’s approach can lift them onto the needed level!
You are spot on Eriko No Filter,lol,these players know which side their bread is buttered.Just a couple of months ago Tonks was having a love up with hippo in the media,now he has divorced hippo & moved in with Slav,lol
We’re they pushed by there agent to back Hippo ?
Tomkins has been at the club a lot longer than BFS,I hope he makes this the season he pushes for a international spot,he has the talent and the age to be a big player for this club
Tonks is being very vocal with his excitement about Slav,yes it’s the done thing but more than that him and Ginge know well that they are being seen as second choice behind Reid and a likely new arrival. They’ll have to learn quickly that their boots need to do the talking and flattery gets you nowhere in Slav’s army.
Think we get a new cb in Tonks will be struggling to get in our first team let alone a cap for England,lol,hope im wrong bubs but i think it will be Reid & a new guy when one comes who will be first choice in the premier.Dont like saying it but Tonka aint good enough for England in my opinion 😉