Top defender Angelo Ogbonna joined the Hammers this afternoon and immediately announced: “I know this is the right decision.”
Shortly after ClaretandHugh reported the player was completing a medical he had started last night alerted our readers the player was set to sign this afternoon.
Having done so the 27 year old former Juventus man declared: “I am delighted to have joined the lub. I wanted to play in the Premier League and am happy to be in London. My heart told me that the right decision was to play for West Ham United.
“I cannot wait to start working under Mr Bilic and with my new team-mates. I feel ready for this new adventure.”
The Hammers had seen off late bids for the player from Everton and Southampton as the Italy star stuck by his guns to sign for us.
And a source close to the negotiations said: “We had to get a top quality central defender in. The manager had said at his job interview that was his first requirement if he was to take the team on.
“The board have backed him to the hilt despite agreeing a new long term deal earlier in the year with James Tomkins who now looks to have a serious fight on his hands with James Collins for a starting spot.”
Since when has a player being let go by a champions league finalist been seen as somehow a negative on the player.Does that mean we shouldnt buy any Chelsea,ManUtd,Juve,Bayern,Barca or Madrid players because they are surplus to requirement.Does it make them not good enough for our first team.We finished 12th in the Prem last season,we aint a champions league team ourselves.You think we have paid 10m for him to sit on the bench,no chance.What is it with people all thinking that Tomkins is some top draw prem defender,he aint im afraid
Let get this right though. Ogbonna was surplus requirements for Juventus so they were happy for him to go as not good enough for them.
A good signing but not necessary to replace Tomkins. Ogbonna is more likely the replacement for Collins and this could actually see Collins moved on. We then have Burke and Oxford to step up.
Lets get a top right back now – and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE make it anyone bar Jenkinson…COYI
I hope that it is Reid, not Tomkins, who is threatened …
Just going by the injuries we had last season in this position then you have to think they will all get game time at some point in the season.
If the new guy comes in & improves the team then so be it.If Tomkins is a casualty of this thats life.Players will fall by the wayside as we try to improve & by more quality in.
Yep and if as often happens, Tomks game is raised by the new players competition, and Tomks ends up in the first team then also so be it. Thats how it should work.
Bloody hell are you on a one mission to not get this guy in the team,lol,im just stating a fact.It happened at Chelski,it happened at City.As better players come in the lesser lights leave.Im sorry but some fans belief in Tomkins is purely based on the fact he plays for us so we think he is tremendous.If he played for anyone else we would just see him as an average premier league body.You dont play for the Italian team by being a mug.Where are Tonks full international caps,where is his international recognition.
obviously all 4 have a fight on their hands to start the season in the first team, but they will all be vital to our season. $ is the right number to cover the number of games we hope to play.
Pleased we have quality and depth. Yes we all like seeing local lads in the team but not if it is at the expense of the team. If we want to progress and develop then the best players available are the ones that get picked on form. This raises the game hopefully of all in the squad and we as a team get better from this. Same goes for Noble, just because he is the longest serving player doesn’t give him the right to be selected. I think we have a manager that wants to make his mark in the Premiership and do well for himself as well as us supporters. Who better than to judge out CB’s given his pedigree as one himself. Just hope we sign some quality wingers now. If the report about Kevin Mirallis joining us is true that would be awesome – would love him and Gokhan Tore at the club or the young guy Ntep or Byram from Leeds ahead of Jenkinson overlapping. Can’t remember being this excited about a season ……..COYI
I have said all along I expect Pardew to try and buy him the same as the last 3 years at Newcastle and if he offered £7 million or more I think we would take it and buy another CB as Slav like the old fashioned CH not a thinking mans CH
I hope he stays because if he could play to his best ability every game he is a good player,
We now have 2 big forceful CH,s with ginge and Reid to play along side and with Henry,Burke and Oxford as well we to many
Bubs – I think Pardew has just done his beans on Cabaye. I can’t see Palace having much left to spend but if they did come in for £7m – £9m – although I’d be much happier with £10m which I think we could aim for as English and decent. Think we need ball playing pacey wide men – lose Jarvis and Downing only if we can upgrade the quality of squad. Mirallis and Tore would cost £15m so if Downing and Tomkins meant we got those 2 I’d take that all day long
I was thinking that also, Pards did always fancy Tomkins. The Club now have 4 CBs, which was a necessity, with some great prospects waiting in the wings. Again, all rainbows and unicorns for me…
Yep normal evolution of a rising football club
Hopefully we’ll have a long Europa run, and maybe a run in one of the other cups. I think Tomkins and Collins will have plenty of game time.
This is ideal really, as when the defenders get injured, we’ll be able to fill the spot with another defender who could get into half the other premier league teams as a first team player. No more Kouyate in the back – he can stay in the mids, where he is the most effective.
Spot on
A fight for places is exactly what we need,anyone not up for it can move on. The time of teamsheets with a few preprinted names on is over.