Pundits puzzled by Tomkins exit

Paul Scholes and Steve Macmanaman have poured salt into red raw West Ham wounds following the West Brom defeat.

Tomkins scored in the 4-1 defeat of Stoke City and the two BT pundits were quick to qustion Slaven Bilic’s decision to sell the Irons academy product t Crystal Palace for £10 million.

Scholes said: “I also think that the sale of Tomkins was a strange one. Okay, he’s probably not a top drawer defender, but I think he was very settled in their defence and he’s a decent defender.

“I thought just selling him for £10 million to Crystal Palace was a strange move. Defensively, that’s where the problems are, and I think him going was a part of it.”

McManaman said: “It’s actually hard to find good central-defensive partnerships. I know Winston Reid and James Collins are playing, but like Scholesy said, Tomkins has played loads of times.

“Just to get rid of him – I have no idea what the finances are, if there are any problems behind the scenes. But why don’t you just keep him? Why sell him for £10 million. £10 million is by the by now.”