Exclusive: McAvennie raves about West Ham ‘powerhouse’ Antonio after win v West Brom
We’re delighted to welcome former West Ham United striker Frank McAvennie as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the London Stadium…
Frank McAvennie was thrilled with West Ham forward Michail Antonio after he impressed in the 2-1 win against West Brom at the London Stadium on Tuesday.
Antonio, 30, won the game in the second half with his five Premier League goal of the season when he directed the ball past Sam Johnstone in a crowded West Brom penalty area.
Hammers fans have been waxing lyrical about the front-man since while Antonio himself has shared a clip of him bullying Baggies star Matheus Pereira at the London Stadium.
McAvennie wishes that Sebastien Haller showed the same strength and desire that Antonio did before he left for Ajax earlier this month.
“He’s a big powerhouse. There are sign clips of him on social media barging players out the way, he’s just a big boy and did more in that 30 seconds that Haller did the whole time he was there,” McAvennie told West Ham Zone.
“He knocked a few players off the ball and when Haller was playing, he should have look at Antonio and thought, ‘that’s what I need to do’ because he’s a big lump.
“Unfortunately the boy didn’t do it and he’s away at Ajax but you need somebody in to help Antonio if he’s injured. You need somebody up front.”
It’s hard to not agree with McAvennie there.
Haller was such a frustrating player because you knew there was quality in there but there was some matches where he just looked as though his heart wasn’t in it.
At West Ham, that’s not acceptable.
Antonio is someone who you know you’re going to get 100 per cent commitment from, though. And that clip of him bulldozing Pereira shows exactly why he’s such a top player for us.
It will be interesting to see who starts up front this weekend when we play Doncaster in the FA Cup.
It’ll be a shock if Antonio starts after he started against Burnley and West Brom but it doesn’t seem as though a new centre-forward will be here in time for the fourth round clash versus the League One club.
Mipo Odubeko could get a start or we’ll see David Moyes go with a striker-less formation.
In other West Ham news, Moyes wants more from his side despite them beating West Brom.