Pundit calls for Michail Antonio to be dropped v Aston Villa, wants Gianluca Scamacca to start for West Ham United
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 wants Michail Antonio dropped from the West Ham starting lineup and Gianluca Scamacca to come in when they face Aston Villa on Sunday.
The Hammers have lost all three of their Premier League games so far this season, failing to score a single goal in the process.
But Scamacca netted in his first start of the season against Viborg at the London Stadium last week and while Antonio also netted in that game as a substitute, McAvennie wants to see the Italian start because he’s “annoying” for defenders and Antonio hasn’t been good enough.
“No disrespect to Antonio, but me, I’d play the boy Scamacca,” he told West Ham Zone.
“I’d put him up front. He’s hungry. West Ham supporters will know better than me because they’ve watched him more, but he looks to me like he wants the ball. He’s annoying when he gets it, and that’s someone I want to see in a West Ham jersey. He’s effective.
“I’d give him a game. Go and play, go and attack these centre halves at Villa who aren’t good. Of course they’re good, let me rephrase that, but they’re not playing well at the moment. They will want to upset the West Ham defence because they’re not playing well, and it’s good chance to go and upset them.
“Put someone in like this boy who wants the number one spot and I think he can cause problems.”
The Hammers travel to Villa Park on Sunday afternoon for a 2pm kick-off, looking for their first points of the season, and McAvennie feels they can win what he is anticipating to be a “strange” game.