Pundit slams ‘key’ Michail Antonio after West Ham United man ‘didn’t play well’ recently
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 has slammed West Ham United striker Michail Antonio after he “didn’t play well” against Aston Villa.
The pundit was quick to add, however, that not many in claret and blue impressed in the match between the pair on Sunday (22 October).
Villa won the Premier League clash 4-1 at Villa Park, with Douglas Luiz (two), Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey scoring for the hosts.
Hammers winger Jarrod Bowen netted his club’s only goal of the game, with his long-range strike not enough to inspire a fightback.
McAvennie believes Antonio is key to the way David Moyes wants his team to play, with a bad display from the striker against Villa resulting in a poor team display overall.
The East London club slipped to ninth place in the table following the defeat, with Everton at home on Sunday (29 October) up next.
Speaking to West Ham Zone, McAvennie said: “I keep saying it; Antonio is the key to this team. When he’s playing, and playing well, West Ham do well, because he holds up the ball and brings other people into play.
“And he’s great for the system that Moyes uses. But he’s not playing well, and he didn’t play well against Aston Villa, and the whole team suffered. I’m not saying it’s Antonio’s fault, because there were a few players who didn’t look too enthusiastic about it all.
“It was one of Antonio’s bad games. He needs to be on the ball, because when we play the way we do, with counter-attacks, he needs to hold that ball, keep it and lay it off, and he didn’t do that.
“It’s a big ask, but Danny Ings doesn’t play that way, he wants to face the goal, he doesn’t like playing with his back to the goal.”
In other West Ham news, a European giant is ready to sell a Hammers-linked ace for £17million, with a summer transfer on the cards.