West Ham Zone speaking to Frank McAvennie

Tue 3 January 2023 11:40, UK

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 accused Michail Antonio of “not putting the effort in” for West Ham right now as they enter a relegation battle.

The Hammers have lost their last five games in a row and have lost 12 of 17 Premier League games so far this season, which has left them outside the relegation zone on goal difference alone.

Antonio started on the bench in the defeat to Brentford last time out while Gianluca Scamacca started up front, but McAvennie feels the Jamaica international isn’t trying hard enough and claims something is not right at the London Stadium.

“Everyone’s not performing,” he told West Ham Zone.

“Fornals, Scamacca’s not doing what he was doing, Antonio’s not putting the effort in. And I’m thinking, something is not right.

“David will know. I don’t want anyone to get sacked, and I think David has got enough credit in the bank to get through this, but he’s got a few games coming up where he’s got to get points. But he’ll know that.

“It’s a result driven business and he’s not done enough in the last 20-odd games. I think other clubs would have sacked the manager before now, but I think David deserves it because of what he’s done.

“You’ve got to show signs of improvement though.”

Antonio and Scamacca have both scored four goals in all competitions so far this season, making them the joint top scorers alongside Pablo Fornals, Jarrod Bowen and Said Benrahma.

But performances simply haven’t been good enough so far from any of them, so to single Antonio out may seem harsh.

Considering his recent admittance that he isn’t enjoying his new backup role though, it’s fair to say he’s made a rod for his own back with this and now he must perform to start silencing his critics, starting with a showing against Leeds in the next fixture.