Jamie Carragher makes Michail Antonio prediction after West Ham United sign Gianluca Scamacca
Jamie Carragher believes Michail Antonio could see his position changed at West Ham this season following Gianluca Scamacca’s arrival at the club.
The Hammers completed the £34m signing of Italian international Scamacca earlier in the summer, but Antonio has started as the number 9 in both Premier League games so far this season.
But speaking before the defeat to Nottingham Forest live on Sky Sports, Carragher claimed that Antonio could be moved out wide to accommodate the new man up top and that he’s good enough to perform there.
“I don’t think he needs motivation,” he said.
“He plays on that motivation, that enthusiasm. The job that he’s done for West Ham over the last few years playing up there, lets not forget this is a guy whose played all over the place in his career. At one stage he was playing full back.
“He’s the type of player that even if the new signing comes in, it doesn’t mean he has to go to the bench. He could maybe play a role in a wide area. He’s certainly got that ability to play from the left or the right. But they definitely needed something.
“They obviously tried that a few years ago with Haller, they spent big money and it didn’t work out at all. He’s gone on to do better things, so they’ll be hoping this guy that they’ve brought in Scamacca can almost take them to the next level.”
Versatile
Some of the best players that David Moyes has been able to work with are the versatile ones, and there is nobody more versatile than Antonio.
Antonio has played full-back, wing-back, central midfield, winger and striker throughout his career, but he has enjoyed the best spell of his career as the centre-forward.
Unfortunately though he struggled to become a reliable goalscorer and if West Ham want to move up to another level they needed to bring someone else in to do that.
But Antonio’s experience to move out wide in the attacking lineup offers more goals and a big threat for the team to work towards, and also keeps the best players in the team rather than having a one in one out type of vibe.
It’s a good shout by Carragher and fans would be delighted to see a front line of Antonio, Scamacca and Bowen so it’s certainly something to keep an eye out for.