Michail Antonio tells fans to lay off him with criticism over goals
West Ham striker Michail Antonio has hit back at fans that are on his case about a lack of goals, saying they don’t need to criticise him because he does it enough himself.
Antonio started the season in brilliant form for the Hammers with five goals in his first six Premier League games, but he hasn’t scored in any of his last nine games in all competitions.
With a run stretching back to October 24th, Antonio has received criticism, sometimes from his own fans, about his form but the new Jamaica international isn’t best pleased.
Speaking to the West Ham website, the 31-year-old revealed that he is critical of himself and doesn’t need the fans to add to it while declaring that he will continue to give 100 percent whenever he is on the pitch.
“I am confident in my ability, so I don’t need anybody to jump on me because I am jumping on myself already.
“I’m a person who demands the best from myself and I am getting frustrated in myself that I have not scored in so many games, so you don’t need to get on my back as I’m already on my own back.
“I am going to go out there, give my all and hopefully this week I can put the ball in the back of the net for me, for the team and for you guys.”
Goals needed
It’s all well and good that Antonio is self-aware enough to know he hasn’t been good enough in front of goal recently, but he needs to turn it around now.
As West Ham’s only senior striker option, he is being asked to play through his bad run and looks tired which is surely affecting that.
With that said though, the need for goals in this team is even more important now that they’re struggling to keep clean sheets. With defensive issues, the Hammers are in need of more than just one goal to win a game.
More onus needs to be put on the rest of the team chipping in to help lessen the burden on Antonio, but he needs to find the net regularly again to help David Moyes’ side keep up their chase for the top four.
In other West Ham news, Predicted West Ham XI against Spurs sees major star rested and three changes made.