Rob Green claims that beleaguered West Ham man needs help
West Ham United utility man Michail Antonio has been shunted around from position to position yet again this season.
The 29-year-old has played on the right, as a second striker behind Sebastien Haller and, more recently, as an out-and-out centre forward.
He’s ploughed that lonely furrow for the last two games, starting up top against Manchester City and Liverpool.
The Englishman has put in solid performances and certainly makes life difficult for the opposition, but he’s still been rather isolated, particularly against City.
Former England international and ex Irons goalkeeper Rob Green feels that David Moyes must provide the former Nottingham Forest man with more support.
“You spent all that money on Jarrod Bowen, and he’s got the engine, he’s got the tenacity, he’s got the fitness to get up and back, and get up with Antonio,” he said on BBC Radio 5 Live.
“Last week they just didn’t have that. They didn’t have anyone to get up with him. So he sort of burrowed this lone furrow on his own.
“All he needs is a bit of support, someone to get alongside him for that break – and he’s [Bowen] not playing again. So he’ll be sat on the bench thinking ‘what am I doing here?'”
Does Bowen have to start against Southampton?
First of all, it’s very unlikely that Bowen was sat on the bench in just his second game for West Ham thinking ‘what am I doing here?’
As for whether he needs to start against the Saints, absolutely. An Antonio-Bowen partnership up top would give the visitors fits at the London Stadium on Saturday.
You don’t spend relatively big money on a player like Bowen not to start him in a crunch game that could help decide the club’s Premier League future.
Sebastien Haller isn’t deserving of a start, while Tomas Soucek looks likely to miss out after picking up an injury. Therefore Bowen or Pablo Fornals would appear to be next in line to step in.
In other West Ham news, former Premier League winner Ray Parlour has claimed that there is cause for optimism in east London.