Michail Antonio selection for West Ham United is a ‘travesty’ in new verdict
Journalist Daniel Storey says it is a “travesty” that Michail Antonio is still the first-choice centre-forward for David Moyes at West Ham.
Antonio has started all 10 of the Hammers’ Premier League games this season, but he has not scored since 26 August.
The 33-year-old struggled once again in the 1-0 loss to Everton on Sunday (29 October) as he failed to register a shot in his hour on the field.
Speaking on the Totally Football Show [30 October, 23m 18s], iNews reporter Storey said: “It’s a travesty he’s still West Ham’s first choice centre-forward. They’ve got to do something else.
“He just doesn’t hold the ball up anymore. He got it stuck under his feet for a chance in the first half, whereas [Dominic] Calvert-Lewin had one shot and scored it, while winning three or four flick-ons.”
Poor return
Calvert-Lewin’s great finish proved the difference between West Ham and Everton at the weekend in what was a third successive loss for the Hammers.
Moyes has persisted with Antonio up top for far too long now. Danny Ings is the only viable back-up in terms of a pure striker, but Jarrod Bowen would surely do a better job there than both of those players.
United are blessed with plenty of attacking options, albeit the majority of those being predominantly wide players, and Moyes has to find the right formula.
Antonio is averaging 0.37 goals and assists combined in the Premier League this season, which places him below even Vladimir Coufal (0.40) and Tomas Soucek (0.43) [FBref].
Not only is the Jamaica international not scoring or assisting, he is doing little else in the final third in terms of bringing others into the game.
With the pressure now very much on Moyes, he has to ensure Antonio does not start United’s next Premier League game against Brentford next weekend.
In other West Ham news, a player did something that often “infuriates” Moyes in the defeat to Everton.