Michail Antonio jibe shared as he starts again for West Ham United v Everton
Journalist Kieran Gill has joked that Michail Antonio must have “incriminating evidence” on West Ham boss David Moyes as he continues to start games despite his recent struggles.
Antonio was given the nod up top for Sunday’s (29 October) 1-0 Premier League defeat to Everton at London Stadium, where he lasted just under an hour before being hauled off.
The Jamaica international is without a goal in nine matches, and has assisted just once in that period, yet he remains a favourite of manager Moyes.
Writing for the Daily Mail’s The Verdict [30 October, pg 10], Gill said: “Some West Ham fans have been wondering what incriminating evidence Antonio must have on Moyes to keep starting matches – be it embarrassing pictures of him wearing Rangers pyjamas or videos of him singing You’ll Never Walk Alone on karaoke.
“The true answer is that Danny Ings is Moyes’ only senior alternative, and Divin Mubama – the teenage academy talent – did not make the substitutes’ bench here.”
Past it
Antonio is West Ham’s record all-time Premier League goalscorer and has therefore written his name in the club’s folklore.
However, it is quite clear that the 33-year-old is no longer capable of starting regularly for United, never mind leading the attack.
Nobody expected Antonio to get the nod against Everton, with strong suggestions that Jarrod Bowen would be shifted through the middle.
Start he did, though, and he failed to have a single shot [WhoScored] – on target or otherwise – in his 56 minutes on the field before being replaced by Said Benrahma.
If Moyes was not sure previously – and he really should have been – now is the time to change things around. If that means shifting the versatile and talented Bowen, or perhaps using Mohammed Kudus there, then so be it.
Bringing in an out-and-out striker in January would be nice, but that is not likely to be the case. Moyes therefore must work with what he has, starting with leaving Antonio out of the side.
In other West Ham news, there is one player Moyes can no longer ignore after a “crazy” development last week.