I’m rarely surprised by the transfer speculation linking players either leaving or joining West Ham.
But even I raised an eyebrow yesterday upon reading that the club would be willing to listen to offers for Michail Antonio in the January transfer window. . . it all seemed very panicked and last minute.
I’m not suggesting that the Hammers striker has a long-term future at the club, but I do wonder what changed so dramatically between August and September to alter the club’s thinking.
Nothing I have seen from Antonio this season has surprised me. At 34 years of age, his role should really be nothing more than an impact substitute and understudy to the main striker.
Much has been made of his inability to last more than 60 minutes in the fast-paced Premier League, but this should be no surprise to anybody, least of all Antonio himself. In fact, the Jamaica international admitted as much in a preseason interview with Sky Sports.
Therefore, the fact that he is unable to play at the same ferocious pace with which he made his name is the same now as it was in the summer when the club made the decision to retain him.
The issue with West Ham’s strike force has little to do with Antonio and far more to do with the club’s summer recruitment. Niclas Füllkrug has picked up an unfortunate injury, and he will hopefully return sooner rather than later. But if the contingency plan consists of Danny Ings and Antonio, then the focus should really be on the failed recruitment rather than on a veteran striker.
Ironically, Mikey’s best games this season have been his last two against Liverpool and Brentford, and I’m certain he can still do a job. I doubt very much whether the Hammers have the funds to sign a top-level striker during the January transfer window, and I’m even less confident that anybody would pay significant money for Antonio.
Therefore, my choice would be to offload Ings, purchase a young, athletic striker with promise, and keep Antonio on the bench for the rest of the season, where he can replace Füllkrug in the last 20 minutes of games.
Antonio has given everything for us and needs to be respected on the subject he could still be a sub and come on as a winger. that brute strength is still there sad but true but his best days are behind him.
Antonio is far from finished. Full back to Principal Striker. A fantastic transformation these days. Unused striker to central defence – it’s been done before with great success. An experienced forward knows all there is to know about attacking play. Playing in defence offers more time to spot these moves and spoil. Michail needs reinvention to help our side at the moment. He still knows a thing or two about playing up front, too. Making the passes that our forwards are begging and praying for. Not hoof ball but intelligent through passing creating goal scoring chances and scaring the living daylights out of the opposition.
COYI
At his income versus his contribution I would be amazed if you can find anyone with the point of view that Antonio should be retained.
The fact we don’t have a young, fit, fast etc striker doesn’t mean that Antonio’s value to West Ham is increased. By doing falsely increasing his value to West Ham is just doubling down on our Dad’s Army striker options. The thing to do would be get rid ASAP if possible and use the wages freed up for a more suitable replacement.
Who would I want a one on one to fall to out of Antonio or Ings if my life depended on it – Danny Ings every time! He should be playing more often than Michail.
Could all parties interested in buying a 34 year old striker who’s best years were in the last decade, is unable to last more than 60 minutes and is more interested travelling half way around the world playing in pointless internationals, please form an orderly queue!!!
Offload Ings? Surely he’s made it clear he’s going nowhere, and who can blame him.
Jesus……Antonio should of been binned of 3 seasons ago,the fact he’s still at our club and getting game time is an absolute joke.
His last good performance was on his podcast as we haven’t seen any on the pitch in years.