Blog by Allen Cummings
Andriy Yarmolenko’s unfortunate and untimely injury last Saturday was a bitter blow for both the player and the club. The Ukrainian international was just beginning to get into his stride – but we will be extremely lucky to see him in a West Ham shirt again this season if reports are correct.
Yarmolenko’s somewhat surprise replacement against Spurs was the exciting Grady Diangana – who took to his task like the seasoned pro he’s not. While most in the London Stadium eagerly welcomed Grady’s introduction, it’s probably fair to say at that precise moment the majority were expecting to see Michail Antonio entering the fray. He had, after all, been warming up when Yarm went down and has been used as a substitute replacement for Yarmolenko in previous games.
So has the fact Manuel Pellegrini preferred to use the youngster in advance of Antonio, signalled that the manager’s patience has finally run out with the former England hopeful? Does it mean, after frequent speculation, the exit door could soon be about to open in the next transfer window? The Antonio of two seasons ago would surely have been a vital and permanent fixture in Pellegrini’s team this season.
But the one-time fans’ favourite has become anything but in recent times. He’s been a peripheral figure rather than a permanent feature. Used mainly from the subs bench. It has certainly not gone un-noticed when Antonio has been called upon, he’s hardly looked fired up and intent on seizing his opportunity with both feet. His fitness, frequently questioned of late, has looked wanting, while his body language, so often a key indicator to a players mindset, has been disappointing to say the least. Sadly he has been a shadow of his former self.
Was last Saturday’s decision by the manager a double-edged statement? A show of faith in a new and exciting young talent – and a promise there’s very much a place for him in the side for the season ahead. But at the same time was it a resignation that maybe it’s finally time for the parting of the ways between West Ham and Michail Antonio.
Your reading a lot into it but personally I think it’s much more simple than that. I think Pellegrini sees Antonio as a left wing back up substitute for Anderson and Diangana as a right wing back up substitute for Yarmolenko. I think normally he might have used Snodgrass as back up for Yarmolenko but Snodfy was already in the pitch covering for Obiang. When Obiang is fit again I would expect pellegrini to play him in the middle, with Snodgrass taking Yarmolenkos place in the team and Diangana back on the bench as substitute for snoddy. But we’ll see. I think with Yarmolenko out it could actually be a great opportunity for one or more of Snodgrass, Antonio and Diangana to get themselves involved.