Many of the players Graham Potter booted out of the club were loyal servants who still had much to offer West Ham: Several including Vlad Coufal and Aaron Cresswell have moved to new sides with new success.
Potter then famously decried the lack of leadership in the side after he’d terminated the contracts of four stars – Lucas Fabianski and Michail Antonio being the others – all hugely experienced Prague trophy winners. In Antonio’s case the pain was even harder to bear after he’d fought his way back towards fitness only for Potter to tell him to go see Sullivan, and Sullivan to refer him back to Potter for a decision on his future: Neither it seems could do the decent thing and tell Antonio to his face that his time was up. (At least, that’s his version of events).
The spectre of Antonio coming back to haunt the Hammers has suddenly appeared larger than life with the striker insisting – on an interview with talkSPORT that he’s “fit and ready and in talks over a return to English football”, whilst keeping his cards close to his chest over a likely destination.
Not six months ago he was training with in turn Brentford, Leicester and Charlton and the distinct possibility remains that West Ham’s leading Premier League goal scorer could grab a slot with one of the newly promoted sides and be lining up at London Stadium against West Ham this season.
Lincoln City, Cardiff and Bolton Wanderers are all no doubt strengthening their sides after winning promotion from League One and you can bet your bottom dollar Mikey’s agents will be doing their bit.
Not sure how that’d feel, seeng Antonio lining up for an opponent – and no doubt scoring – against the side at which he spent ten years.
This from Graham Potter who took a masters in leadership – now that’s irony.