Paul Merson hasn’t always been the kindest pundit out there as far as the Hammers are concerned.
But with the huge success the club are enjoying this season his tune appears to be changing quite rapidly.
The former Arsenal star believes that in Michail Antonio the Hammers have one of the two best outlet players in the league, along with Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy.
Despite his absences and slightly in and out form since his return to the side Mikey is certainly a massive up front player.
Both he and Jarrod Bowen are able to make the sort of runs which take huge pressure off the defence and looks a constant threat when closing in on the opposition penalty area.
Once again he was in exactly the right place at the right time to claw us back to equality against Man City before the League leaders went on to win Saturday’s game at the Etihad.
And Merson paid him a huge compliment when talking on Sky Sports .
He said: “Antonio and Vardy are the best two outlet players in the Premier League,
“For the way they (West Ham and Leicester) play, them two players are probably the most important players in the league because of the way they play and they give you such an outlet, they occupy defenders.
“You can’t just go drifting, you’ve got to be concentrating all the time with them two players. They make bad balls into good balls, they hold it up, they concentrate when they get the ball.
“He’s not got a lot of goals Antonio but he’s not a bad finisher.”
Talking sense at last Paul. Good point. Vardy is not the centre forward, target, hold-up man the England mould would like. Neither is Antonio. Antonio is a natural, play anywhere and make the most of it type of player. Absolutely brilliant. Often so very difficult to play against and so good to be playing with. If he is having a ‘bad patch’ at the moment, I earnestly hope that it is not a result of being asked to play in a position and role which doen’t suit him.
COYI