Hugh's Blogs

Has £7 million man’s time finally arrived?

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AntonioMichail Antonio’s approach to his life in an Upton Park wilderness has been admirable but he will perhaps start to worry should he not get some sort of chance in Sunday’s match against Spurs.

As is always the case when situation such as his arise, there’s a conspiracy theory to accompany it and the one which has risen its head now and again has been that the manager doesn’t fancy him.

Not true! The board waited on deadline day for Slaven Bilic’s verdict before making their move. He said ‘Yes’ and they moved.

His absence has been all about the unexpected brilliance of Manuel Lanzini and known excellence of Dimi Payet and with Victor Moses and Mauro Zarate doing well where do you fit him in?

So Sunday is a very important day in the young man’s life although  I’d be surprised if he makes the starting line-up.

The bench looks  likely as – on the face of it – Lanzini and Zarate look a more comparable partnership to that of the young Argentine and Payet.

With Sakho – now declared fit and available in front of them – we  look decent but should Zarate experince one of his more inconsistent games expect Antonio’s power to be used.

Alex Song is expected to make the squad along with Angelo Ogbonna whose chances of replacing Tomkins look less than evens right now.

His time will come but it may need an injury or suspension!

My team: Adrian, Jenkinson, Reid, Collins, Cresswell; Kouyate, Noble; Lanzini, Zarate, Moses, Sakho

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Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!"

Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon

5 comments

  • WHU647580 says:

    Not sure how Collins makes the starting line up, he’s in the middle of a 3 game ban.

    Otherwise I think it could be close to that line up

  • bubs says:

    Vote from Spain
    Adrian
    Tomkins,Obgonna,Reid,Cresswell
    Obiang
    Kouyate,Song
    Lanzini,Sakho,Moses
    Subs,Noble,Carroll,Zarate,Antonio,Jenkinson,JelavicCallum,Randolf
    JOB not in my whole Squad
    Collins needs to learn to keep his head,
    Bring Noble back for Home games with Jenks when we need to attack more,

  • Max Willow says:

    May I put in a team, specially prepared in Sydney, very similar to the team, and subs which
    MerryMichaelW, has posted, with a few minor differences

    Adrian
    …Jenkinson Tomkins Reid(c) Cresswell
    Song Kouyate
    Moses Lanzini Zarate
    Sakho

    Subs:Randolph, Ogbonna, Joey O’Brien, Noble, Obiang Antonio,, Carroll, Jelavic.
    Comments: 1.Zarate must play before Valencia returns from injury
    2. Kouyate in CAM is interesting and he would, next to Lanzini, provide the ‘muscle’ to protect I’m hoping that the Lanzini-Zarate will work better, and is more likely to score the early needed goals

    COYI,
    Maxie

  • MerryMichaelW says:

    May I respectfully disagree? 🙂

    … … … … … Adrián
    Jenkinson, Tomkins, Reid, Cresswell
    … … … … Song, Noble
    … Kouyaté, Lanzini, Moses
    … … … … … Sakho

    Subs: Randolph, Ogbonna, Joey O’Brien, Antonio, Obiang, Carroll, Zaraté, Jelavic.

    It is Spurs we are playing – not Norwich!!! 😉

  • ennate says:

    Collins?

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