I threw the word legend around too loosely when working in the mainstream media but if anyone deserves it his name is Michail Antonio.
Micky is a legend plain and simple, right up there with the galaxy of former heroes who have graced this great club with their presence down the years.
Had he stayed injury free during his time he would have scored more goals and performed to an even greater extent but as things stand his achievements are immense.
Just bear in mind that he cost a mere £7 million from Nottingham Forest and has since played left and right wing, central striker and right back.
He’s the type of player you look at in awe and now, at the age of 30, his form through the middle is as good as any top striker in the country.
And that’s why I became angry when a former Hammer of all people – Tony Gale – suggested he might be on his way to a top club at some point soon.
Why would a bloke who presumably has the best interests of the club at heart make such a remark as he did on the stream I was watching for the game against Leicester.
I don’t believe Mikey will be going anywhere now or in the future. He has made his position clear in saying how happy he is at the club, has a two year option and may soon become the best striker we’ve seen in claret and blue since the 80s.
He believes the Hammers are on their way to becoming a very good team and he said at https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2020/october/04-october/michail-antonio-were-working-become-finished-article: “We’ve come out and in the last few games we’ve played well, even in the games that we’ve lost.
“We [initially] had great opportunities and some decisions didn’t go our way, but now things are going our way and we’re playing well.
“You could see that we’re working on playing with the ball more, on our shape, working out from our shape with great counter-attacks, and you see that we’re becoming the finished article.
“People were saying the last two games would have been tricky, but we’ve won the last game 4-0 and this one 3-0. All we need to do is concentrate on ourselves, make sure we keep a good shape, and make sure we keep scoring goals.
“All we need to do now is go out and keep winning games. We’ve got a nice little [international] break now, and hopefully we can keep the performances going after our break ends.”
When did Michal become Mikey?
In the dressing room years ago. Keep up. Btw Cresswell is Cress and Nobles is Nobes. I won’t bore you with the others. Sure you can find out 🙂
Legend? Been a versatile and committed player. Undoubtedly good business for initial outlay. Had a good 12 games or so which is probably his most consistent level in his time at the club. I’m not disagreeing that he’s made an immense contribution in the clubs (very) recent history, I just object to the use of the word legend being applied to any current player at this time. Just to give you an example, would you say the Ogbonna’s contribution has been any less significant in the last 12 games? I’m going back beyond that would you not say that his contribution over almost exactly the same number of years as Antonio is there any more or less worthy of the same overall contribution? Just asking questions not giving you an answer!
I believe his adaptability and energy – the fact he leaves nothing on the pitch (which is what most of us ask) and has become a top striker and saved us from relegation is enough to give him the title.
Let’s not forget too that he was often overlooked by the Clown Prince of Football Management, Pellegrini. (A title vacated in the past by Avram Grant, of course.) And he didn’t make a fuss once. He’s one of the good guys.
If memory serves wasn’t ‘our legend’ up for sale! Talk of off loading to Palace! Those same idiots will now be taking the credit – funny old game!