Irons bang in trouble but Antonio’s the great hope

Leicester City 4 Hammers 1

By Hugh Southon

(Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

So now David Moyes knows just what he has inherited – a squad of players without pace and power until Michail Antonio appears and gives them some brief hope.

The first half of this latest defeat was the embarrassment of embarrassments as an outstanding Foxes team – who will make waves in the Champions league next season – took us apart.

Frankly we were disgustingly bad as they went two up!

The second half was a different affair entirely as we stormed forward after Moyes had quite clearly given them the sort of rollocking they haven’t received in a very long time

Mark Noble gave us hope with a pen after Haller had been fouled and Michail was onto everything causing problem after problem – he remains our great hope for the remainder of the season.

You can blame Pellegrini, you can blame the board for appointing him, but in that first 45 minutes – given what followed in the second half – you simply have to blame 11 players who were entirely useless as the Foxes made fools of them.

Now we really are bang in trouble but as the eternal optimist I take hope from that second half display when with Antonio leading, Haller looked a better player by far as we took 50 per cent of possession at one stage.

We need Antonio to remain fit and we need the team to show exactly what they managed in the second 45 minutes over the rest of the season.

We had more than our moments against a very classy side, back to its best, and had one goalmouth scramble resulted in a goal from Antonio it might have been very different,

In the end a game we had written off anyway was lost so it could be argued there was nothing much lost – other of course than Burnley winning at Old Trafford.

Now the biggest thing on the agenda is a powerful and pacey midfielder and whether it’s a case of Moyes not being able to find one or the board not wanting to dig up the dough THAT HAS TO CHANGE.

The upsides? Some great saves from Randolph, a brilliant Antonio display, a fine Ogbonna performance and honourable mentions for Rice and Cresswell.

But we need more – MUCH MORE!