The tale of woe that unfolded last season with West Ham’s attacking personnel is not one that Hammers fans will forget any time soon. Having to use winger Jarrod Bowen as an emergency number nine owing to ‘having nobody else’ at the club was a mixture of bad luck and dreadful judgement. So as the club scour the transfer market for new recruits on a zero budget, there is a new dilemma opening up for Potter and Sullivan to contemplate.
It’s that old Michail Antonio debate again. The superman-like recovery continued last night with anther, longer ten minute-plus stoppage-time appearance in Jamaica’s 2-1 CONCACAF victory against Guadeloupe. The third in Jamaica’s series of games concludes on Wednesday, 25th June against Panama.
If Antonio continues to grow in his game time, and gets a longer period on the pitch next week, West Ham’s dilemma will be very clear: To stick or twist on a new contract offer before Antonio becomes a free agent on 1st July.
As a fourth striker, perhaps, for a season: The temptation must be to find a consensus with the Hammers’ current (until next month) number nine. Unless the Irons are very sure that two replacements for both Ings and Antonio are incoming in the coming couple of months, maybe the Jamaican represents a ‘worst case’ striker on a budget option. Even at nearly 36 years old, he’s probably good for a half hour a week. In an emergency.
Grat servant but time is up
Bit harsh John
But time to go now
Only worth a contract if it’s to drive sullivan for a year
Just leave Antonio sick of the sight of you utter donkey I’ve seen better finishers in women’s football
Bit harsh John
But time to go now
Why do we keep going over the same old ground with Antonio ?
This is very worrying that we’re thinking of giving even a short term deal to a player who’s well over the hill and liable to break down at any minute.Usual West Ham ambition ( none), stinks of Sullivan!
It’s time to move on. He’s been a great player for us but you can’t let sentiments cloud your judgement. He’s been on the wane for the last couple of seasons. If you give him another contract and put him on the bench he then becomes a block for the younger players to get the first team experience and game time. I would prefer a younger player on the bench because that’s the future not the past. It happens to us all eventually in life. Thanks but let’s move on.
The club really has to move on, he wasn’t at the level before the accident and definitely won’t be now. It’s like Sunday league pub football playing someone just to fill the shirt rather than actually do anything. If nothing else get a academy player on to at the very least use their energy to chase down and tackle defenders?
Having Antonio as a backstop has been a problem meaning the club has never got to grips with a serious replacement.
As much as I love Antonio it’s time to part ways with him he’s not the player he was a few years ago he has been a great signing for us but we need to move on from him we need a striker with pace skill and eye for goal he will always be a legend at our great club I wish him well for the future I just can’t see it being with us
He’s been a great servant for Westham but honestly he can’t do it anymore in the PL. the Championship or Europe would suit him.