West Ham legend Frank McAvennie has been critical of Michail Antonio’s recent performances for the Hammers, believing him to be out of form.
McAvennie said that Antonio’s below-par performances in recent weeks have had a negative effect on the team from a tactical perspective. Generally, he allows the Irons’ more diminutive attacking players to get forward with his hold-up play – but he has not been doing this in recent weeks.
What did Frank McAvennie say regarding Michail Antonio’s recent performances for West Ham?
Speaking to West Ham Zone, McAvennie said: “I keep saying it; [Michail] Antonio is the key to this team. When he’s playing, and playing well, West Ham do well, because he holds up the ball and brings other people into play.
“And he’s great for the system that [David] Moyes uses. But he’s not playing well, and he didn’t play well against Aston Villa, and the whole team suffered. I’m not saying it’s Antonio’s fault, because there were a few players who didn’t look too enthusiastic about it all.
“It was one of Antonio’s bad games [against Aston Villa]. He needs to be on the ball, because when we play the way we do, with counter-attacks, he needs to hold that ball, keep it and lay it off, and he didn’t do that. It’s a big ask, but Danny Ings doesn’t play that way, he wants to face the goal, he doesn’t like playing with his back to the goal.”
Is Michail Antonio in bad form?
Michail Antonio started the season strongly for the Hammers, scoring two goals in their first three Premier League games. Since then, however, the Jamaican international has only been able to muster a single assist – he has not found the back of the net in the league since the Iron’s 3-1 away win over Brighton and Hove Albion back in August.
At the age of 33, Antonio is not getting any younger. He is approaching the end of his career – his lacklustre form for West Ham could be a result of his body gradually slowing down. If this is the case, it will be a major call of concern for the Hammers.
Antonio joined West Ham all the way back in 2015 from Nottingham Forest for a fee of £7 million. Since then, he has made 237 appearances for the Irons, scoring 63 goals.