Graeme Souness has named a West Ham star David Moyes will not be happy with this season despite a man of match performance.
Hammers striker Michail Antonio has been trying to rediscover his best form as well as goals and consistency in a West Ham shirt since October of last year.
He looked back to something like his hustling, bustling best in the Europa League last 16 win over Sevilla, tormenting the Spanish side and laying on a goal for Tomas Soucek.
But he cut an agitated figure just a few days later in the 3-1 defeat to rivals Spurs where he spurned two very good chances as his Premier League goalscoring drought continued.
Moyes substituted Antonio for Andriy Yarmolenko just 10 minutes into the second half of that game at Tottenham last time out.
Given the match was still very much in the balance at 2-1 with over 35 minutes to play it was quite a statement from the Scot.
After that game Moyes criticised the striker for his performance.
“No (it was not a pre-arranged substitution) I just didn’t think he was contributing enough to the team,” Moyes said on Sky Sports after West Ham’s defeat to Spurs.
Antonio – perhaps more than any other player at West Ham – needed a rest over the international break. And he got just that when he was left out of the Jamaica squad.
The West Ham striker was voted man of the match for his performance in the 2-1 win over Everton on Sunday.
But his goal drought continued and he has now scored just once in the Premier League this year – in the New Year’s Day win over Crystal Palace.
Antonio was a threat throughout and it was two fouls he drew from Toffees defender Michael Keane that saw Everton reduced to 10 men.
Antonio’s lack of confidence was clear when he went through on goal and took a poor touch which allowed Jordan Pickford to close the angle and save.
Fortunately for Antonio and West Ham the ball fell perfectly into the path of Jarrod Bowen following up and he scrambled home the winner.
Moyes said he was much more satisfied with Antonio’s all round performance, though, and backed him to get back on the goal trail soon.
But speaking about Antonio before the game, Sky Sports pundit Souness named the West Ham star as a player Moyes will not be happy with this season as a result of his poor return of eight goals.
“I’d be disappointed if I were him,” Souness said on Sky Sports.
“Eight Premier League goals, 10 all season all comps, that’s (not good enough).
“He should be getting more. If I was managing him I’d want more goals from him. If I’m playing against him I’m thinking ‘this could be a difficult afternoon because he can run me, if I get involved with him physically he might be stronger than me’.
“I think for someone like him, he should be disappointed with eight Premier League goals, playing in a really good team.”
Antonio is about much more than just goals for West Ham, as his performances against Everton and Sevilla showed.
But he has taken on the role of being West Ham’s number nine and with that comes the expectation and pressure to get them.
Souness is right that Antonio must start getting back amongst the goals, especially if West Ham are going to achieve their own goals this season.
In the summer it is clear Moyes must sign at least one new striker if not two.
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