Michail Antonio has had his day as a forward at the top level but he’s not to blame for West Ham’s striker woes

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Michail Antonio has had his day as a forward at the top level but he’s not to blame for West Ham’s striker woes.

When West Ham signed Gianluca Scamacca for £34m last summer it ended a long 18-month search for a replacement for Sebastien Haller.

The relief and excitement among West Ham fans was palpable.

Even Michail Antonio – who has been a fantastic servant for West Ham since signing for just £7.5m from Notts Forest back in 2015 – had called for help as he ploughed a lonely furrow up front.

Like the 50 – yes FIFTY – before him in the last 13 years, though, Scamacca failed to hit it off at West Ham and was sold to Atalanta after just one season.

When it comes to strikers and the Hammers it is rinse, repeat.

Somewhat inexplicably Moyes – either by choice or failure – did not sign a replacement striker for Scamacca in the summer.

Many predicted that would come back to bite West Ham. Particularly if they were serious about challenging for the European spots and in the Europa League.

And unfortunately Antonio’s performances and lack of goals have proved those predictions right.

Antonio turns 34 in March and it has always been the subject of much debate whether he ever truly has had the skill set to be a bona fide Premier League striker.

He has been effective as a blunt instrument and scored vital goals. But he does not make intelligent runs and his one-dimensional nature dictates how the team plays in many respects. Some fans also feel his workrate – one of his biggest strong points – has dropped off in recent seasons.

So it is understandable supporters are frustrated with the Jamaican, with calls for him to be dropped of late.

He was substituted by David Moyes on 57 minutes in the defeat to Everton and he looked miffed. In reality he had no right to be. Antonio is extremely fortunate to be leading the line for a massive club like West Ham in the Premier League. Most clubs have at least two or three genuine striker options and he would likely have found himself out of the side long before now at any number of them.

Antonio has had his day as a forward at the top level but he’s not to blame for West Ham’s striker woes.

Yes his performances have not been great. And yes he does far too much talking on his podcast.

But it is not his fault that the club and manager continue to rely on him – at nearly 34 years old – as their only realistic striker option after scoring just five Premier League goals last season.

Moyes has said Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus can play up front. But if that’s the case why does Danny Ings keep getting chances?

And ask yourself this: do West Ham really play a style of football to suit Bowen or Kudus as strikers under Moyes? Just ask Haller and Scamacca.

Antonio does not pick himself in this West Ham team. Nor does he give himself new contracts.

If we can all see that Antonio has had his day in the sun as a top level striker then the only man who should be facing scrutiny over the issue is Moyes.

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