A new photo shows that David Moyes made a beeline for struggling Michail Antonio after he cost West Ham dear against Burnley.
Since rather questionably declaring that he could compete with the likes of Mo Salah and Harry Kane for the golden boot back in October, Antonio’s goalscoring exploits have fallen off a cliff.
West Ham are paying the price in the Premier League for Antonio’s profligacy.
He has now scored just one goal in the league this year, way back on New Year’s Day.
Indeed his only other goal in the three and a half months since was worth nothing to West Ham, coming in a 3-1 FA Cup defeat at Southampton.
The converted striker’s performances are infuriatingly inconsistent.
In the dismal defeat to Brentford last weekend, Antonio looked like he had just been plucked from the crowd and thrown on the pitch. It was one of the worst striker performances fans will have witnessed from a West Ham player.
Photo: David Moyes made a beeline for struggling Michail Antonio after he cost West Ham dear
Four days later Antonio was unplayable as he bullied the Lyon defence and helped Moyes’s side to an epic 3-0 win.
Back in the Premier League against Burnley on Sunday, Antonio was poor again and missed a one-on-one to win the match.
At the start of the season goals were coming easily for Antonio but the longer his drought goes on, the more he overthinks every action when he has a scoring chance.
Moyes could be forgiven for making laying the blame at Antonio’s door and demanding better from his striker.
But the Scot’s brilliant man management skills were highlighted following the frustrating draw with the Clarets.
A photo taken after the final whistle shows Moyes made a beeline for struggling Antonio after he cost West Ham dear.
Antonio was laying on the ground with his hands over his face, clearly distraught at his big miss.
But Hammers boss Moyes went over and picked his struggling striker up off the floor and offered words of encouragement with a pat on the back.
Man management in the modern game is absolutely key.
Timing is everything and if Antonio manages to turn around his dismal form anytime soon don’t underestimate how important this particular moment might have been.
MORE WEST HAM NEWS
World superstar sends spine-tingling video message to Rice over West Ham future.
Blame West Ham owners over Jekyll and Hyde Antonio.
‘Enormous’ Jason Cundy absolutely raves about guilty pleasure West Ham.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
