“No longer deserve to start” Journalist Blast fans favorite costing the HAMMERS points drop off revealing player shouldn’t kick the ball for West Ham again after a stinker.
In a recent article for *The Athletic* on September 16, a journalist expressed that 34-year-old Michail Antonio “no longer deserves” to be West Ham’s first-choice striker following his underwhelming start to the season.
Manager Julen Lopetegui has opted to start the Jamaican international in all four Premier League matches so far, but Antonio has yet to find the back of the net under his new boss.
Meanwhile, Danny Ings came off the bench to secure a late equalizer in stoppage time during West Ham’s 1-1 draw with Fulham over the weekend. Additionally, the Hammers invested £25 million in Niclas Fullkrug, who was signed from Borussia Dortmund this summer [Florian Plettenberg, August 2].
While Antonio has been a key figure for West Ham in recent seasons, especially under David Moyes, the team’s significant summer spending of over £100 million suggests it might be time for a change up front. Antonio, originally a wing-back, has been a reliable source of goals over the years, but with his goal-scoring form declining and being the oldest of Lopetegui’s three forwards over 30, questions about his starting role have arisen.
Despite being frequently linked with a transfer away [The Athletic], it’s surprising that Antonio not only remains at the club but continues to start this season.
West Ham’s mixed results at the beginning of the campaign have somewhat dampened the optimism following the transfer window. Lopetegui’s hesitance to fully integrate new signings has drawn comparisons to Moyes’ cautious approach.
Adding to the dilemma is Jhon Duran’s impressive start to the season after failing to secure a move to West Ham [James Nursey, July 22], which has raised expectations. Fullkrug, who has made three late substitute appearances in the Premier League and started one Carabao Cup game before suffering an injury, is still seen as a better option to lead the attack than Antonio once fully fit.
Ings, after his late goal heroics, may also have made a strong case for a starting spot against Chelsea next week, although consistency will be key for him after a disappointing 18 months at the club.