Michail Antonio has been anything other than consistent during his four years in Claret and Blue, but fan account West Ham News has suggested the 28-year-old is looking like he’s back to his best.
Their words have generated a fair bit of feedback on Twitter, with fans all pointing out one glaring issue with the versatile attacker’s game. His shooting.
Since moving to East London from Nottingham Forest, it was only his first two campaigns that he managed to score close to double figures – finding the target nine times apiece in 2015/16 and ‘16/17.
Injuries, of course, took their toll on the Wandsworth-born winger in his third year with us, and he faced a fight to re-establish his presence in the side after becoming nothing more than a fringe star.
He has since reclaimed a spot under Manuel Pellegrini, though, but has only offered glimpses that he has started to get somewhere close to those early years again.
His four goals for the term have been spread throughout his 27 appearances, and yet his shooting numbers per game are on par with his more prolific seasons – Antonio registered 2.4 shots per 90 minutes in his first year with us, compared to 2.6 this season, with his shots from inside the box also down.
The accuracy of his efforts also played a key part in the constructive criticism he received in response to West Ham News’ praise…
I really like him, but he can be really frustrating, he needs to polish up on his shooting, he could actually be as good as sterling with the right manager
— ⚒ Paul greed ⚒ (@paul_greed) March 24, 2019
I just don’t want him shooting from outside the box
— barrie senior (@barritelli) March 24, 2019
He’s like a pinball machine with the ball!
— James at Large (@isafitzzz) March 24, 2019
Or just shooting with his foot.
— Tee Jay Bee ???? (@The_King_T_) March 25, 2019
Hes no where near 1st season material.
1st season played RB and commit to helping the team anyway possible
Now he demands to play in roles he wants to play in and he shoots from anywhere instead of thinking of the best option for the team.
Hes is not the same player
— James Hughes Ⓜ️ (@Jeay88) March 25, 2019
Average. I agree with some of the others here.
Awful touch. Can’t shoot. Gasses like a poorly conditioned boxer probably because of his muscle mass. Seems nervous at times when he has the ball and passes when the better option is to open his legs and use his speed.— Gav⚒ (@Gav_6717) March 25, 2019
Got to love Antonio, looks back to his best, with some big work on his shooting he could become even better for us! Don’t want to see him go that’s for sure
— Brad Palmer (@Mr_BA6) March 25, 2019
Well because you can buy players who work just as hard as him, who are younger, and even better when they shoot at the goal it doesn’t hit the corner post. If he’s already had one injury plagued season there’s a good chance it will happen again.
— Rhys Towse (@RhysTowse) March 25, 2019
Needs some shooting coaching tbh. It’s all very well running at defences but if you fire all your shots in to row z it defeats the object a bit.
— deano (@dean_deano88) March 25, 2019
Get his boots on the right feet will do for a start ⚒????????
— peter hitchen (@the2inchtrojan) March 24, 2019