No West Ham player has so far managed to hit double figures in the Premier League this season, but an observation about Michail Antonio’s recent goalscoring record has Irons supporters on Twitter discussing a permanent position change for the £10.8million-rated star.
That observation was that Antonio’s 38th-minute strike against Leicester at the weekend brought his headed goal-ratio in the top-flight to 60%, something only John Terry has bettered – the Chelsea icon scored 65.9% of his goals through headers.
Three of Antonio’s five league goals this season have also come via his head, with the other two being shared via each foot, and the 29-year-old also opened the scoring against Macclesfield Town in the EFL Cup through a header.
With Marko Arnautovic still without a Premier League goal since bagging a brace against Brighton & Hove Albion in January, and Javier Hernandez last scoring against Huddersfield in the middle of March, it was suggested Antonio should be moved into the centre when we travel to Tottenham on Saturday.
Antonio has only played as the designated centre-forward for 26 of his 357 career games, while supporting the striker on a further 15 occasions, and has found the back of the net eight times when played through the middle.
When the suggestion that he should play in the centre at Spurs was made, this is how some of the London Stadium faithful reacted…
Strikes me that a lot of those goals have involved back-post runs and pinning the opposition fullback, who is invariably weaker than him in the air, while CBs are preoccupied with the actual ST. Think by putting him up front you’d lose more than you gain
— JMS (@JohnMarkSisman) April 22, 2019
Nope not at all. He scores so many headers because he comes in off the wing onto the back post. He has proven that he is not good as a striker
— Ricky Stainton (@stainton153) April 22, 2019
because he can’t shoot with either foot.
— Rob (@Robfruin) April 22, 2019
Not this season maybe pre season, would like to see how a 4-4-2 Antonio , Hernandez would play out ????
— david hayes (@H9520D) April 22, 2019
Disagree.. He is most effective when he is coming in from the back post with a full back isolated so he can overpower them in the air..
— RickyG89 (@Ricky_Gavin) April 22, 2019
Still a non league player in many respects, his decision making can be shocking. Much better when he has little time to think about what he’s doing and playing with instant reactions.
— Kevan McIlroy (@KevanMcIlroy) April 22, 2019
He probably would get more, but his finishing has been pretty woeful half the time so it’s probably not a great idea
— Kye (@kyeffs) April 22, 2019
There’s a reason it’s such a high ratio. He cannot shoot with his feet
— Fake Carlton (@_CarltonCole9) April 22, 2019