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Alan 4:07 Mon Aug 31
Michail Antonio

Reports he's on his way in (£7M bid accepted). Looks a bit of a star

Antonio

Looks like he'd be handy to waste a few minutes at the end of a game too

Nice ball retention


A mixed view of him from a Forest fan:-

"Antonio is big, fast and very direct. He's an excellent finisher and really good in the air.

On the downside, he's incredibly raw. Sometimes his control is laughable and his main "knock it past the defender and then beat him for pace and strength" tactic will be less effective in the Premier League. For a winger he can't really play on the touchline and his crossing is no better than OK.

I'd see him as less of an orthodox winger and more of a wide forward, I think he has what it takes to be successful in the right team and I think West Ham is probably a good spot for him - he's a local boy for you (I think he's from Stratford) and he's not a player who goes missing even when he's not having a great game, so I think the crowd will like him."

Spacer

Mr Kenzo 11:44 Mon Jul 20
Re: Michail Antonio

Whilst he has been excellent since the lockdown, prior to that, I've seen him miss a fair few chances and blazing the ball over by quite some distance, which to me is not clinical enough to be a Striker.

Sniper 11:30 Mon Jul 20
Re: Michail Antonio

Great last paragraph in the OP sums it up quite nicely doesn’t it?

If only we’d had a proper right back in the payet season and played Antonio in his preferred role further forward...

I live the guy. Gives his all, creates problems, always running, always willing, never shys away. He must be a nightmare to defend against and mark. Shame for him that it’s perhaps too late for finally getting an england cap now, but he bloody deserves one. He’s exactly the kind of player the national team needs in a match day squad

whu4eva 8:08 Mon Jul 20
Re: Michail Antonio

Really think we can play him in a 4 - 5 - 1 as an attacking midfielder... You see how Mane, Salah etc all move around and there's no reason we can't do the same with Haller as the pivot / link

In defensive positions, Haller swaps with Antonio so we can use him as a counter threat (along with Bowen and Diangana) with speed / strength and Haller uses his aerial ability (lacks pace for the counter)

Soucek and Rice to dominate the middle and pull the strings

Texas Iron 7:22 Sun Jul 19
Re: Michail Antonio

Since the shutdown he's been playing and scoring like the original Brazilian Ronaldo...

Texas Iron 7:22 Sun Jul 19
Re: Michail Antonio

Since the shutdown he's been playing and scoring like the original Brazilian Ronaldo...

Razzman 6:11 Sun Jul 19
Re: Michail Antonio

He's also better than fredericks, Fuk so am I

Swiss. 5:13 Sun Jul 19
Re: Michail Antonio

Not sure he's be happy told not to play as a centre forward now. And probably is a better position than him playing wide.

And of course our 3rd choice RB :-)

Joe C 11:34 Sun Jul 19
Re: Michail Antonio

His car is in the air
His car is crashing into your drive
Dressed as a snowman though
Michail Antonio

Willtell 10:16 Sun Jul 19
Re: Michail Antonio

Correct Tex.
And what's more Haller has started to throw some weight around and battle for the ball rather than be the lightweight CF he was under Pellegrini.

I expect Moyes has told him some truths and told him to watch what Antonio does while sat on the bench...

Texas Iron 5:30 Sun Jul 19
Re: Michail Antonio

Btw...
Haller almost scored on his last 2 games...
Great strikes...well saved...

Coffee 4:53 Sun Jul 19
Re: Michail Antonio

Darby, agree with that.

Capitol Man 4:51 Sun Jul 19
Re: Michail Antonio

He’s been pretty much the only player who has consistently been about the only player to worry defenders - well, until the past few games.

Darby_ 4:26 Sun Jul 19
Re: Michail Antonio

Now that we’re effectively safe, I’d like to see him play the rest of the season up front with Haller in a 4-4-2.

Since Haller alone up front doesn’t seem to work, it’s worth seeing if Antonio can be transformed into a striker, Arnie style.

Dudley Moore 12:59 Sun Jul 19
Re: Michail Antonio

I admit that amid interest from Palace *spits* a couple of seasons ago, I was all for him being sold off and the £15m mentioned being spent on an upgrade, but he has improved so much over the last couple of seasons.

If he’d not been injured this season, we’d have comfortably been mid table.

VirginiaHam 12:32 Sun Jul 19
Re: Michail Antonio

It's a worry; he's Mister Angry, and our GBP45m signing isn't. Haller can't get picked ahead of Antonio, and Haller does not function well as a single striker.

Do we diminish Antonio's strengths and accommodate Haller in a 4-4-2?

gank 12:13 Sun Jul 19
Re: Michail Antonio

Hard to disagree with either side of this view, so we would need to name a few realistic centre forward targets first then be prepared to play Antonio elsewhere. Or ideally, sign someone to play off Haller to get the best out of both of them and have our best formation showing Antonio being a versatile option from the bench, not starting out of position with all of us crossing our fingers he can be our saviour!

gph 12:07 Sun Jul 19
Re: Michail Antonio

He is currently the best centre forward at the club, and I really don't want him replaced by someone whose label says "centre forward" but is worse at the job.

eusebiovic 11:56 Sat Jul 18
Re: Michail Antonio

Better players come, go and stagnate here while picking up their wages but whenever Antonio has been 100% fit he has never let us down. It was only that 18 month spell with muscular injuries that dragged him down.

I like him

VickyPkVillageIdiot 11:44 Sat Jul 18
Re: Michail Antonio

Antonio’s a better centre forward than he is winger.

fraser 11:34 Sat Jul 18
Re: Michail Antonio

Agree with fifth

Fifth Column 11:29 Sat Jul 18
Re: Michail Antonio

I love him.

I don't want him upfront next season. I want an actual centre forward and Antonio playing wide or playing off the CF

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