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Eggbert Nobacon 9:41 Thu Feb 16
Antonio unsure about new contract (c&p)

Hopefully the "we'll see" is just trying to get the best deal!


Michail Antonio is unsure whether he will sign a new contract at West Ham, but insists his head has not been turned.

Antonio has been exceptional for the Hammers since joining from Nottingham Forest for £7m in September 2015 and was rewarded with an improved four-year deal by the club last July.

Reports in the national press have linked him with a move to Premier League leaders Chelsea, but Sky sources understand West Ham have no intention of selling the 26-year-old winger.

Sky sources also understand Antonio will be offered fresh terms in the summer if he continues his good form into the second half of the season, having scored eight goals this campaign.

"Right now, nothing is really happening on the contract talks," Antonio told Sky Sports News HQ.

"We'll just see how things go. At the moment my head is not being swayed in any way. I just want to play my football and whatever happens happens.

When asked whether he will sign a new deal, Antonio said: "We'll see."

Antonio enjoyed a superb debut season in the Premier League, scoring eight goals in 26 matches as the Hammers finished in seventh place and secured qualification for the Europa League in 2015-16.

He received his first England call-up last September, but did not feature in Sam Allardyce's one, and only, match in charge of the national team - a 1-0 victory away at Slovakia.

Antonio retained his place in the national set-up for the matches against Malta and Slovenia, under then-interim boss Gareth Southgate, but once again did not manage to make an appearance.

He has been a bright point in what has been a turbulent campaign for West Ham - their first at the London Stadium - helping Slaven Bilic's side recover from a dreadful start.

West Ham sit 10th on 32 points after a run of six wins in 10 matches.

13 Brentford Rd 8:49 Sat Feb 18
Re: Antonio unsure about new contract (c&p)

With the move and big talk of "the next level" this is exactly the reason why the club should have been more ambitious in the summer window.
If you try and tread water in this league you actually go backwards as we have, we are in danger of entering a downward spiral unless the owners wake up. It becomes harder to keep your best players and harder to attract the better players.

J.Riddle 8:41 Sat Feb 18
Re: Antonio unsure about new contract (c&p)

Outstanding stats, the owners say we are no longer a selling club I assume our £25m club record sale Payet doesn't count? Payet aside IF the owners were tempted to cash in on Antonio they would most likely get more as he is British, younger and now in the England squad and will set them alight just like he did West Ham if played. Rumours are Chelsea and Man Utd want him.

Selling your best players and anything else not nailed down like football grounds isn't that called Asset Stripping? We will soon find out if we are not a selling club anymore as they claim, I won't hold my breathe.

C&p
Southgate will name his first squad as full-time England manager in a few short weeks, with a host of talented wide midfielders hoping to be included.

One player hoping to wing his way into Southgate’s selection will be West Ham United’s Michail Antonio, who was included in the former Middlesbrough manager’s first caretaker selection in October 2016.

Undeterred, the No30 has missed just one Premier League fixture since then, scored three times and registered five assists in 13 top-flight appearances.

Those statistics are even more impressive when you realise Antonio has featured in four different starting positions in those matches – seven as a right wing-back or midfielder, four as centre forward, one as a second striker and the one as a left wing-back!

A determined and committed player, the 26-year-old never complains with his lot and always gives his all for the team.

As a result, he has become almost indispensable to manager Slaven Bilic, who has named him in his starting XI in 48 of West Ham’s last 49 Premier League matches – a groin injury ruled him out of the London Stadium loss to the Gunners in December 2016.

image: https://www.whufc.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/GettyImages-630542978.jpg

Michail Antonio celebrates his goal against Swansea in December 2016Antonio’s versatility, consistency and availability led to him passing the milestone of 50 Premier League appearances in Saturday’s 2-2 Premier League draw with West Bromwich Albion – eight of which he started as a right-back.

In those half-century of appearances, the south Londoner has scored 16 goals and registered nine assists – including three for winning penalties which were then converted – meaning he has been directly involved in 25 of the 69 Premier League goals the Hammers have scored while he has been on the pitch.

So, with Southgate preparing to pick his first England squad of 2017, how do Antonio’s goal and assist stats stack up against his compatriots? Pretty well, actually.

Only Dele Alli has totalled more goals plus assists (32) than Antonio’s 25, but then the Tottenham Hotspur youngster has started just seven of his last 50 Premier League appearances in a wide position – all on the left side of midfield.

Barring injury, Alli, who has netted 20 goals and chalked up 12 assists in those games, will be in Southgate’s squad – but what about the competition among England’s other wingers?

Well, Liverpool’s Adam Lallana became a regular under Roy Hodgson and started both matches under Southgate in November. He has eleven goals and 13 assists in his last 50 Premier League appearances, so 24 direct goal involvements in total.

Often used as a striker by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, Theo Walcott has 16 goals and six assists (22), while Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling has registered 12 goals and eleven assists (23) in their last 50 top-flight matches.

Ross Barkley of Everton is the only other serious challenge numbers-wise, with nine goals and eleven assists (20) over the same span.

image: https://www.whufc.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/GettyImages-612432364.jpg

Antonio brings the ball under control during training with EnglandAmong the other Englishmen regularly getting their boots covered in chalk are Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain of Arsenal (three goals and six assists) and Nathan Redmond of Southampton (five goals and two assists), but neither have statistics which stack up to Antonio’s.

In case you were wondering, Manchester United youngster Jesse Lingard has played in the Premier League 39 times, scoring four goals and assisting three others.

Clearly even attacking wide players need to contribute more than just score and assist goals, but Antonio’s work-rate, strength and aerial ability add plenty more strings to his footballing bow.

International players need to not only be outstanding ability-wise but, with the ‘squad’ nature of tournament football, also offer versatility and adaptability.

With those factors, and his outstanding statistics, in mind, there is a very good case for Gareth Southgate to name Michail Antonio as the first player (alphabetically) in his pride of Three Lions.


Read more at https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2017/february/18-february/stats-fact-antonio-england#EFjXkIt663hYfIE4.99

Son of Anarchy 5:50 Sat Feb 18
Re: Antonio unsure about new contract (c&p)

Fucking judas cunt.... BOOOOOOOO

chim chim cha boo 5:43 Sat Feb 18
Re: Antonio unsure about new contract (c&p)

He hasn't got the first touch or skill for one of the top clubs?

Ask yourself this then. You are the manager of chelsea and you have to pick either Antonio or Victor Moses. Based on the very good look you got of both players last season, which one would you truthully pick?

It's absolute bollocks about his first touch too. It looks awkward sometimes but that's exactly what he means it to be.

He's the best player we've got, he's English, from London (and it's obvious how important London is for the owners) and if he wanted to go due to being fucked around playing every position bar in goal, I'll be fucking furious. He's not a centre-forward or a defender he's a right-sided midfielder. Put him back there and the goals will come again.

ooooh Morley Morley 6:21 Fri Feb 17
Re: Antonio unsure about new contract (c&p)

Thanks for the update Antonio... can't wait for the next update on this thrilling story.

El Scorchio 6:09 Fri Feb 17
Re: Antonio unsure about new contract (c&p)

I'd be well fucked off if he took a sideways move to a team like Everton, Saints, West Brom, Stoke, Spurs or someone like that.

Can't really begrudge him if Chelsea did indeed come knocking, or another one of those top tier clubs. Don't imagine there's much danger of him going abroad to play so he's got limited options. Maybe he wants to be reunited with Payet at Marseille ;)

So let's just hope he doesn't want out just for the sake of leaving West Ham.

Side of Ham 6:04 Fri Feb 17
Re: Antonio unsure about new contract (c&p)

Joe Royal = Uncle Buck.

BIL-I-AM 5:54 Fri Feb 17
Re: Antonio unsure about new contract (c&p)

joe royal 9:42 Thu Feb 16

He's also got a house in Bramhall, Stockport and at least one of his kids goes to school there

wd40 3:57 Fri Feb 17
Re: Antonio unsure about new contract (c&p)

Make him captain sign him up for ten years never play him at right back again .


Sorted.

claret on my shirt 10:49 Thu Feb 16
Re: Antonio unsure about new contract (c&p)

Eerie Descent 9:50 Thu Feb 16

Totally agree with you

Eerie Descent 9:50 Thu Feb 16
Re: Antonio unsure about new contract (c&p)

He is not good enough to play regularly for a team battling for the league title every season.

He is at the perfect club for him right now, if he leaves, we'll get a chunk of money, and he'll play a lot less for whatever club he goes to.

Not knocking him, been great for us, he makes things happen, but if the goals dry up, he's not the greatest footballer to lace a pair of boots up.

joe royal 9:42 Thu Feb 16
Re: Antonio unsure about new contract (c&p)

BIL-I-AM 11:31 Thu Feb 16
Re: Antonio unsure about new contract (c&p)
The only worrying thing for me is that he has a house up north and that's where his family are based - including his kids (he seems to commute quite a bit)


He has a flat in lime house and is shagging one of my nieces friends.

He's got 3 kids.

East Auckland Hammer 8:44 Thu Feb 16
Re: Antonio unsure about new contract (c&p)

So he signed a 4 year contract in July (7 months ago) and he's already being questioned about a new contract?

That's ridiculous.

NEVER SAY DIE 8:24 Thu Feb 16
Re: Antonio unsure about new contract (c&p)

Raymond Reddington 1:59 Thu Feb 16

Yeah the same Jinxed that's still battering the broken promises drum for Payet, a player that went back to a shit club stuck in the middle of Ligue 1 that hardly own any of the shit players already in their squad. I wonder what Marseille promised him.

Lertie Button 7:44 Thu Feb 16
Re: Antonio unsure about new contract (c&p)

If he goes at least that gives us another opportunity to buy a trio of right wingers this summer again.
Easier than sorting out the right back question or buying a couple of 30 games a season strikers

J.Riddle 6:13 Thu Feb 16
Re: Antonio unsure about new contract (c&p)

d'Or

J.Riddle 6:12 Thu Feb 16
Re: Antonio unsure about new contract (c&p)

I blame the owners, had they put their hand in their sky rocket and brought in a half decent manager that knows the best place to play a right winger is yes on the right wing while providing Antonio the best chance of representing his country.

Our Ballon D'or nominated world class best player gone, now our second best player and top goal scorer could be off..but it's ok we are no longer a selling team..those days are long gone... oh..

Texas Iron 2:56 Thu Feb 16
Re: Antonio unsure about new contract (c&p)

Hope he starts scoring again...we need his goals...

Willtell 2:44 Thu Feb 16
Re: Antonio unsure about new contract (c&p)

I'd bet a £1 to a 1p that he's more chance of being a top 6 footballer than you Lertie...

Lertie Button 2:43 Thu Feb 16
Re: Antonio unsure about new contract (c&p)

No more a top 6 player than I am, have an instinctive dislike of players with fat arses anyway.

New Jersey 2:19 Thu Feb 16
Re: Antonio unsure about new contract (c&p)

He hasn't got the first touch or the awareness for the top six and I suspect that is why Southgate is reluctant to give him a try.

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