Antonio: can we do any better?

[camel-with-3-humps]

"Let's be honest, he's poor frequently nowadays. So many attacks break down on his clumsy play. Questions: Should he stay in the team? If not, what are the options?"

[scott_d]

"There is no “who will replace him” problem. There is nothing to replace because he doesn’t offer us anything any more. He goes down so easy for a player who is supposed to bully defenders. His pace is for nothing if his end product is invariably wasteful. Mubama, Ings would achieve more than Antonio and at least on Mubama’s case he would get some valuable premier league experience. But we’re wasting our time. Antonio has been worse than this for longer spells in the past and Moyes still wouldn’t drop him."

[Steady]

Imagine how good we’d be with Toney instead of Antonio. His performance against Villa at times was like watching a Sunday league player

[aldgate]

"moyes has been responsible for jordan hugill and danny ings so i'd hope he's kept away from the next striker decision. i'd say a proper manager would get a tune out of our squad even playing a false nine, moyes not so much as we look to bang balls up to isolated strikers who can't hold it up while our technically better players are played out of position to accommodate soucek who often contributes about as much as a corner flag"

[zico]

"Problem is who do we get in after all our foray into the market with Haller, Scamacca and Ings hasn't worked out. They aren't bad players but they certainly aren't he hard working, pacey lone striker type."

[the exile]

After his excellent finishes against Brighton and Chelsea I had high hopes that he was re-energised for this season but that has turned into a heap of horseshit. He has been truly awful the last few games. Basically it has become urgent that we sign a striker in January and we have to hope that Steidten does the business.

[bigfrank]

It is like only having 10 men on the pitch at times with Antonio. He has been a good servant but he has run his course. Surely ings or mubama can't do any worse. This is also down to moyes persisting with his favourites.

[Sir Alf]

His race is run at Prem level. He relies to pace and strength but that will decline at 33/34. He could be useful as an impact sub out wide once Steidten forces Moyes to accept that we need a striker or Steidten pushes Moyes out the door somehow

[Dr Matt]

Swap Watkins and Antonio yesterday and we’d have won 3-1 or 4-1. Twice Watkins broke down the left on the counter and they scored twice. About twelve times Antonio did and the next touch was invariably a Villa player. It was utterly horrendous.

[Ron Eff]

"I do enjoy Moyes saying how we looked at this striker or that striker. Latest one being Watkins. Previously Toney and Julian Alvarez. He decided against them though, because he can’t find anyone better and has no conviction to take a chance on someone."

[LeroysBoots]

"There was an attack in the first half when things looked promising in terms of numbers. Antonio had it but he could not get it out to Bowen, barely had any pace on his pass, straight to a defender who tried springing a counter attack He is fucked, can't run, looks lazy, can't pass, can't finish Why do we persist with the cսnt ?"

[Side of Ham]

We need a Bellamy/Tevez annoyance up top and then they need to be passed to accurately so they can be something to defend against so any high lines teams are pegged back a bit.

[threesixty]

"I just think he is losing that extra bit of pace and muscle power that got him into scoring positions. He was never a 1 in 2, more like a 1 in 5 striker. But he used to just bully defenders and push through when you wouldn't expect it. Its sad, but I feel that a lot of his success was just down to his energy and how unorthodox his playing style is. As for him being wide, I do remember him saying. that Moyes told him to be in line with the ball rather than central. So he doesn't really take up an orthodox strikers position anyway. Unlike Watkins where he's told to conserve your energy and just be central. But thats mainly because Watkins will get his goals through sheer accuracy and ability. His shot against Areloa with his left foot is unstoppable. Getting done on your inside as a keeper is only bad if someone is close and doesn't stick it in the top corner at 100mph! It's strange but the way we play now I think would suit the Hallers and Scamaca's a bit more. Also I dont see all this Bowen as a no.9 stuff. Too one footed, Doesn't really make the type or runs needed for that position either. I just dont see it. Need a dedicated striker."

[zico]

"What was baffling to me is how many times he drifted over to the left and then tried to pass or cross with his left foot, of which he doesn't have! Not sure if it was deliberate to allow Paqueta to come inside but Watkins has started scoring since Emery told him to stay around the penalty area rather than getting involved in play and drifting wide. Antonio is best when a ball is played over the top or him to chase but every time Paqueta looked up Antonio was on the left wing! As said below Arnautovic, like Antonio at his best suits our style of play but Haller, Scamacca and Ings don't. Surely as a manager you can see that. Antonio allegedly wanted out pre season, he is 33, the club needs to seriously replace and in the meantime give Muamba a go."

[zico]

"What was baffling to me is how many times he drifted over to the left and then tried to pass or cross with his left foot, of which he doesn't have! Not sure if it was deliberate to allow Paqueta to come inside but Watkins has started scoring since Emery told him to stay around the penalty area rather than getting involved in play and drifting wide. Antonio is best when a ball is played over the top or him to chase but every time Paqueta looked up Antonio was on the left wing! As said below Arnautovic, like Antonio at his best suits our style of play but Haller, Scamacca and Ings don't. Surely as a manager you can see that. Antonio allegedly wanted out pre season, he is 33, the club needs to seriously replace and in the meantime give Muamba a go."

[Texas Iron]

Playing for Jamaica and long distance travel doing us no favours… And he’s hardly ever played well against even 3rd tier teams in CONCACAF

[ray winstone]

"He was dogshit yesterday, Villa defenders were only troubled when Bowen had the ball at his feet. I've seen better centre forwards over Orsett Heath on a Sunday morning."

[Mad Dog]

"Lee trundle. If only we had an actual number 10. I dunno, maybe the one that plays there for fucking Brazil. But nah, let's shunt him out Wide just to accommodate soucek"

[Fauxstralian]

First replace Moyes and then find a suitable striker for the 21st century Emery (who WE should have chased last Oct when Gerrard was replaced) seems to have got a tune out of Watkins so players ARE available. Just need a talent and system that works ps We should have tried for Watkins instead of Benrahma from Brentford but thats another matter

[boleyn8420]

"Can we do any better. My old mum who's 87 would put more fucking effort in. As loads have already said he is meant to be the lone 'striker' but plays on the left wing, crossing to who exactly, only he cant fucking cross a ball to save his life. Time was up a while ago, just like the fucking managers"

[Lee Trundle]

"""Like Soucek, who played 10 passes and complete 8, we are shit because we are effectively playing with 9 men."" I know Soucek has scored in a couple of games recently, but he's he's fucking useless as a number 10."

[Pedro]

He spent most of the time wide on the left which was bizarre yesterday. He won’t score from there and can’t cross the ball.

[collyrob]

It’s not just his goal return. His general play is shit. He thinks he’s better than he is. Can barely make small simple passes. Horrendous technique. He’s so selfish as well. Him and his cringey podcast can both fuck off.

[Side of Ham]

IT WOULD JUST BE NICE TO JUDGE A STRIKER WHEN HE HAS NO EXCUSES ABOUT THE SERVICE HE GETS‚Ķ..MOYES YOU cսnt.

[grasshopper]

TS is already looking for his replacement. Ings will also most likely be shipped out in January.

[,]

"Not just Antonio but also Haller and Scamacca Moyes has failed to get a tune out of. We need to go back to Arnautovic to find a striker that Moyes employed to reasonable effect. Right now, the way we play, putting Olly Watkins in our team would see him deteriorate rather than us improve."