Michail Antonio's decline has been sad to see since a series of injuries saw him rushed back too soon and seemingly always one stretch away from another twang. Where is the player who was great in the last season at the Boleyn under Bilic and scored eight times in the first half of the 2016-17 season?
I left the City game thinking he'd had a bad game, having missed West Ham's two best chances, but looking back at it he did some good work as well, finding Arnautovic for a good chance in the first half and then sending over a great cross that Arnie headed over in the second half. And there was no denying that he kept trying throughout. He's also created a couple of goals recently, chesting it down for Hernandez to score against Burnley and firing in a shot that rebounded to Anderson for the equaliser at Huddersfield.
On the negative side, once Antonio scored regularly with his head but he seems to have stopped getting his headers in now. While there's also the debate about whether he will ever get back his full pace. Would a goal make all the difference? Had his effort that hit the post against City gone in he might have regained his confidence. Pellegrini clearly sees something in him, but if Palace come in with a bid in January he will have to decide if Antonio is simply lacking in confidence and worth persevering with.
2 comments:
Really tough call there Pete. I don't know the answer.
I like Antonio he does cover the ground and bust a gut chasing to get in good positions.
As you say scoring would do his confidence the world of good, he is not an out and out striker for sure but I would review his performance at the end of the season, injury is the bit threat but I think it is worth persevering with him. COYI
Feel sorry for him Rob as he's trying but it's just not going his way. Hopefully he can get his old pace back and start to score some headers. Unless the Bilic season was just a one-off. COYI
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