Seb Stafford-Bloor has been speaking on the latest edition of The Athletic’s Tifo Podcast about West Ham United’s 1-0 defeat to Everton and other topics from the world of football.
One of the points that he mentioned was the Hammers’ use of Michail Antonio. The 31-year-old came into the match off the back of two goals against Burnley, but according to Stafford-Bloor, David Moyes had Antonio stuck out on the left rather than through the middle where he can impact games.
He said: (39:15) “The only thing I’d say about this other than this season’s going to end disappointingly for West Ham now; is that the way Michail Antonio was used in this game was really strange.
“When I think of him at his best, I think of him as just a massive pain. He scores goals in a lot of different ways. He’s a good, accomplished footballer, good finisher, but if you’re a centre-half, you would absolutely hate playing against him.
“Quick, physical, technically good, scores goals, right-foot, head, left-foot, just a real nuisance. And yet, for most of this game, he just seemed to be stationed out on the left touchline, and it’s really strange; there was no obvious explanation for it.”
Do you think that Moyes made a mistake against Everton?
Yes, he cost us the match
No, the team played poorly
TIF Thoughts on Moyes’ use of Antonio…
Perhaps Moyes saw something in Everton’s defence that led him to this decision with Antonio. Still, after scoring two goals against Burnley playing centrally, you would have thought he would be doing the same thing against the Toffees.
Given that Antonio failed to score and the Hammers lost, it is hard to argue that this was the right call from Moyes, and the result leaves their slim Champions League hopes hanging in the balance.
Attention might have to turn to securing at least a top-six finish, but with Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, and Everton not far behind the Hammers, could they miss out on European football?
We hope not, but we also hope to see Antonio doing what he does best in West Ham’s next game against Brighton & Hove Albion.
In other news: ‘I speak to him on a regular basis’ – BBC pundit reveals details on Moyes at West Ham