A number of West Ham United supporters have been reacting with scorn following Michail Antonio’s comments about wanting to rediscover his earlier form at the club.
The senior midfielder told the club’s official website: “I am determined to get back to the form I showed in my first two seasons here. I think I proved myself during that time but at the end of the 2016/17 season I got injured, then I got more injuries through the whole of last season, so it’s about getting myself back and getting my fitness and going on from there.”
Given the player’s current inconsistent form, Hammers fans have understandably reacted poorly to his comments, many of them actually advocating his departure.
Forever West Ham has rounded up some of the best tweets below.
Determined but not capable.
— Timmy Gummesson (@gummessontimmy) September 12, 2018
Sell him asap
— West Ham Italy (@martelliditalia) September 12, 2018
https://twitter.com/larryberyl/status/1039817885227642880
https://twitter.com/edhyde13/status/1039810828625735680
We need to sell him immediately
— J (@veryupsetfan) September 12, 2018
First two seasons??? 1 season more like
— LDN_Raiders1993 (@LetsGoStarsUK93) September 12, 2018
https://twitter.com/georgebyer_/status/1039801900496039936
https://twitter.com/IronsManJP/status/1039848315305828352
OPINION
It’s quite surprising to see the West Ham fans turn on their own player like this just because he said he wanted to rediscover his old form. Isn’t that what he should be saying? Obviously they’re frustrated with current results but Antonio isn’t solely to blame and he’s looking to get back to his best. Clearly the timing could have been better for these comments to come out – losing four in a row in the Premier League will do that – but he’s not saying anything wrong here. Surely it’s a good thing for West Ham if he can rediscover the form of his second season at the club, that could only help the team improve results. This is probably just a result of the fans’ anger at the team’s terrible start. Antonio hasn’t been good, but he’s certainly not been one of the worst offenders either, and Hammers supporters should be encouraging his quest to get better not ridiculing it.
