OPINION
West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini needs to open his eyes and accept the truth: that Michail Antonio is simply not a right back – not even an auxiliary one.
The Englishman has operated in the position on several occasions this season, filling in for Pablo Zabaleta while Ryan Fredericks has been injured, but if his performance against AFC Wimbledon told us anything it’s that he cannot continue to be played out of position.
The contrast in his performances in the first half, when he was in defence, and the second, when he was in midfield, was absolutely stark. He was woeful in the opening 45 minutes but much improved after the break.
It was Fredericks who occupied the right back slot in his return from injury in the second half, and the gulf in class between him and Antonio at the position was glaring.
One is actually a right back, and the other is an attack-minded winger who is fast turning into a liability when he plays at the back. Yes, his versatility is useful, but not if it’s costing the team.
He really struggled to contain Mitch Pinnock and was repeatedly made to look like silly. Now that Fredericks is back, Antonio cannot continue to be played in the wrong position. He is effective as a winger, he showed that in the second half. Whereas he’s an accident waiting to happen at right back.
Pellegrini would be wise to keep Antonio playing further forward from now until the rest of the season. If any more mishaps befall the team’s right back’s then the Chilean should look to the academy before he risks his team’s success by playing Antonio out of position.
It was made abundantly clear on Saturday that this experiment is over. Antonio is a winger not a right back. If being torn apart by a League One side didn’t convince Pellegrini of that then nothing will.
