You won’t believe the jaw-dropping target Michail Antonio has just set himself at West Ham.
Michail Antonio started the season as West Ham United’s main striker once again.
West Ham signed Michail Antonio from Nottingham Forest way back in the summer of 2015 for around £7 million
Michail Antonio actually could have left West Ham in the summer after Gremio made a £500k bid for him, but Julen Lopetegui wanted to keep him.
The 34-year-old was determined to keep his spot as the main striker for the Hammers, after Lopetegui brought Niclas Fullkrug to the London Stadium in the summer.
Antonio got lucky when the German suffered an injury whilst away on international duty.
However, he’s hardly grasped that opportunity with both hands has he.
Antonio could still be a very useful option for the Hammers, but there’s no way he should be a regular starter for us in my opinion.
And that’s what makes his latest comments so surprising.
You won’t believe target Michail Antonio set himself at West Ham
Antonio has scored 67 Premier League goals already. He is our highest scorer in Premier League history, although he isn’t in the top 10 all found.
Micky has 33 Premier League assists to his name for the Hammers as well – just six short of former Hammers skipper Mark Noble.
The Jamaica international now has a quite incredible goal in mind.
He told WHUFC.com about his plans for the future at the London Stadium.
Antonio said, “I have loved my time at West Ham, even when I was playing right-back! We’ve had some amazing times, saying goodbye to the Boleyn Ground and then moving into London Stadium and having some big success in Europe, winning the Conference League.”
“I’m so proud to have played a big part in those moments and to have reached 100 Premier League goals and assists. Getting to 100 Premier League goals is going to be tough, but I want to set a number that will be really hard to catch and break Mark Noble’s record for Premier League assists and I’m only a few behind, so Nobes, I’m coming for you!”
Wow, if there’s one thing that Antonio can’t be accused of it’s a lack of ambition!
Michail Antonio has his work cut-out
The 34-year-old is well past his best already.
In fact, his regression over the past 12 months has been painful to watch.
Antonio seems to have lost the one thing that made him so difficult to defend against – his raw and explosive pace.
The former Nottingham Forest man has been really poor for the Hammers so far this season – even his assist on Saturday came from a terribly mis-hit shot.
I believe that if West Ham are to succeed over the next few years, it will be pivotal for us to move on from Michail Antonio, as harsh as that sounds.
He’s been brilliant for us over the past nine years, but his time at the top level has come to an end.
And I would be truly shocked if he reaches 100 Premier League goals for West Ham.