✍️ Welcome Michail Antonio

[hammerman11]

at least he is looking as though he will be back before xmas which is good news. we certainly miss him !
would like to see Holland given a chance and a place on the bench. he is a winger and has some pace, fornals doesn't !

[YorksHammer]

For what it's worth - and I suspect these aren't particularly in the know or anything - the Guardian match preview for last weekend had him due back after this international break (October 19th), which seemed remarkably soon. Unless the injury wasn't as severe as initially anticipated and he's rehabbed well?

Same thing had Fabianski down as an 'unknown' return date, while Reid was due back on October 19th too.

[hammerman11]

If Antonio is back by 19th then we should treat him very carefully and give him a few weeks training before his comeback. we don't need him breaking down again.

maybe a sub for the Newcastle game on the 2nd November at best. we need him for the next 6 months not 6 weeks.

[mumbles87]

Whilst I agree we should let him heel properly and fully, particularly after how we’ve rushed him back before. However let’s not pretend most of our other other options are as a good, if we had a fit Antonio right now I think Anderson’s place would be under pressure.

If we’d Antonio on the bench at the weekend, I doubt we’d have lost, in fact I think we’d have won. We just ambled through the second half, Antonio whilst frustrating at times often sparks us in to life.

What would that win cost us tho? Another 6 months sidelined due to rushing him back

We have a decent squad

Plenty of youth aswell, Holland could grab his chance

[stu1]

What would that win cost us tho? Another 6 months sidelined due to rushing him back

We have a decent squad

Plenty of youth aswell, Holland could grab his chance

In my post I said we shouldn’t rush him back. I’m not suggesting he should have somehow been involved at the weekend, just highlighting his value.

I’d be shocked if he back before mid Nov at the earliest, I’ve tore my hamstring before and it was by far the muscle injury I’ve ever experienced. The next time I played 12 weeks later I pulled it again and I was only about 23 at the time, so certainly not an injury you want to rush.

[Cuenca 'ammer]

not like he hasn't had previous:

17/18 Hamstring Injury Mar 31, 2018 Aug 10, 2018 132 days 8
17/18 Calf Problems Dec 23, 2017 Feb 2, 2018 41 days 10
17/18 Bruised Rib Oct 20, 2017 Nov 28, 2017 39 days 6
16/17 Hamstring Injury Apr 8, 2017 Aug 10, 2017 124 days 7
16/17 Hamstring Injury Mar 18, 2017 Apr 4, 2017 17 days 2
16/17 Groin Strain Nov 30, 2016 Dec 11, 2016 11 days 3
12/13 Groin Injury Mar 16, 2013 Jun 1, 2013 77 days 10

[Softhammer]

The guy was an absolute monster today. I still have faith in the team as long as he is in it and Roberto is far away from it.

[claretnblueglasses]

As woeful as we have been recently, if Antonio and Fabianski had been fit for the last seven games we would certainly be a lot better off.

[Crouchend_Hammer]

As woeful as we have been recently, if Antonio and Fabianski had been fit for the last seven games we would certainly be a lot better off.

A tremendous cameo.
Shame Diop had another meltdown on dealing with a cross to make it 3-0 as Antonio might have turned a 2-0 defecit around on his own

[Mikloskosglovebag]

Always the most effective player in the team. Love him to bits.

[Eggs'n'nuts]

Always the most effective player in the team. Love him to bits.

Definitely was today. Almost dragged us back into that single handedly. Admittedly I didn't see the first half, but he seemed to lift the team as soon as he came on.

[Diogenes]

Nice to see him back.

[reo_coker20]

Our best player today

[mumbles87]

What would that win cost us tho? Another 6 months sidelined due to rushing him back

We have a decent squad

Plenty of youth aswell, Holland could grab his chance

Yes rush him back asap!!!!!!!! Best player today by a country Mile

[johnnyb]

Definitely was today. Almost dragged us back into that single handedly. Admittedly I didn't see the first half, but he seemed to lift the team as soon as he came on.

You didn't see the first half? Are you always that lucky?

[Crouchend_Hammer]

It says something when our most effective and important player is someone we purchased for £7m from the Championship 6 years ago!

A diamond in the rough is Iron Mike

[WestHamIFC]

It says something when our most effective and important player is someone we purchased for £7m from the Championship 6 years ago!

A diamond in the rough is Iron Mike

And yet he's constantly sl@gged off on here, people wanting him sold, saying he can't play football. I don't understand which games they are watching??

[The Old Man of Storr]

And yet he's constantly sl@gged off on here, people wanting him sold, saying he can't play football. I don't understand which games they are watching??

There's at least 7 players in our squad better technically but none better at making things happen , worked his socks off after coming on and inspired those around him , hope he stays fit as he's the only player capable of turning Pellegrini's season around .

[Boooogers!]

Antonio is my favourite west ham player

[goa127]

Could Iron mike demonstrate to haller how you hold the ball up, because he did it brilliantly late on. Should start next week in place of Anderson or even Haller