✍️ Welcome Michail Antonio

[funky chicken]

I’d be judging the player we saw prior to the crash just as much as the player he is once he makes a full recovery and in my personal view he was looking past his best and I would have decided against offering Micky an extension. If I felt like that before his horrific crash, I find it rather optimistic to believe he’ll be any better after all the injuries he’s had to overcome.

It would be easier letting him go in the summer should he recover before the end of the season to at least feature in 2-4 of the remaining fixtures, as you can then say to the player we gave him a chance and just felt they were no longer at the required level, should his performances not look convincing. As opposed to helping him recover and just when his moral is in a much better place shoot him straight back down by booting him out the club just like that, because he’s not just any player, he’s very much a club legend in my eyes and deserves to be looked after, after the last decade of good service to the club.

I hope the club doesn’t cry poverty and then at the same time give a charitable contract out to a player who may well offer us nothing next season. Either deem he’s deserving of a new contract as you believe he can contribute something to the squad, or thank him for his services and support him in his efforts to find a new club. I’d even be more than happy for him to continue training at Rush Green until he finds a new club.

After all these years of service, it’s disappointing the club hasn’t agreed to do a testimonial for Micky yet, as I believe he can have one now. Same for Cressy.

[DublinDave]

A testimonial would cost the club far too much money.
We'd have to pay a huge sum to book the stadium.
Another downside to not owning our own ground.

[norse]

Off topic, but the club could use Victoria Road for testimonials. I know it's small, but it's better than nothing

[I am Legend]

A testimonial would cost the club far too much money.
We'd have to pay a huge sum to book the stadium.
Another downside to not owning our own ground.

It will be another sad day the day West Ham can't show appreciation for long serving players to this club.

Cresswell is 4 months off 11 years at West Ham.
Antonio is 6 months off from 10 years.

Both need a testimonial. We owe it to them. Need to show players, youth and the fans how important it is to be loyal.

[Dieter Eckstein]

If we gave him an extra year on a lower salary, in return for being a bit part player/sub, I'd be more than happy. I think there is still a bit of room for sentiment in football, to be honest. I'd rather see Antonio in a West Ham shirt again than count the beans and see us pay part of a player I've probably never hear of's wages with the money. The club spent enough years trying to replace him, then realising how much they needed him when the replacements were rubbish. One season of him needing us more than we need him wouldn't bother me, after what he's done for the club over the past 10 years.

[Late of the Boleyn]

I apologise if this comes across as harsh, but...

I hope he plays again, but if it is for West Ham, I will be disappointed.

You cannot give someone who is acknowledged to be a fading force a new deal simply because he decided to wrap his Ferrari around a tree. The club should be run like a business, not a charity.

Decided to? I apologise if this comes across as harsh, but...

you're an idiot.

[SullySpecial]

Decided to? I apologise if this comes across as harsh, but...

you're an idiot.

Great. Now look what you have gone and done; you have bruised my feelings.

[Late of the Boleyn]

Sorry.

[bonzosbeard]

I love the man, and glad he is so optimistic.

I'm no expert at all on anatomy or leg breaks but saying bone was smashed doesn't sound good, nor the physio comments about insurance.

However, if he could prove doubters wrong and make it back I will be delighted for him and us.

It's a target for him to aim at and glad he feels the club have supported him.

And by look of the car we are lucky he is here.

[Ironing Board]

I mean, isn’t he on a big wage? If he’s out of contract it’s a very expensive way to show support. It’s not like he’s skint!

[Southminster Hammer]

This has to be on a business/football decision imo, I don't think we should give him a contract, because I don't think he can play premier league level consistently anymore, father time catches up with us all, and having a 35yr old striker in our squad isn't good. Obviously I wish all the best for his future, he's been a great signing.

[I am Legend]

If he doesn't have another job lined up, It would be good to offer him a 6 month - 1 year contract for next season on a lower wage. Get him to his 10 year testimonial (6 months off) and gives him time to get fit any healthy at the club. Probably wouldn't play much if at all.

On the wages he is on now, that would be a bad business decision for those who's job it is to make them.

[CarltonColesLeftFoot]

I mean, isn’t he on a big wage? If he’s out of contract it’s a very expensive way to show support. It’s not like he’s skint!

Thats assuming we extend it on exactly the same terms.

I can't speak on behalf of everyone but I also agree with a contract extension to reward the loyalty, but I feel like it goes without saying not on the same wage that we pay him today.

Naturally depends on the extent of the injury, I also selfishly wouldnt object to see him carve out a career at Dagenham & Redbridge for a few years.

[Cuenca 'ammer]

"My leg was completely shattered and they got me out and put a splint on it by the side of the car.

"I shattered my femur bone in four different places," he says. "I had one single keyhole surgery. They put a pole in my thigh with four bolts, so screws and bolts to knit it back together. Overall, they say it will be between six to 12 months before my leg starts healing properly."

now I'm no surgeon but if he manages to walk without a limp for the rest of his life THAT would be a miracle in itself. I also presume they will have to take that pole out when the bone is "healed" so more surgery. or if not, how the hell he's going to be able to run with a pole in his thigh to his femur I don't know.

but as I have said, I'm no surgeon.

[mushy]

I get what you're saying but I think that's a bit of a shame. We have Ings and Mic out of contract in the summer and I know which of the two I would renew if it came to it.

The one with two legs that work? (albeit slowly).

[mushy]

now I'm no surgeon but if he manages to walk without a limp for the rest of his life THAT would be a miracle in itself. I also presume they will have to take that pole out when the bone is "healed" so more surgery. or if not, how the hell he's going to be able to run with a pole in his thigh to his femur I don't know.

but as I have said, I'm no surgeon.

Cuenca, you don't need to be a surgeon to work out that it's highly unlikely that he will ever play top class football again.
I'd be very surprised if West Ham offer him another contract, sadly we're not a very compassionate club these days.

[Cuenca 'ammer]

mush

I don't know if there are many clubs that can afford to be charitable these days, let's not forget that FFP comes up all of the time. ANY salary added into the accounts comes out against FFP. so that's less money available elsewhere. not that I think we couldn't do it but it does limit what can be done.

we DID give Oggie an extra year I reckon when it was pretty obvious he was past his best.

we can't rent the stadium for testimonials because of the expense. now don't get me wrong, I'm not siding with the board on this, but one of those things included in the lease agreements I think. didn't we have the stadium for x number of games per season or x number of dates something like that....

beside how many teams give their players testimonials ? we did give Noble one didn't we ???? the money that players are on these days, they don't need the testimonials like they did in the "old" days, and they usually end up giving it to a charity which means in effect we're doing a charity out of some well deserved dosh though.

maybe we could tie it in with the Betway Cup thing beginning of the season ?????? we would be using the stadium anyway.

but as for extensions, I don't mean to be harsh, but he didn't do it on duty for the club, he was driving a Ferrari having already smashed up a Lambo. I'm all for giving him as much access to the club as he needs in order to get back to a fitness whereby he thinks he can play again for someone. I'm just not up for giving away money "just because."

we'll all have to agree to disagree on the merits of doing this. as I say, maybe we could do a tie in with the Betway Cup game(s) pre season. donate x amount of each ticket to the charity of his choice ??? would be a win/win imvho. I think it would guarantee a bumper crowd were it publicised that way, full house (almost) pre season, Big Mike leading the team out - the charity folks there on the walk out.. would be perfect. but that's where I would finish it up.

[Ironing Board]

Especially when you consider be gets millions of pounds per year!

[The Straw]

Plenty of roles to give him at the club on a much better wage than most 35 year olds.

He'll never, ever be useful in the Premier League again and anyone who thinks otherwise is quite far detached from reality IMO.

We should look after Mic, no doubt. But we absolutely should not be giving him a playing contract. I would be absolutely astonished if that happened.

[Crouchend_Hammer]

I expect we will offer him a new year contract on reduced wage but he will turn it down.

He is very focused he will play again, and my hunch is that is the most important objective to him (even if one game), so I expect he will end up at a team in Championship who take a punt on him. He will play a few games but struggle with the injury, maybe score a couple of goals, do a lot of media work but then retire at end of season.

A career in the media then beckons full time