Whatever you think about Michail Antonio as a player, and he has divided opinion especially in recent years, I can’t help feeling more than a little upset that he now appears to have gone for good and we’ll never see him, with his formidable style of play, in a West Ham shirt again.
I know nothing is forever – especially in the modern world of football, but the eventual nature of Mickey’s departure leaves a nasty taste in the mouth. It certainly does for me! It’s the end of an era and I believe that end could have been handled so much better than it was! 10 years of loyal service since his £7.5million bargain purchase from Nottingham Forest deserved more in my opinion.
Without doubt the arrival of Callum Wilson put the final nail in Antonio’s time as a Hammer. The Wilson to West Ham saga had been ongoing for a while, with constant updates that a deal was ever nearer. But then suddenly there was ‘radio silence’ from London Stadium headquarters, before confirmation was finally announced last weekend.
We had been told some weeks ago by one of Sullivan’s stooges that Graham Potter no longer felt we needed to add a new face to our strike force. Was that because Potter had come to the conclusion that an ‘old face’ could indeed provide the back-up he needed for his number one choice Niclas Fullkrug - along with our talented youngster Callum Marshall - whom Potter wanted to stay and work with, rather than be farmed out for a second loan spell?
Was that old face indeed Michail Antonio who had shown remarkable resolve, resilience and determination in battling back from that horrific car crash which could so easily have ended his life never mind his football career?
Since that fateful day in Epping Forest, Antonio, supported by the club - it has to be said - had worked tirelessly to get himself back to full health and fitness. It was still a work in progress, and probably always would be from now on.
But such was the progress Antonio made he had appeared twice as a late sub for Jamaica in their Gold Cup matches before returning to start for West Ham’s Under 21s, scoring twice into the bargain with manager Mark Robson describing Antonio’s appearance as a “fantastic experience” for the youngsters who played alongside him.
Graham Potter would surely have colluded with Robson on Antonio’s inclusion and been more than interested in his comments and observations afterwards – as well as taking on board the opinions of the club’s fitness and medical staff. With all that in mind, did Potter come to the conclusion that Michail could indeed still do a job for him and for the team if and when required – as maybe he had always hoped?
Antonio was a much-loved character in the dressing room and would have been intrinsic to the ‘family atmosphere’ Potter was keen to nurture. A fly in the ointment though was the fact Antonio had already turned down a new short term contract, clearly believing his loyalty to the club, plus the fact his continued value to Potter deserved a little more than what was being offered.
Although he may not have technically been part of the club since his previous contract ended, Antonio was still very much part of the West Ham scene.
Unfortunately there was also a second ‘fly’ to contend with. It was long suspected Sullivan had been in conversation with big buddy agent Will Salthouse, who just so happened to have an experienced striker of his own looking for a new home.
Not happy with the new deal offered to him at Newcastle, Wilson was open to a move back down south... and West Ham appealed to him. But Graham Potter was said to be less than enthusiastic about taking on Wilson, two years Antonio’s junior, but whose fitness record reads like a script from the BBC medical drama series Casualty.
Still Sullivan seemed determined to press on regardless - and even though the deal offered to Wilson was said to be very similar to the one he had turned down at Newcastle, the ‘move’ wouldn’t go away.
It did go quiet for a while though, and we can only suspect moves were afoot behind the scenes to make the arrival appear more amicable and agreeable to Head Coach Potter. Plus there had to be a doubling down on the offer to Antonio, just to be sure.
No more, no way! Only when Mickey said a final ‘no’ – and Potter’s hopes that Michail might stick around were eventually dashed – was Wilson's arrival confirmed.
Once again, through this whole messy process, West Ham have opened themselves up to outside ridicule. Is it any wonder so many see our club as being run like a circus? It’s hard to argue against – and I for one certainly wouldn’t want to.
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