Opinion: Lopetegui needs to adjust West Ham’s starting XI after forward’s international struggles
Michail Antonio has been a valuable asset to West Ham United, but there’s a growing sentiment that it's time to part ways with the seasoned forward.
The Hammers’ striker, their all-time top scorer in Premier League history, has undeniably made a significant impact during his time at the London Stadium.
However, over the course of last season and the beginning of the 2024/25 campaign, he has not been performing at the level he once did.
West Ham’s technical director, Tim Steidten, noticed this decline, which led to the signing of German forward Niclas Fullkrug to enhance competition for the starting striker position.
Given Antonio’s recent performances, especially his latest appearance for Jamaica, it seems inevitable that manager Julen Lopetegui will soon consider replacing him with Fullkrug.
During Jamaica’s 0-0 draw with Cuba, despite their dominance, Antonio was at the center of most attacking efforts.
While he had two shots on target and just one offside (according to Sofascore), he had only 26 touches and completed just 33% of his dribbles.
But Antonio’s struggles are not just limited to this match; his poor form stretches back to last season, one of his least productive campaigns in terms of goals.
Injuries have played a part, but he still failed to reach five goals, a low by his standards.
On the other hand, Fullkrug has been in much better form.
He scored 16 goals and provided 10 assists across all competitions for Borussia Dortmund and Werder Bremen last season.
Signed for £27 million, the German forward was brought in to boost West Ham’s attack, complementing the arrival of Crysencio Summerville.
Although Fullkrug has time to integrate into the team, the current situation suggests that now could be the perfect moment for Lopetegui to give him a chance to start over Antonio and make his mark on the Hammers’ starting XI.
