Foot in mouth West Ham star Michail Antonio has just done Southampton’s team talk for them ahead of the huge must-win clash.
West Ham welcome relegation rivals Southampton to the London Stadium for a massive game this weekend.
Win and West Ham can rise as high as 13th. Lose and they could end up bottom of the table. The stakes could not be higher as we head into spell of nine games in 27 days.
Hammers fans are sick of hearing the words “We will stick together and keep going”.
Given West Ham have only won six games all season, supporters have heard the meaningless stock phrase spouted ad nauseam in one form or another by players and staff all season long.
After the disappointing draw at home against Aston Villa in the last league game, West Ham have slipped into the bottom three going into this weekend’s huge relegation six-pointer against Southampton.
It has been very quiet on the West Ham front in the lead up to the game with the penny finally seeming to drop at the club that it is time to start doing the talking on the pitch.
But it seems Michail Antonio did not get the memo ahead of the match against the Saints it seems.
Because foot in mouth West Ham star Antonio has just done Southampton’s team talk for them ahead of the huge must-win clash.
Confidence and going into a game with a positive mindset is one thing.
Telling the world West Ham are going to beat Southampton and you’re going to have the three points in your back pocket is just stupid.
But that is what Antonio has done.
“Six pointer, it is crucial, crucial that we win this game,” Antonio told the Footballers’ Football Podcast.
“We’ve been in this situation before. It has been a few years, but we have been in this situation before and we believe that we are good enough.
“We have worked hard, we are working hard preparing for the game and we believe we can do it and I will see you guys next week with three points in my back pocket.”
It would not surprise me if Saints boss Ruben Selles prints that last line out and pins it up on the dressing room wall ahead of Sunday’s game.
West Ham fans want to see less words and more action on the pitch. Antonio and West Ham should be keeping their own counsel at the moment.
When you’re winning every other week you can say what you like. When you’ve won 15 of the last 53 Premier League games you have to choose your words more carefully.
The good news for West Ham ahead of the game is that David Moyes’ side appear to have emerged unscathed from the international break.
But Southampton could be missing five players for the Hammers clash, including their first choice central defensive pairing and top scorer Che Adams.
