05 November 2023 , 19:21
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Gabriel Agbonlahor has brutally hit out at Michail Antonio, with the West Ham star now eight games without a goal following the defeat to Brentford.
Antonio has started every game for the Hammers in the top-flight this season, but has registered just two goals. Those came in successive weeks, first in the win over Chelsea and then in the defeat of Brighton.
But since then, Antonio has struggled to perform, even as he has called out the likes of Tottenham star Richarlison for his own issues. The striker hosts a podcast alongside Callum Wilson, with Agbonlahor less than impressed with the Jamaican international.
"He's on a podcast every week and he's talking about how he's desperate for goals. He was sliding in because he's desperate for goals that he wants to talk about on his podcast next weekend," he told talkSPORT.
"It's embarrassing. A podcast every weekend and you're not scoring, do you know what I mean? And he's talking on his podcast about 'maybe I need to get back to scoring' and that was exactly that moment in the game today.
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"He slid in when Benrahma was there to tap it in. I think there was one a few months ago when he came for a player on there, Richarlison was it. And I don't think you can do that while you're still playing.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Should Michail Antonio stop his podcast? Comment below.
Michail Antonio has endured an awful season (Vincent Mignott/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)"You can't be coming for Richarlison and then you're not banging in goals yourself. I don't mind Callum Wilson, because he's putting the goals in. But you're not backing it Antonio. I don't mind a podcast when you're having a banter between you.
"But when you're starting to hammer other players that are playing, you shouldn't be doing that, especially when you're not prolific yourself. Whenever I watch West Ham, Antonio gets taken off and not scoring. So don't go laughing at Richarlison. It's not right."
Antonio spurned a glorious chance in the defeat to the Bees when he slid in at the back post late on, but saw the ball go wide. And boss David Moyes has hinted he could look to bring in a new forward in the January transfer window.
“At every level you go to everyone is trying to find a new No.9. The conveyor belt of them has dried up through academies and more teams trying to play with the ball and keep the ball. Maybe young players are becoming No.10s to get more touches," Moyes said last week.
“How many moved into the Premier League last year? [Alexander] Isak did unbelievably well. Obviously [Erling] Haaland, his value makes him top. After that I couldn't come up with huge amounts. [Ollie] Watkins was already there. There wasn't an awful lot going on.
“There's not really been a good market out there to buy and probably people have written that we need a new striker. Dead easy to say, dead hard to find to get someone who will work for you immediately."