---
title: "Pundit defends David Moyes following Michail Antonio criticism"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2022/03/22/pundit-defends-david-moyes-following-michail-antonio-criticism/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2022-03-22T06:00:00Z"
modified: "2022-03-22T06:00:00Z"
---

# Pundit defends David Moyes following Michail Antonio criticism

[West Ham](https://readwestham.com/2022/03/21/pundit-urges-west-ham-to-make-no-risk-swoop-for-efl-star-joe-worrall/) manager David Moyes appeared to criticise talismanic striker [Michail Antonio](https://readwestham.com/2022/03/14/pundit-believes-michail-antonio-could-return-in-two-weeks/) for a dip in form following the defeat against Tottenham.

The Hammers were soundly beaten 3-1 by their London rivals and the 31-year-old frontman was once again [off target](https://www.sofascore.com/player/michail-antonio/47772) in front of goal.

Antonio has now gone [10 Premier League games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/michail-antonio/leistungsdaten/spieler/104124) without a goal and Moyes called out the Jamaican’s form.

Speaking after the match, the Scot [admitted](https://www.football.london/west-ham-united-fc/news/west-ham-press-conference-live-23446781) that the usually reliable ace was perhaps ‘struggling with confidence’ following a barron run.

However, [talkSPORT](https://talksport.com/radio/schedule/) show host Simon Jordan defender Moyes’ choice of words.

> I think the nature of the relationship he has with the players is clearly a solid one. I think he’s not going into Antonio, he’s talking to a player who’s operating at a high level and reminding him he wants him to continue operating at that level. I think there’s nothing wrong with what he said. I think Antonio is a real talisman for West Ham, not just in his goal output but in his play full stop. So he’s just stating the obvious.

So far this season Antonio has [scored 10 times and registered another 10 assists](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/michail-antonio/leistungsdaten/spieler/104124) in 36 appearances across all competitions.

### READ WEST HAM VERDICT

There can be little doubt that the [£10.8million valued](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/michail-antonio/marktwertverlauf/spieler/104124) ace is enduring a loss of confidence in his goalscoring ability.

Albeit not a natural finisher, Moyes and co have helped transform Antonio into a [genuine goal-getter](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/michail-antonio/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/104124) in his later career.

These issues are exasperated when West Ham’s second most lethal threat, Jarrod Bowen, is [indisposed](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/21/jarrod-bowen-injury-west-ham-lyon) through injury.