We’re delighted to welcome former West Ham United striker Frank McAvennie as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the London Stadium…
Frank McAvennie has slammed the scouts at West Ham United for all of the failed striker signings over the last decade.
The pundit believes that only current forward Michail Antonio has been a suitable signing given the way the club want to play.
The likes of Danny Ings and Gianluca Scamacca have been recent recruits in that area, but according to McAvennie they were not appropriate transfers.
Speaking to West Ham Zone, McAvennie said: “Every striker apart from Antonio that has come to the club in the last 10 years couldn’t play the way West Ham wanted them to, so who is doing the scouting for them?
“You have Ings, he is a goalscorer, and a good one, but we’re not creating enough chances for him to get the goals. He has to be strong and bring players into play, and that’s not his game.
“I don’t get what way they are bringing these strikers in, I don’t get it. You’ve got to get someone in who can lead the line and hold the ball up.
“There are certain players that can’t do it and certain players that can, and we keep bringing in players that can’t. Scamacca was a goalscorer, he couldn’t hold the line and do what Antonio does.”
January arrival Ings has certainly not hit the heights expected of him at the London Stadium, while Scamacca lasted just one season before moving to Atalanta in the summer.
Antonio has been heavily relied upon by Moyes this season, with Ings largely watching on from the bench. Both attackers could, however, leave the London Stadium in 2024, according to 90min (23 October).
Hammers are waiting in line to sign a Serie A star, with a summer transfer on the cards for the player.
