Stephen Hunt

[cheifo]

From what I've seen no but Reading are on live on RTE2 tomorrow so will have another gander.

[republicofwhite]

In fairness he has done really well this season, definitely improved immeasurably. Showed a few nice touches, set up a few goals, tested keepers(no pun intended) and had an impact on games. I think he's probably worth a place in the squad, for the competition if nothing else. Steve Coppell claimed he was dropped for the Chelsea game because he hadn't been up to the high standards he'd set himself during the season with his recent performances...Eh, could be true or pure fabrication. So dunno if we'll get a decent look at him cheifo. I'd definitely like to see him for 90 minutes though.

[bennocelt]

i like Hunt, and think he should get a call up, he is a live wire, gets stuck in and is exactly what Ireland need at the moment, since our current midfield is weak, i mean kilbane and kavanagh FFS
and he does have some nice touches as well
not bad for his first season in the EPL

[FarBeag]

I agree with everything bennocelt has said here. Give the lad a go. He has played better than Duff this season for one and it's just a formality that he plays.

[irishfan86]

Definitely worth a place in the squad, but can't see him as more than a fringe player for the team at this stage.

[Paddy Garcia]

Certainly I'd have him in the squad ahead of the likes of Alan "yeah but he's fast" O'Brien but I don't think he'd improve the squad or bring anything different at all.

... no contest over a 100 yards

[EalingGreen]

Living close to Brentford and seeing a dozen or fifteen of their matches each season, I've seen a fair bit of Hunt's career since he first broke through with the Bees.
In terms of ability, I'd say he was one of the better players in a Brentford team which made the League One playoffs three times in four seasons. As such, I've no doubt he's too good for that Division.
That said, comparing him with the very best players at Griffin Park (inc. Sidwell, Sonko and Sodje - also all at Reading), I fear he's just a little bit behind them, so I'd rate him as a very decent Championship player, but not quite good enough to feature as a regular in any Premiership team.
However, I also get the impression that his attitude is a very good one. When he first broke through at Griffin Park he had a reputation as a bit of a joker, but he always gave 100% effort.
During his last season he made it clear he wasn't going to sign a new contract and with Steve Coppell and his Assistant Wally Downes both being ex-Brentford managers, it wasn't too hard to guess where he might end up!
Consequently, Bees manager Martin Allen said that in such circumstances, he was going to concentrate on other players who were committed to the club. As it happens, the youngster who usually stepped into Hunt's position was Jay Tabb - also ROI qualified.
In fact, due to injuries and suspensions etc, Allen had to pick Hunt more than he had anticipated, but he subsequently acknowledged that Hunt's attitude remained top-class, always giving maximum effort now that he was merely a squad member and Hunt remained popular with the fans, which is always a good sign.

As regards Hunt's ROI prospects, I'd have to say that up until a year or two ago, he wouldn't have been good enough even to get into a squad, never mind pick up full caps.
That said, the squad is much thinner than it was previously. More to the point, it appears to me to be suffering from a number of talented (club) players who are seriously under-performing at international level.
I feel Staunton should take a leaf out of Sanchez book and pick players first and foremost for their attitude and commitment. This would both throw down the gauntlet to the "Big Time Charlies" and also serve as encouragement for the younger players.
In Hunt's case, I would pick him on the left hand side of midfield. He might never star, but neither would he let you down (imo). This would also send out a clear message to salad-dodger Andy Reid* to lay off the pies and get fit.
Alternatively, it could fill the position until Jay Tabb was ready in another year or two. I know Tabb's career seems to have stalled somewhat at Coventry, but Mickey Adams is also an ex-Brentford manager (!), so he knows what Tabb can do and he rates him very highly.





* - I'm a Spurs fan and I saw what a disgrace Reid was at WHL before they got fed up and shipped him out to Charlton.

[eirebhoy]

* - I'm a Spurs fan and I saw what a disgrace Reid was at WHL before they got fed up and shipped him out to Charlton.
I wonder what it'll take for people to realise Reid isn't overweight.

[EalingGreen]

I wonder what it'll take for people to realise Reid isn't overweight.

His losing half a stone would be a start...:D

[eirebhoy]

His losing half a stone would be a start...:D
I think most people on this forum now realise that Reid isn't overweight. The jokes got a bit old about 2 years ago. :D



Some have suggested that Reid has been functioning on that skill alone, that he was developing a physique more suited to a casual game of cricket than Premiership football. Even when he couldn't make the team at Tottenham, the managerial staff at White Hart Lane defended him against such claims, insisting he was in the top two or three trainers at the club.

"People who say that don't understand the game," Reid insists. "We do a lot of the Prozone stuff and if anybody wants to check the stats, you'll see that I do as much if not more running than anyone on the pitch."

But the talk persists. "It comes from the build that I have. Things like that don't bother me. I know what I do on the pitch and I know I do the right things. The managers I played under know I do and as long as my manager here and my international manager know what I can do, that's all that matters to me."

Reid spent the summer determined to end all criticism. He worked hard before the season began and Tottenham - having lost out on Damien Duff - were ready to start with him on the left. Then came an injury and soon there was a bid from Charlton.

[FarBeag]

Good enough or not he has scored hid first premiership goal for Reading

[eirebhoy]

Doyle makes it 4-0 after 36 minutes. :eek:

[pete]

I did not rate him after seeing in the Championship last year. However given the options Ireland have he is worth squad place. When all players are fit he is Reading bench player. Even with Convey injured Hunt has started few games.

[Qwerty]

He is not international quality, he works hard and has a good attitude but if he were to get into the Ireland team on merit it would be a very sad indictment of the current players Duff, Kilbane, Reid and McGeady.

[EalingGreen]

I think most people on this forum now realise that Reid isn't overweight. The jokes got a bit old about 2 years ago. :D

Some have suggested that Reid has been functioning on that skill alone, that he was developing a physique more suited to a casual game of cricket than Premiership football. Even when he couldn't make the team at Tottenham, the managerial staff at White Hart Lane defended him against such claims, insisting he was in the top two or three trainers at the club.

"People who say that don't understand the game," Reid insists. "We do a lot of the Prozone stuff and if anybody wants to check the stats, you'll see that I do as much if not more running than anyone on the pitch."

I saw him come on as substitute for his Spurs debut, when the crowd laughed. At first. They were jeering him by the end of the match.

The facts are these.
When he joined Spurs, he was rated the better prospect (if anything) of him and Michael Dawson, signed together for a total of £8 million.
During the season, Dawson (who has a similar history of injuries, btw) forced his way into the Spurs team on a regular basis, even making the fringes of the England team.
Whereas Reid made a total of 26 appearances, mostly either as substitute, or being substituted.
At the end of the season, the same Spurs staff who publicly defended him (or rather, defended their multi-million pound purchase), bit Charlton's hand off when the Addicks offered to cut Tottenham's losses with a bid of "up to £3m". This is despite Reid having been signed to fill (no pun intended) what has been a problem position for Spurs (left wing/midfield) for the last three years.
Contrast that with their treatment of Wayne Routledge, a similarly talented but injury-prone young right winger/midfielder.
When Aaron Lennon suddenly emerged ahead of Routledge in that position, Spurs sent Routledge out on long-term loans, first to Portsmouth, then to Fulham; i.e. they still wanted to retain an interest in the player.

In the end, Spurs are heavily committed to signing the best available young talent from the British Isles. To that end, they've tied down Lennon, Dawson, Huddleston and others. They took a look at Reid, then got shot of him. It wasn't because of lack of talent, nor is it likely to have been due to injury problems. Perhaps there was another reason, but having seen Reid for myself, I know what I think it is.

Two final points:
Prozone never picked the Spurs team, Martin Jol did.
The official Charlton website doesn't list Reid's weight, though it appears to do so for most of the rest of their squad (inc. this season's signings). However, The Times and Wikipedia list Reid, who is 5' 7" (1m 70cm) as weighing 11 stone (70 kg).

[eirebhoy]

EalingGreen, trust me. Reid isn't overweight. It's impossible to be in this day and age and still get your game. As for Jol picking the team, he said Reid was one of the fittest players at Spurs.

[tetsujin1979]

However, The Times and Wikipedia list Reid, who is 5' 7" (1m 70cm) as weighing 11 stone (70 kg).
That gives Reid a Body Mass Index (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_Mass_Index) (obesity measure) of 24.1, far below anything approaching overweight, or obesity.

[Wolfie]

The debate appears to have moved from "Stephen Hunt - Do you rate him?" to "Andy Reid - have you weighed him?"

[citizenerased]

Owlsfan, it has been brought up on numerous ocasions in the written press, so before you dismiss my point you might try and expand your reading.

the argument was made, on the basis of including the likes Alan O'Brien, Tabb, and douglas in the squad. Also that there seems to be a lack to tenacity and passion in the midfield areas, both of which are glaring characteristics of Hunts game.

[shakermaker1982]

who gives a flying rats ass how much he weighs if he can play and run around a pitch for 90 minutes. Since he moved to Charlton he has been outstanding. Spurs are a knee jerk reaction club - they panic buy and will continue to do so with Jol at the helm.

[OwlsFan]

Owlsfan, it has been brought up on numerous ocasions in the written press, so before you dismiss my point you might try and expand your reading..

I asked "who" - I wasn't dismissing your point. I haven't seen it in the papers but then anyone who does anything in the UK soon gets touted by some journalists trying to fill up inches in their columns. I remember McCarthy getting crucified by many in the print media for his early reluctance to play John O'Shea - the same people who are now crucifying O'Shea.

I saw the highlights on the Reading game last night. (a) Hunt scored a goal when he headed in to an empty goal, (b) miscontrolled a pass and (c) might have appeared in one other clip.

I honestly don't know enough about him but the bits I have seen of him on TV show him as a workmanlike player without any special ability like pace or touch.

[papa-j]

I honestly don't know enough about him but the bits I have seen of him on TV show him as a workmanlike player without any special ability like pace or touch.[/QUOTE]

I think he is definatley worth a place in the next squad. He has a decent touch, good eye for a pass, is tenacious and full of energy. He seems to have that extra little bit of bite and a will to win that we've been lacking in recent performaces. He has had a positive impact on any of the games I've seen. Give him a chance as I think we all agree that the squad needs some sort of injection or kick up the ar*se in order to move up the group table.

[youngirish]

IMO Hunt is an average premiership player who tends to frustrate and harrass more so than create chances for his teammates. He tends to blow hot and cold. I do think, however, that he's come on leaps and bounds from last season (when he wasn't even a regular in the team) but I don't see him adding anything of note to the Irish first 11 unless he undergoes another dramatic improvement. Saying that we are hardly blessed with wingers setting their clubs alight at the moment so who knows?

I'd have him in the squad though.

[endabob1]

Hunt is not international standard.

Ealing Green, I agree. I'm a spurs fan and I saw Reid quite a few times for Spurs, imho he has the ability but not the aptitude, regardless of the statements about his training or prozone, he rarely played well and never really looked like he could fill that left side slot which has plauged Spurs for years, the fact that they let him go without a natural replacement speaks volumes. Having said that I play golf with a mate who's a season ticket holder at Charlton who claims him to be one of their best players this season, where him normally plays behind the front 2.

[EalingGreen]

who gives a flying rats ass how much he weighs if he can play and run around a pitch for 90 minutes. Since he moved to Charlton he has been outstanding. Spurs are a knee jerk reaction club - they panic buy and will continue to do so with Jol at the helm.

On the evidence of his 18 months at WHL, he couldn't (or wouldn't?) "run around a pitch for 90 minutes". That's why after signing him for (up to) £5 million, they got shot of him for around half of that.

And as for Charlton, he may be one of the better players in the team (maybe the best?), but that's not saying much, considering how crap they are. Is it not just a case of Reid realising that he's going to run out of excuses, if he doesn't start producing on a football pitch before long?

To get back to the thread title, having seen both players in action a number of times, I readily agree that Hunt is nowhere near so naturally talented as Reid. But I still think Staunton should be picking the likes of Hunt, in order to send out a message to the "Big Time Charlies" who aren't currently producing for the ROI. (I'll leave you to decide whether Reid fits the BTC description)

[Btw, who are these "panic buys" by Jol? When he took over as manager, he declared that the squad assembled by Santini and Arnessen was far too big and set about cutting it down. Having got shot of a large number of average players, he proceeded to sign:
Chimbonda, Lee Young Pyo, Zokora, Davids, Berbatov, Huddleston, Lennon, Routledge, Assou Ekotto, Mido, Murphy, Ghaly and Malbranque - not too many duds there. He also signed Reid and Dawson, the latter being notably successful.
Reid is actually a rare example of a Jol signing for decent money who clearly didn't subsequently impress him (or the fans, for that matter). And I say again, it certainly wasn't for lack of talent, since he occasionally showed flashes of brilliance; nor was it down to injuries, since his record in that respect was no worse than several other Spurs players with whom they perservered. Perhaps I'm wrong about Reid's being overwieght, but if it's not that, might he be pregnant? :eek: ]

[pete]

Have to laugh at posters saying Hunt should not be in the irish squad but then suggesting kids like Stokes & others from Championship or League One be included...

[tricky_colour]

[QUOTE=OwlsFan;597870]I
I saw the highlights on the Reading game last night. (a) Hunt scored a goal when he headed in to an empty goal, (b) miscontrolled a pass and (c) might have appeared in one other clip. [QUOTE]

Its a bit unfair to say it was an open goal for Hunt, the keeper had been out of position but he was back in position when Hunt headed the ball, Hunt sensibly headed it back to where the keeper had been rather than the area which the keeper was trying to cover. Not a difficult chance but he took it nicely enough, I dare say a fair few players would have fluffed it if they had as much time as he did :rolleyes: West Han were rubbish though. Their keeper may as well have stayed on the coach!! He seems to be playing fairly regularly for Reading.

[citizenerased]

To get back to the thread title, having seen both players in action a number of times, I readily agree that Hunt is nowhere near so naturally talented as Reid. But I still think Staunton should be picking the likes of Hunt, in order to send out a message to the "Big Time Charlies" who aren't currently producing for the ROI. (I'll leave you to decide whether Reid fits the BTC description)

I agree with this it deffo might give the other lads a kick up the arse and send a message that no ones place is written in stone and a place must be earned

[republicofwhite]

I saw the highlights on the Reading game last night. (a) Hunt scored a goal when he headed in to an empty goal, (b) miscontrolled a pass and (c) might have appeared in one other clip.

I honestly don't know enough about him but the bits I have seen of him on TV show him as a workmanlike player without any special ability like pace or touch.

Saw the Highlights as well.... That miscontolled pass led to Doyle's second...;) And I thought he did well for the header, NOT an empty net, he showed 100% composure, unlike a certain Robbie Keane every time a cross goes into the box in an Ireland match...(just an aside) If we judged everybody on highlights I dont know where we'd be, maybe in the same position as Stan. Anyway, Hunt has a better touch and flair than people give him credit for. If Staunton picks insists on picking Douglas, I dont see why Hunt shouldn't get a shot. Douglas works hard, thats it. He also plays for a relegation threatened team in the Championship. Hunt works just as hard, maybe harder, has better ability all round, more of an attacking threat and plays for a high flying club who play good,exciting football. No contest. Don't get me started on the likes of Tabb. (Struggling to make the bench at Coventry) That said,if you want sheer ability, I think Garvan should be in the squad for San Marino. Outstanding talent. Just turned 18 and probably Ipswich's most important player.

[irishfan86]

Just watched the Reading game and Hunt has more flair than is being advertised here.

He's no Cristiano Ronaldo but he was giving the West Ham fullback hell all game, and generated a lot of chances for his team.

He works hard, yes, but to say that's all he's good for doesn't do him justice.

Glad to see him bag that header.

[youngirish]

Not a difficult chance but he took it nicely enough, I dare say a fair few players would have fluffed it if they had as much time as he did
For example Robbie Keane.

[republicofwhite]

Saw the Highlights as well.... That miscontolled pass led to Doyle's second...;) And I thought he did well for the header, NOT an empty net, he showed 100% composure, unlike a certain Robbie Keane every time a cross goes into the box in an Ireland match...(just an aside) If we judged everybody on highlights I dont know where we'd be, maybe in the same position as Stan. Anyway, Hunt has a better touch and flair than people give him credit for.

Bright minds...

[co. down green]

Reading have extended Hunt's contract to 2010

http://www.premiershiplatest.com/news/reading-tie-up-stephen-hunt-with-madejsk-55604.html

[Qwerty]

Not too surprising, Coppell has had him at Palace and Brentford before Reading. Sort of a pet player, every manager has one.

[The Legend]

Not too surprising, Coppell has had him at Palace and Brentford before Reading. Sort of a pet player, every manager has one.


Ha, like Mcarthy and Breen... I wouldnt be surprised if Breen lived in a kennel in his backyard.

[republicofwhite]

Meant to post this yesterday but slipped my mind... Did anybody else see it? I thought it was very good, he came out really well, and a few interesting points about biased picking in favour of the Dublin lads and more!

Was going to post the article but its far too long so here's the link:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,277-2546236_1,00.html

[OwlsFan]

"As a teenager from rural Waterford, he strongly detected a Dublin bias when international places were being awarded and he was left empty-handed."

I assume he is directing that against Brian Kerr although he says Keane would say the same thing: Does he really think that Charlton or McCarthy favoured a Dublin born player to someone from the country:rolleyes: ? Staunton is not from Dublin: why would he favour Dublin born players? I don't for a moment believe Kerr would have either. People look for excuses as to why they're not selected. Pity he had to spoil an interesting article with stuff like.

[kingdom hoop]

surely he meant under age teams

[paul_oshea]

interesting points about biased picking in favour of the Dublin lads and more!


ya, sure the dubs are the same in their attitude to soccer in general!

[reder]

Whats soccer Paul??:confused:

Anyway watched him against the bitters (everton) on sunday. He was excellent I thought and is progressing into an excellent young player. Surely he will earn a place in the team/squad if he continues like this.

I think that thought about dublin players being selected first is purely for underage football.

[Reddladd]

He should be brought into the squad no argument. A driven, hard working fella who always gives 100%. He's also got the mental strenght considering all the sh**e he's had to put up with since the Chelsea game. He's an industrious player with a great engine, a model professional and would certainly benefit the team.
IMHO.:D

[paul_oshea]

He was excellent I thought and is progressing into an excellent young player.

Good to know, I would also be considered young!!! i dont think he is that young!

[citizenerased]

yeah in professional football terms he is getting on he is 27 i think

[kingdom hoop]

born 1st august 1981, 25 years of age and by no means a journeyman as was suggested elsewhere

[paul_oshea]

ya i know he is 25, cos im reaching that age soon unfortunately.

[citizenerased]

Hunts distrubution though is nothing short of atrocious, he worked hard against everton, made alot of good runs and tackles, put his passing was abysmal...thats why he is not an international player. If he is at Reading next season ill be suprised

[Paulie]

If he is at Reading next season ill be suprised

Surely if they were planning on selling him at the end of the season they wouldn't have recently gotten him to sign a contract extension unless it was purely to boost his price, which I doubt. Also, he continues to get his game more often than not which implies that the manager rates him anyway.

[citizenerased]

yeah true enough, but he serves his purpose at the moment, he will only ever be a tenacious championship player for me. If Reading want to progress in the premiership next year, players like Hunt will have to be shown the door.you know as well as ii do contract dont mean crap...

[Paulie]

.you know as well as ii do contract dont mean crap...

You're right about contracts but I think that is more to do with players than clubs. Normally when a player, who has only recently signed a contract extension moves on, it is at his request. From the club's point of view there's no point in keeping a player who absolutely does not want to be there so if his mind is made up he's sold. Steve Coppell has signed him a couple of times and obviously rates him as he continues to play him so I don't see Hunt putting in a transfer request any time soon.

[pete]

The more i see of Hunt is realise he does not have a football brain. He makes some terrible decisions.