Stephen Hunt

[colster]

If the rest of Irish squad had the same desire to play for Ireland and put in as much effort as Hunt we would be all the better for it.

Yeah and we'd finish a game with 6 or 7 players still on the pitch. Desire and Effort are nothing if he has no end product. He's done nothing playing for Ireland other than run around the pitch like a headless chicken. Reid is an immeasurably more intelligent player than Hunt.

[Brendan 82]

I am only stating the blindingly obvvious. Let's cut out the craw thumpin, 'another young Irish blah, blah.....'

You have not said anything that is blindingly obvious. Blindingly prejudiced?-Yes

You obviously dislike for Roy Keane. Why that is the case could be for a myriad of reasons but is of no interest to me. It appears that this dislike you have for Keane would not be complete unless you hated the soccer team he manages. That has crept into a dislike for players, even Irish ones, who play at that club.

This obvious lack of objectivity renders your opinion meaningless.

Good day sir.

[Stuttgart88]

He's by no means as polished as Reid / Duff / McGeady but Hunt's delivery is excellent and he does add something physically and in terms of injecting tempo. He nearly set up Long for goals at home to Slovakia and made Doyle's goal in Cardiff with a sumptuous cross from the left.

[Brendan 82]

I would have both Reid and Hunt in my starting eleven. They are two of our best players

[OwlsFan]

I see Hunt was disappointed not to get a transfer to Everton:

HUNT: I WANTED EVERTON MOVE

By Damian Spellman, PA Sport


Stephen Hunt has admitted his disappointment after missing out on a deadline-day move to Everton.

The Reading winger, currently on international duty with the Republic of Ireland, was the subject of a bid from the Merseyside club last night.

However, with the Toffees unable to come up with the £5million up front which would have activated a get-out clause in his contract, the deadline passed without any deal being struck.

Hunt was disappointed the Royals had not been more flexible in return for the service he has given them over the past three years.

He said: "I spoke to the manager (Steve Coppell), the director of football (Nick Hammond), the coaches. They were asking if I wanted to leave, and they knew my stance.

"I haven't been a bad apple in the club over the last two or three years.

"I could have been, but I wasn't. I have been ultra-professional and probably deserve a little bit better from them.

"But then again, I understand where they are coming from. They wanted to keep hold of me. But to further my career, that would have been a good move."

Hunt was not the only Reading player in demand as the summer window close, with striker Kevin Doyle also understood to have attracted further attention from Tottenham as the Dimitar Berbatov saga finally drew to a close.

Doyle, like his international and club team-mate, has not been agitating publicly to leave the Madejski Stadium, and Hunt admitted the pair of them might have got their wish had they been less professional.

He said: "Kevin has acted the same way as me. We have been professional enough.

"At the dinner table today, we had the same conversation with a couple of players who said if they had been a bad apple, then they would have got out.

"Berbatov - I know it is a different scale and a lot of money, but at the same time, it is our careers as well.

"It's frustrating. I am disappointed, but I am ready to go and re-focus on doing what I want to do in my career.

"I suppose you could say I am a little bit wounded and a little bit disappointed, so that will re-focus me into doing well.

"Listen, if a club wanted me that badly, they would have paid the £5million, so I mustn't have been doing that well.

"But at the same time, I have done myself justice in the Premier League when I have played, and I am determined to get back up there, with Reading or without Reading."

[EastTerracer]

I think Andy Reid's problem at the moment is that Trapp has identified Robbie to play what he called the "Totti role". Throughout his period in charge of Italy he left DelPiero on the bench and used him as a sub as he felt that he couldn't accomodate both flair players in the team. When he discusses Robbie, Duffer and McGeady I think he had identified his main attacking players and Reid is someone he just can't fit into that line.

However Del Piero did make regular appearances as sub in the 2002 World Cup and had a similar impact in 2006 (under Lippi) so I wouldn't write off Andy Reid yet. I do think he needs to improve his physical conditioning but I have no doubt he will have an important role to play at some point in this campaign.

[irishultra]

It means so much to him to play for Ireland....its great to see players putting their national team first, first Messi, then Killer, and now Hunt..

[kingdomkerry]

Yeah would love to see Hunt play a blinder. I love lads that love their country.

[irishultra]

Some people will have you believe International football is 'dead', then when players like Messi basically give Barca the middle finger, it just shows its bull****.

[youngirish]

In fairness there are a few players who I thought have always gave their all for Ireland when they've played:

Given
Dunne
Andy Reid
Duff (when fit)
Hunt
McShane
Kilbane

I wouldn't particularly single Kilbane or Hunt out.

[Supreme feet]

Or Robbie Keane flying out to Albania just after his father passed away. He may look forlorn on the pitch at times, but he does genuinely care about playing for Ireland. The problem sometimes is that he tries too hard.

[FarBeag]

I agree totally with all listed but would have to include Robbie Keane.Things do not always go to plan for him but he clearly puts 100% effort in everytime.

I love Hunt and Kilbane.They may not be the most tecnically gifted but they would sweat blood for their country.

[backstothewall]

I would add Carsley. Given his domestic situation, age, and how he had been treated, coming back at all, even if in a limited way showed true dedication

[bellavistaman]

Robbie Keane gives as much to the cause as Kilbane, al the players mentioned above are a credit to our country IMO....

Theres just not good.

Na i reckon we'll qualify this year, cant wait for tomorrow love the international games, tomorrow is massive for us and trap

[Wheels]

Dean Kiely has been on our bench for YEARS and has only a handful of caps... he's a top class keeper and to have stuck with us like that shouldn't be forgotten either.

In fairness I think they all really want to be there and to do well. They've just needed someone to unite them and give them direction. Hopefully they have that again now.

[youngirish]

Dean Kiely has been on our bench for YEARS and has only a handful of caps... he's a top class keeper and to have stuck with us like that shouldn't be forgotten either.

He actually retired years ago because he was sick of being on the bench. He only came back into the fold recently.

[gustavo]

I don't really think that running around like a puppy on speed should single him out as being extraordinarily dedicated to his country , I've no doubt that the vast majority of the squad are just as proud to play for their country as him

[Dun Laoire]

I think Davy Keogh deserves a mention too!! Ha!

[christo]

Ok so here is my idea:

Hunt works hard, runs up and down the line and puts in a lot of tackles

However he loses the ball a lot trying to beat players, has a poor enough touch and plays a lot of stray passes

It sounds like he is more suited to be a full back than a winger

[irishultra]

+1 Ciaran.

He just needs to compose himself. I wish someone would just tell him to relax on the ball, because thats all it needs.

I was shocked by his touch in these two qualifiers, he normally is much better. In fact his first touch and crossing are his best attributes.