Stephen Hunt

[livehead1]

Moyes also has a good track record of making good players into better ones, see yobo, hibbert, arteta cahill etc etc

[Drumcondra 69er]

Hunt would be mad to go to Sunderland. He's only coming into his own at this stage in an enviornment he's comfortable in and under a manager who's had him at 3 different clubs and is obviously a huge influence. Being dragged into a relegation battle under a manager who's obviously struggling and is still relatively inexperienced would not be a good career move. He's a late bloomer and another year's development at Reading would be ideal before looking to move on.

Everton may be a decent option with Moyes track record of improving players as alreaady mentioned (you could include Carsley in that list) and the feel good factor that seems to be there at present.

I said this time last year that Hunt was a poor man's Ray Houghton in his style of play and meant it as a compliment. He's actually come on in leaps and bounds since then and like Houghton (who was another late bloomer) a move to Merseyside at some stage could be the making of him....

[drinkfeckarse]

I think I heard 30k a week was what Reading have just offered him.

He's come a long way in 2 years.

[Bondvillain]

Devils advocate ;

If Reading WERE to take the Quinn's shilling and let Hunt move to Wearside, what would his future hold were he sign up, maintain his current level of performance, and go on to shine like an Arclight in a mediocre midfield that Kavanagh et al can't hack and Yorke, clever as he is, arguably cannot keep pace with for 60, never mind 90, minutes?

Assuming his agent managed to insert a relegation escape clause or similar compensatory package, he'd be on a decent contract in a club in the Public eye, with a healthy salary and, going on current form, MOTM and Fan's Player of the season awards would be a mere fomality (facetious, but you know what I mean).

If they survive, He'd be the man of the hour, and his confidence would be sky high - No harm to have a skillful battling midfielder in top of his game in the Irish set up for a change - and if Keane were to be unsucessful in maintaining premiership survival, Hunt , Like Reid at Charlton before him, would be almost universally exempt from blame, leaving him (assuming a clause was in place and he remained injury free) to take the plaudits for a job well done (despite the consequences) and pack his bags for the first £6m offer that came in from a PL team.

The Reading fans are on Hunt's side no matter what, as he skillfully got his retalliation in first when he suggested recently that, happy as he was with Reading, any decision on his future would be in the hands of the money men.

Really, and I mean this as a genuine question; what is the worst that could happen if Hunt went to Wearside?

[dr_peepee]

I dunno lads... I like Hunt.. I really do.. But I think he's on the crest of a wave at the minute, and should strike while the Irons hot. I don't think in a year or two's time he'll have the power of negotiation he has now. He's making the best of limited ability... I'm not saying leave purely for Sunderland, I'm saying for his own sake if a lucrative offer comes in from a premiership club (Aside from Derby), he should really consider it. People are getting bogged down on the Sunderland/Keane/Ireland factor. If West Ham or Everton do come in I'd say by all means tell Sunderland to get f'cked... But I think Sunderland are better placed in the bigger scheme of things than Reading... Just my humble opinion!!!!

[ifk101]

Totally agree with dr_peepee. He should go to the team offering the most money.

Hunt has a very high profile for somebody with a low technical ability and the only thing I think Hunt offers a team is high energy levels and a bit of urgency. He's by no means a top player and I think he should cash in now while clubs are prepared to pay top dollar for him because I don't think he improve beyond his current levels.

[Stuttgart88]

I think people underestimate the quality of his delivery and that very valuable asset - timing. He often pops up at the right place at the right time.

I think the package Reading are offering will set him up for life and he's already on the road to being very wealthy anyway. I think he'd be surrounded by mediocrity at Sunderland and if a move to the likes of Everton is on the cards he should take it but Sunderland would be an unnecessary gamble.

If it ain't broke don't fix it, as they say.

[Wolfie]

The more discerning of us had championed Hunt for a long time.

His direct style of play, urgency and intelligent reading of the game are very effective.

Doesn't always harnass all of that energy in the right way and has a tendency to waste energy running onto lost causes but a minor gripe.

Should be a hugely influential player for us in the next campaign.

[Hibernian]

The more discerning of us had championed Hunt for a long time.

His direct style of play, urgency and intelligent reading of the game are very effective.

Doesn't always harnass all of that energy in the right way and has a tendency to waste energy running onto lost causes but a minor gripe.

Should be a hugely influential player for us in the next campaign.

He has great bottle to be fair and gives it 100% ecery time I have seen him play and its all you can ask for from the player.

He is a legend!!!!!

[Wolfie]

He has great bottle to be fair and gives it 100% ecery time I have seen him play and its all you can ask for from the player.

He is a legend!!!!!

I'm in total agreement with you. I think his attitude is spot on and has been sorely lacking among some of his International team mates.

My point was more along the lines that he was almost overly psyched up against the Czechs away and got himself sent off.

Possibly, like Roy Keane - he needs to have that edge to his game to perform to his level best.

[Stuttgart88]

The more discerning of us had championed Hunt for a long time.

Interesting going back to the early posts in this thread.

http://foot.ie/showthread.php?t=3346...t=stephen+hunt

[EAFC_rdfl]

spot on Stuttgart, my point exactly

[Torn-Ado]

He should stay at Reading for the moment. Doyle should stay there too. Hunt is still improving and getting much better as the season goes on. He's high on confidence and playing well. Let him do his stuff where he is. Moving to another club could derail him.

If, by the end of the season, or next season he is still impressing premiership managers, then he should consider it.

[dr_peepee]

I think people underestimate the quality of his delivery and that very valuable asset - timing. He often pops up at the right place at the right time.

I think the package Reading are offering will set him up for life and he's already on the road to being very wealthy anyway. I think he'd be surrounded by mediocrity at Sunderland and if a move to the likes of Everton is on the cards he should take it but Sunderland would be an unnecessary gamble.

If it ain't broke don't fix it, as they say.

Even aside from the money, do you not feel though that Reading are gonna wind up like Charlton?? I think Reading, are as good as they're ever gonna get. I also think when Coppell goes, which could be soon enough, they'll back out of the division.

There's scope for growth at Sunderland that's not there at Reading

The more discerning of us had championed Hunt for a long time.

His direct style of play, urgency and intelligent reading of the game are very effective.

Doesn't always harnass all of that energy in the right way and has a tendency to waste energy running onto lost causes but a minor gripe.

Should be a hugely influential player for us in the next campaign.

Will be interesting if Duff ever hits form again!!!!

[Drumcondra 69er]

I'm in total agreement with you. I think his attitude is spot on and has been sorely lacking among some of his International team mates.

My point was more along the lines that he was almost overly psyched up against the Czechs away and got himself sent off.

Possibly, like Roy Keane - he needs to have that edge to his game to perform to his level best.

Think that was really more down to the fact that he felt he had something to prove having been left out of the 11 and also the reception he was getting off teh home crowd. I dunno how it came over on the telly but they utterly despise him in the Czech Republic, it's a long time since I've seen so much vitriol aimed at one player from the crowd at a game. I still think it was harsh in any case and it was the reception teh crowd had given hiom that made the ref's mind up.

He should have gone for that tackle against Man City mind you but you have to consider his relative inexperience and assume that he'll control that aspect of his game in future.

[Stuttgart88]

There's scope for growth at Sunderland that's not there at Reading

Will be interesting if Duff ever hits form again!!!!

You might be right, but right now I think Reading only need 2-3 more players to maeningfully enhance their team. I think Sunderland need more than that and have shed loads of mediocre players on their books.

Sunderland are a bit "faddy" for my liking. A lot of talk but no substance - yet anyway.

Recent signs have been encouraging re-Duff I think.

[gustavo]

He'd be mad to go to Sunderland , should stay where he is , Not that Coppell will accept an offer anyway.

[EAFC_rdfl]

unless sunderland get at least one experienced and useful centre back during this window they will be up against it to avoid relegation. Doesn't matter what you have going forward if you consistently concede 3 goals in a game. Thats why Hunt should avoid going there at all costs IMO. With Kieran Richardson already there would he be guaranteed a starting spot??

[tetsujin1979]

With Kieran Richardson already there would he be guaranteed a starting spot??

Possibly not, but Keane isn't going to blow the best part of 5 million on one player jst so he can sit on the bench.

[Dr. Ogba]

Possibly not, but Keane isn't going to blow the best part of 5 million on one player jst so he can sit on the bench.

i take it you were being sarcastic there?