Eleven Stephen Hunts

[Cookie]

Oh and Murty's timing was superb in preventing Sonko getting a black-eye. (which he will realise he deserved when he watches the VT of his performance)

You are having a laugh! That would have been a complete mismatch! Bugner v Ali. Chocolate brownie gorging USA v muscle pack Sonko. The only way the former would drop the latter would be with one of his guns!

That made me laugh. I was really making a point about Sonko's off-colour performance.
But since you mention it I do wonder what would happen if we could match 'em in a boxing ring, doesn't have to be Queensbury rules, could be Thai.

Hey what about a new thread RoyalBlue, you go first, I don't want to be called controversial for backing Marcus.

[Victor Meldrew]

its good that hunt may give effort which obviously you would expect from any player of any team but bottom line is he just aint good enough to play in the premiership week in week out!!

Who would you replace him with then?

How about Surman from Southampton?
Saints need money,he is an U21 international,a good passer and finisher and (as they say) has a sweet left foot but what he won't do(thank goodness) is scurry up and down the pitch getting in the way of the oppositon and his own team-mates in about equal doses.
A Premiership player in waiting rather than a Championship player in waiting.
Oh and Saints can keep Bennett and have Halls as part of any deal.

[leon]

its good that hunt may give effort which obviously you would expect from any player of any team but bottom line is he just aint good enough to play in the premiership week in week out!!

Who would you replace him with then?

Oh and Saints can keep Bennett and have Halls as part of any deal.

That's very generous !!

[Gordons Cumming]

but what he won't do(thank goodness) is scurry up and down the pitch getting in the way of the oppositon and his own team-mates in about equal doses.
.

So you're actually doubting Sir Steve's judgement and experience?

[1871royals]

This thread sums up what is wrong with what the RFC fans think about S Hunt. No one can deny he works hard, a prem winger should be able to set up goals and cross a football, S Hunt can not do either. I like Hunt cause as a fan we want players that work hard but I think many fans are blinded by his hard work and dont realise what a poor footballer he is. Cause of Conveys lack of form Hunt had to play, but I think Convey should now be given an extended run on left wing. Another thing which puzzles me is all RFC fans used to hate A Hughes but imo Hunt is exactly the same and is loved for it i.e. works hard but limited ability.

[londinium]

This thread sums up what is wrong with what the RFC fans think about S Hunt. No one can deny he works hard, a prem winger should be able to set up goals and cross a football, S Hunt can not do either. I like Hunt cause as a fan we want players that work hard but I think many fans are blinded by his hard work and dont realise what a poor footballer he is. Cause of Conveys lack of form Hunt had to play, but I think Convey should now be given an extended run on left wing. Another thing which puzzles me is all RFC fans used to hate A Hughes but imo Hunt is exactly the same and is loved for it i.e. works hard but limited ability.

Poppycock!!!

Do you actually watch any football games?

Do me a favour and watch match of the day this weekend and see how many goals are actually scored from great crosses from left or right wingers in all games. Then watch RFC play and count the good crosses from either open play or dead ball from Convey, Murts, Shorey and Hunt and I can tell you the result before it even happens.

Convey - 1 good cross and 1 bad one
Murts - 3 good crosses, one of which he checked inside to do, and 1 woeful cross where he jumps up and down in annoyance like a baby (that makes me LOL so much)
Shorey - 3 half decent crosses, 1 on the money and 4 that dont beat the first man or sail over the back stick
Hunt - 3 decent crosses, 3 blocked for corners and 1 woeful cross that all the boo boys remember.

Best cross of the day? Dave Kitson, just Convey in the middle trying to out jump a 6'4 defender!!!

May not be a true reflection this weekend as we are playing Liverpool but will be a true reflection of the teams crossing ability most weekends.

By the way.. a winger is also there to help the fullback when the oposition have the ball and Hunty does this more than any other midfielder.

And I never hated Hughes, you shouldn't hate people if they are not good enough only if they arent trying. Hughes gave all he had each game and as a fan that is all I expect from a player. It is the managers job to get quality players and the players sole job is to play to the best of his ability as Mr Hughes always tried to do.

Team of Huntys or a team of Seols?

Huntys will win you 3 out of ten games through effort and commitment
Seols will win you 1 out of ten games with the class they CAN produce.

[Huntley & Palmer]

What if that ability is pretty shocking though?

[1871royals]

We are a Steve Coppell team so understandably use are wingers a lot. Championship season how we won a lot of games was Little and Convey. At prem level a winger needs to have more than effort and commitment. I think everyone can agree Hunts best attributes are his tenacity, work rate etc. Can anyone else think of any other wingers who are like this? Wingers primary job is to create goals, Hunt does not do that.

Unfair to slate Conveys crossing as he not had a run in the team.

Shorey may not be playing as well as he did last season but he still puts loads more good crosses in then Hunt.

You have proven my point when saying that Hunt wins games through effort and commitment. If that was true anyone with a good level of fitness who is hard working could make it in the prem. You need to have ability which Hunt is lacking.

[Vision]

A lot of it is about blend and balance though. The work rate of Hunt on the left when complemented by the creativity of Little and to a lesser degree Seol last season was a combination that worked. However without that creativity Hunt is left a little exposed ( as is Harper without Sidwell) as a guy with plenty of spirit and endeavour but not much else.

Having said that though, given the fact that we're in a relegation scrap then the qualities that Hunt brings are exactly whats required in this situation. Equally I'd wager that the 6 or so sides that are in the relegation fight with us would be more than happy to have a Stephen Hunt in their side.

[papereyes]

The truly bizarre bit is that hunt looked to have added a touch of quality this season.

No, he plays exactly like the man he resembles.

Another thing which puzzles me is all RFC fans used to hate A Hughes but imo Hunt is exactly the same and is loved for it i.e. works hard but limited ability.

They loved him at first. The parallels between the two are so frightening - same role in the squad, similar output on the field, similar debates.

[londinium]

We are a Steve Coppell team so understandably use are wingers a lot. Championship season how we won a lot of games was Little and Convey. At prem level a winger needs to have more than effort and commitment. I think everyone can agree Hunts best attributes are his tenacity, work rate etc. Can anyone else think of any other wingers who are like this? Wingers primary job is to create goals, Hunt does not do that.

Unfair to slate Conveys crossing as he not had a run in the team.

Shorey may not be playing as well as he did last season but he still puts loads more good crosses in then Hunt.

You have proven my point when saying that Hunt wins games through effort and commitment. If that was true anyone with a good level of fitness who is hard working could make it in the prem. You need to have ability which Hunt is lacking.

What do you class as ability?

Does he have the ability to takle back and break up play? Yes (unlike Bobby)
Do he have any skill on the ball? Yes (not seen any from Bobby)
Does he have the ability to keep making the effort to get the ball and create something or get on the end of a cross ? Yes (does Bobby?)
Does he have the ability to cross? Yes he does

I dont want to slag off Convey but he isn't all that, and I would prefer Hunt anyday of the week.

Convey can cross a ball, but doesnt? I cant remember 1 cross, let alone 1 good cross all season and in the Champ winning season he crossed for a total of 3 goals whereas Hunty also crossed for 3 goal from just playing a bit part role each game as sub.

It is all about opinions and as much as I would like our wingers both side to shoot down the line and whip in great crosses all the time that just isn't happening and Hunty contributes a hell of a lot more in all other aspects of the game than any other winger we have and more than all other players too, Kitson apart.

[1871royals]

A Hughes was one of my fav players great workrate, score goals added another dimension to the team. I thought RFC fans were too harsh on him as he was played out of position a lot. He was unlucky with Sidders and Harps in his position.

A Hughes being poor on left wing was undertstandable due to him being out of position. Thats why S Hunt annoys me as he is an allegedly a specialist left winger but cannot cross a football.

[1871royals]

I think you are grossly underestimated BC contribution. I seem to think he set up 10+ goals in the champ season. Preston (A) springs to mind he set up 2 goals especially the 2nd goal, Hunt dreams of passing accuracy like that. That season Hunt was effective coming of the bench as an impact player, thats what hes good at when defences are tiring.

BC got plently of skill he just needs to recapture his form. I dont think Shorey has every looked overexposed by BC in front of him so I think his defensive qualites are fine.

I dont know off hand but I cant remember us scoring one goal of a Hunt cross this season and hes started every game.

Ability is providing decent service for the front line. Right wing has been decimated by injuries/players being sold so we need are left wing to contribute which S Hunt has not done.

[londinium]

I think you are grossly underestimated BC contribution. I seem to think he set up 10+ goals in the champ season. Preston (A) springs to mind he set up 2 goals especially the 2nd goal, Hunt dreams of passing accuracy like that. That season Hunt was effective coming of the bench as an impact player, thats what hes good at when defences are tiring.

BC got plently of skill he just needs to recapture his form. I dont think Shorey has every looked overexposed by BC in front of him so I think his defensive qualites are fine.

I dont know off hand but I cant remember us scoring one goal of a Hunt cross this season and hes started every game.

Ability is providing decent service for the front line. Right wing has been decimated by injuries/players being sold so we need are left wing to contribute which S Hunt has not done.

I think you hit the nail on the head when you said 'Convey just needs to recapture his form'

Convey took ages to 'capture' any sort of form for RFC, he then had a really good season in a really good team, scored good goals, and set up a good amount too, (only 3 from crosses though, watch DVD again ). Yes he has been injured but has done nothing this season and in my eyes looks far too lightweight for the Prem.

Hunty did well in Champ season coming off the bench all season, did great last year, again in a team that performed well, set up lots of our goals from corners and crosses, scored too. This season not been that great but still give 100% which gets him through a game compared to a player with better ability that is not on form.

Class some of the time versus 100% commitment all of the time?

Take your pick.

[brendywendy]

I think you are grossly underestimated BC contribution. I seem to think he set up 10+ goals in the champ season. Preston (A) springs to mind he set up 2 goals especially the 2nd goal, Hunt dreams of passing accuracy like that. That season Hunt was effective coming of the bench as an impact player, thats what hes good at when defences are tiring.

BC got plently of skill he just needs to recapture his form. I dont think Shorey has every looked overexposed by BC in front of him so I think his defensive qualites are fine.

I dont know off hand but I cant remember us scoring one goal of a Hunt cross this season and hes started every game.

Ability is providing decent service for the front line. Right wing has been decimated by injuries/players being sold so we need are left wing to contribute which S Hunt has not done.

i concur

thanks for stopping me having to post my spirited defence of BC

[BR2]

Major analysis of Bobby and Hunt-neither of them are much cop.
One is a bit of a mincer and the other isn't as 'ard as he thinks he is.
Neither can tackle.
If we have to rely on these two for the rest of the season we'll get relegated.

[Stranded]

I love the fact that people are writing off Convey before he's even really managed to get a run of games at this level.

Top stuff.

[Factfinder]

A Hughes was one of my fav players great workrate, score goals added another dimension to the team. I thought RFC fans were too harsh on him as he was played out of position a lot. He was unlucky with Sidders and Harps in his position.

A Hughes being poor on left wing was undertstandable due to him being out of position. Thats why S Hunt annoys me as he is an allegedly a specialist left winger but cannot cross a football.

Coppell generally plays Huntie out of position on the right when Convey is fit. Guess that says who he prefers in that position. If we'd spent a little more adventerously during the summer, Steve Hunt could now be used where he is best, that is as a second half impact player.

[atarax]

a heads-up, for those as don't read the GU footy pages
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Sto ... 93,00.html

[Gordons Cumming]

a heads-up, for those as don't read the GU footy pages
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Sto ... 93,00.html

Good article.

Hunty is a good, honest guy.

I like 100%ers