loyalroyal4lifeRoyalwaster Wouldn't be suprised if with Bullard likely to leave Fulham, they might put in a bid for Hunty ....
bullard plays on the right so cant see them looking at a 5 mill rated left mid for a right mid berth
gazzer, loyal royalloyalroyal4lifeRoyalwaster Wouldn't be suprised if with Bullard likely to leave Fulham, they might put in a bid for Hunty ....
bullard plays on the right so cant see them looking at a 5 mill rated left mid for a right mid berth
he plays in centre midfield with danny murphy
Deathy I'm not sure if this has been discussed as yet, but the player who mouthed off at Tim Dellor after training last week, 'apparently', was none other than Stephen Hunt.
Nice attitude.
Sarah StarDeathy I'm not sure if this has been discussed as yet, but the player who mouthed off at Tim Dellor after training last week, 'apparently', was none other than Stephen Hunt.
Nice attitude.
What was he mouthing off about?
Reading: A Christmas Message to Stephen Hunt
We're looking good at the mo. One point behind second, six points ahead of fourth and the opportunity to be second at Christmas (should we beat Brum away next weekend). Either way, I am allowing myself the faintest festive cheer and hope (in a very unCoppell way) of returning to the Premiership at the first time of asking.
SO why oh why oh why oh why are my nights as hectic with worry as Ebenezer Scrooge? Stephen Hunt and the transfer market? That's why.
Just like old Scrooge, the ghost of Christmas past is a visiting with much speculation linking the dynamic Reading winger to a move to the Premiership not with the Royals in May but with the royal blue of Everton. He has said in the past that he wants to go, they are rumoured to be offering around £4 million and only have to up it by about a million to trigger a get out clause. He'll be happy about "playing in his prime" at a Premiership club and his future happiness and success will be assured.
My advice STAY PUT MR HUNT. Here's why:
You owe us a season. Said it before, I'll say it again. You owe the fans and the gaffer a season. There is an increasingly frustrated tone from you about your predicament. Stop it and get on with your job.
Reading, touch wood, are on their way back up to the Premiership. Once there, you will be in a team where you know your place is assured and in which you are a major force. Not only will that (as it has in the past) make you a delight to watch, but it will also make you a shining star of the team. When analysed in the papers and on Match of the Day, your stock and price will go up and you'll get the right move and we'll get the right price for you. It certainly will be better than what is on the table currently.
Everton is not the right move for you. What you want, it seems, is to play in Europe. That is the logical train of thought for someone like you. You believe that you are in your prime and want the chance to test yourself against the best in Europe and play for a team containing (theoretically) some of the better players in Europe. That's fine, but Everton are not guaranteed Europe by a long stretch and do not have much of a pedigree of late to challenge for UEFA. Why not wait for something better? The only team that might fulfil your ambitions of consistent European action and being a team that can compete in the Premiership looks currently to be Aston Villa. And they seem to have enough wingers/attacking midfielders at the mo. Wait for the sleeping giants to emerge, wait for the right time.
You will never play for a Big Four club. That is in no way an aspersion on your quality (that's why I want you to stay) but your's is a game full of work rate, commitment and strength. And, despite you thinking you are in your prime, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool or Man Utd do not need a 27 year old to play on the wing with all the scouting networks, current players, academy players etc at their disposal. In short, a move to a mid-tier Premiership club is not a stepping stone to one of those clubs, merely a way into a team that has a different type of struggle to Reading. Moreover, you will be one of many names at a club, not the name of the club.
The class of 2006 to 08 haven't fared brilliantly when they have left Reading: Nicky Shorey was in the England squad but felt unsettled (like yourself) because of the interest of other clubs. Leaving for Villa at the end of last term, having little in the way of meaningful form for the Royals, I think he has looked ordinary in the claret strip and recently has been dropped in favour of Luke Young.
Meanwhile, Dave Kitson went north to Stoke, vowing to keep them up with his goals. A strange move considering the lack of form he had last season and his habit of dropping back far too much rather than staying in the last third, where he would have been effective. In any case, it has been Rory Delap that has become the Premiership hero of that town, not the ginger, currently goal-shy, assassin.
Sonko too, went to The Potters and although they are holding their own, surely that's not where you would see your career going?
Glen Little still looks good at Pompey, but starts rarely and his is a move that was too good for him not to take, given the injuries he has had (and is having).
A success story is, of course, Steve Sidwell. He is looking much more settled at Villa and looks a top player again having been given the chance. But look at how long that took him?
Now, I am not writing this because I think any of these players lack quality, they have in bucket loads. However, away from Reading they do not have that platform from which to show it. You, like them, were the class that made Reading history and that took us so close to the UEFA cup spot. You were able to do this because of the secure emotional platform created at Reading - stable coach, stable team spirit etc. More than that, I think you have more memories to give us.
There are always pull factors to another club, another challenge or another way of life, but sometimes the best thing you can do is stay put. You frequently say that keeping yourself fit and healthy is the key to your future career. You're right, so concentrate on that and, next season, if we are not back in the Premiership and you still want to go to Everton or wherever, go, and I will wear an Everton scarf at a Reading home game in your honour, safe in the knowledge that you may have moved on, but you did it in the right way.
Meanwhile you will be confident that should the ghosts of Christmas past ever visit you, you will be able to look them in the eye and say "I did the right thing." You can't say that at the moment.
Mike Hanbidge
Ian Royal Oh dear.
We'd be struggling with just Kebe to create chances for us. Play offs would be the best we could hope for IMO.
brendywendyIan Royal Oh dear.
We'd be struggling with just Kebe to create chances for us. Play offs would be the best we could hope for IMO.
luckily we have a few other players too
Ian RoyalbrendywendyIan Royal Oh dear.
We'd be struggling with just Kebe to create chances for us. Play offs would be the best we could hope for IMO.
luckily we have a few other players too
Except the majority of chances are made by the wings and Convey has never been the same since his injury and Henry is a little inexperienced.
If he went we'd need a replacement and we'd need to buy with Prem in mind.
No Hoops All this talk of Ashley Young going to Real could leave a space at Villa.
Alan PartridgeNo Hoops All this talk of Ashley Young going to Real could leave a space at Villa.
Blimey their fans would be in absolute tears if they replaced Young with Hunt.
No Hoops All this talk of Ashley Young going to Real could leave a space at Villa.
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