Rumour - SHunt off

[soggy biscuit]

Hunt definitely won't join Wigan. It's hardly career progression.

It would actually be a huge risk for Hunt to leave guarunteed first team football at a club that will be in the Premier League next season and will guaruntee first team football for Hunt in the Premier League than join a declining side that cannot guaruntee Premier League football

[SCIAG]

It would actually be a huge risk for Hunt to leave guarunteed first team football at a club that will be in the Premier League next season and will guaruntee first team football for Hunt in the Premier League than join a declining side that cannot guaruntee Premier League football, play in half empty stadiums and will just as likely be in the Championship within 2 years.

We can't guarantee it either. Wigan are 7th. 11 teams have to overtake them for them to go down. If he goes to Wigan, he'll get eighteen months of PL football, minimum. If he stays with us, he's guaranteed 6 months of Championship football.

[Royal Rother]

Very succinctly put.

[Archie's penalty]

It would actually be a huge risk for Hunt to leave guarunteed first team football at a club that will be in the Premier League next season and will guaruntee first team football for Hunt in the Premier League than join a declining side that cannot guaruntee Premier League football, play in half empty stadiums and will just as likely be in the Championship within 2 years.

We can't guarantee it either. Wigan are 7th. 11 teams have to overtake them for them to go down. If he goes to Wigan, he'll get eighteen months of PL football, minimum. If he stays with us, he's guaranteed 6 months of Championship football.

Exactly and a move to Wigan would allow him to play in the prem until he's 28 years and 9 months old (May 2010).

Being at Wigan would also put him in the shop window should Wigan go down at the end of next season. A move could thus mean premiership football until he's 30.

[Snowball]

11 teams have to overtake them for them to go down.

Absolutely true but they are a fair way from safe.

13 Reading 22 6 1 4 14 15 0 3 8 16 32 -17 22
14 Middlesbrough 22 2 4 5 12 18 3 2 6 7 18 -17 21
15 Bolton 21 5 3 3 16 9 0 2 8 7 23 - 9 20
16 Birmingham 22 3 3 4 12 12 2 2 8 11 21 -10 20
17 Wigan Athletic 22 4 2 4 13 12 1 3 8 9 25 -15 20
18 Sunderland 21 4 3 3 11 13 0 2 9 9 27 -20 17
19 Fulham 22 2 5 4 16 18 0 4 7 7 21 -16 15
20 Derby County 22 1 2 8 7 20 0 2 9 3 27 -37 7

They are 9 points better off than we were last year but the bottom clubs are 14-6-4-1-1-1 better off

7 Wigan 22 2 31
8 West Ham 22 - 2 29
9 Hull 22 -13 27
10 Fulham 20 2 26
11 Man City 21 9 25
12 Portsmouth 21 -12 24
13 Bolton 22 - 8 23
14 Newcastle 22 - 9 23
15 Sunderland 22 - 9 23
16 Tottenham 22 - 6 21
17 Blackburn 21 -11 21
18 Middlesbrough 22 -15 21
19 Stoke 22 -16 21
20 West Brom 22 -17 21

Unless there was a lot of money in it, I think I'd want a better bet.

It's more than likely that Wigan will do less well in the next 18 games
and though they will probably be safe it could get hairy.

[Chuckle Brother]

11 teams have to overtake them for them to go down.

Absolutely true but they are a fair way from safe.

13 Reading 22 6 1 4 14 15 0 3 8 16 32 -17 22
14 Middlesbrough 22 2 4 5 12 18 3 2 6 7 18 -17 21
15 Bolton 21 5 3 3 16 9 0 2 8 7 23 - 9 20
16 Birmingham 22 3 3 4 12 12 2 2 8 11 21 -10 20
17 Wigan Athletic 22 4 2 4 13 12 1 3 8 9 25 -15 20
18 Sunderland 21 4 3 3 11 13 0 2 9 9 27 -20 17
19 Fulham 22 2 5 4 16 18 0 4 7 7 21 -16 15
20 Derby County 22 1 2 8 7 20 0 2 9 3 27 -37 7

They are 9 points better off than we were last year but the bottom clubs are 14-6-4-1-1-1 better off

7 Wigan 22 2 31
8 West Ham 22 - 2 29
9 Hull 22 -13 27
10 Fulham 20 2 26
11 Man City 21 9 25
12 Portsmouth 21 -12 24
13 Bolton 22 - 8 23
14 Newcastle 22 - 9 23
15 Sunderland 22 - 9 23
16 Tottenham 22 - 6 21
17 Blackburn 21 -11 21
18 Middlesbrough 22 -15 21
19 Stoke 22 -16 21
20 West Brom 22 -17 21

Unless there was a lot of money in it, I think I'd want a better bet.

It's more than likely that Wigan will do less well in the next 18 games
and though they will probably be safe it could get hairy.

No pun intended ?

[SCIAG]

Chuckle Brother, you need to learn about snipping.

[Ian Royal]

snowball isn't at it again with a ridiculous statement backed up by a lot of meaningless numbers is he!?

Wigan need what? 11 points from their remaining 16 games? Given the total nosedive form Hull are currently in and the vast number of mediocre clubs below them and they're all but mathmatically safe this season.

Wigan would make an excellent stepping stone for SHunt. 6 - 12 months Premier League football to put him in the window for a better club without having to worry much about relegation.

I think Wigan are a much safer bet than Spurs, who SHOULD stay up, but lets not forget size doesn't prevent relegation. Just ask Leeds, or West Ham or Man City.

[OLLIE KEARNS]

The reality at all levels of paid football is that money plays a significant role in any decision. Assuming Wigan were to offer a minimum 2 1/2 year contract on circa £30k per week plus Prem bonuses. That would be in the ball park of £4.5m over that period of time which may be up to £2m more than he is on at the moment.
That type of money is enough to secure him for life as well as making it possible for him to improve the lives of his immediate family should he be so inclined. To reach your early 30's in that kind of position is a powerful arguement for seeking a higher salary. Just as any person who works seeks to improve themselves and earn more.
Couple of other pro's and cons -
PRO'S
- Playing prem football significantly increases his chances of ousting Duff from the ROI side. Something that I think is very important to him.
- Good performances at Wigan could secure a further move onwards and upwards.
- This type of contract may soon be a thing of the past if global financial problems gradually wash into football as I suspect they will.

CONS
- Reading is a good stable club with high future potential given it's sound financial footing. He could be playing in front of full houses again in a few months as opposed to the empty stands at Wigan.
- He may be joining Wigan at their peak. With Heskey and Palacios leaving and Valencia likely to follow they may well struggle from now on.
- It's rare in a career that players find themselves in such a happy environment as appears to exist at Reading. Money isn't always the be all and end all.

If the speculation is true regarding the Wigan bid then he has a tough decision to make

[Sarah Star]

DECISION TIME FOR STEPHEN HUNT

NO TIME TO THINK - Reading's Stephen Hunt is wanted by Wigan and Spurs
With Spurs keen Wigan want answer from Reading striker

By GRAHAM NICKLESS, 24/01/2009

HARRY REDKNAPP was last night given 24 hours to find the cash to sign Reading’s Stephen Hunt.
The Spurs manager has been told Hunt, 27, will be on his way to Wigan if he does not come up with £5million.

But Latics boss Steve Bruce has also ramped up the pressure and given the midfielder until Monday to make up his mind — or the deal is off.

A source close to Hunt said: “Harry is desperate to sign Stephen but he has to hurry.

"Steve Bruce is well aware of Spurs’ interest which is why he wants Stephen’s answer by Monday.

"Reading for their part don’t want to lose him and have offered him Premier League wages until the end of the season.”

Redknapp wants left-sided Hunt having missed out on Middlesbrough’s Stewart Downing.

Reading will move in for Barnsley’s Jamal Campbell-Ryce if Ireland international Hunt departs.

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/1 ... riker.html

[UpNorth]

You have to laugh

'A source close to Hunt'. Yes his agent, trying to stir up interest that isn't there!

Coppell has denied all knowledge of any bid from Wigan. Never at any stage have we heard Bruce, Moyes or Redknapp express their admiration or interest Hunt.

No wonder Hunt's performances go down the pan during the transfer window with all this c**p in the press.

[Royal With Cheese]

A source close to Hunt said: “Harry is desperate to sign Stephen but he has to hurry.

LOL!

That's a modern day classic.

Agree with the wages thing. That's what Hunty wants. If we were to come up with a similar contract guaranteed he wouldn't go to Wigan. So, nowadays, for the majority of footballers, when they talk about "ambition" they actually mean "money".

[Royal With Cheese]

No wonder Hunt's performances go down the pan during the transfer window with all this c**p in the press.

Especially as he appears to be spending most of his time correlating stories with the red tops.

[loyalroyal4life]

A source close to Hunt said: “Harry is desperate to sign Stephen but he has to hurry.

LOL!

That's a modern day classic.

Agree with the wages thing. That's what Hunty wants. If we were to come up with a similar contract guaranteed he wouldn't go to Wigan. So, nowadays, for the majority of footballers, when they talk about "ambition" they actually mean "money".

i dont think he should play against wolves if he is still here

[fozziebear]

Have to agree,don't think hunty will be in the right frame of mind and this is a big match for us.

[winchester_royal]

I just wish he'd bugger off now.

[brendywendy]

hes gone i reckon
after all weve done for him etc.....

[IMAMATEOFJOVSKY]

He's a mercenary - he knows we have a good opportunity to be in premership next year - he also knows how Reading pay their players, so it can only be a finance-driven move - to the cobbled streets of Wigan?

Dont need any bad apples in the camp at this crucial time - Reading rescued him from the scrapheap, poor lad can't survive of the £20k a week, so as many have said, the sooner he goes the better it will be.

He's burnt his bridges buy openly touting himself - its refreshing to see Doyle doing the complete opposite and recognising what the club have done for him

[Royal Rother]

As long as he is honest, which he seems to have been almost to a fault, and continues to give 100% effort on the pitch then I don't think we've got much to complain about.

If the speculation affects his game then it is up to Coppell to drop him. Although his performances have been somewhat average in the last couple of months he always gives everything he's got, so he's okay in my books. A whole-hearted footballer of limited natural ability, but a damned good pro.

[Focher]

im getting very tired of seeing 'skysports sources believe' on tv now. That basically means its total bollox.