STEPHEN HUNT tends to talk about his football much like he plays it: direct, no-holds-barred, impulsive, passionate and, as he insists himself, “honest”. And if he has something on his chest, as he did after training in Malahide yesterday, he likes to remove it.
Even without the subject of criticism of Saturday’s performance – from some quarters – being put to him, he chose to address it, head-on.
“Despite what people say we did okay against Italy,” he said. “There are a certain two or three people in the media who say stuff and they just say it for the sake of saying it. To be the bad cop. What’s that about? Just to get a higher salary in RTÉ, or wherever they come from? It’s stupid. Be honest.
“I’m talking about certain people,” he continued, becoming increasingly animated, “saying stuff for the sake of saying it, it just doesn’t make sense. Why say it? To earn bigger money or to be ‘The Man’? Silly rat.”
Hunt was evidently incensed by the comments made by one particular member of the RTÉ panel on Saturday night (not John Giles or Graeme Souness, the other one).
He called Ireland’s performance “shameful”?
“Listen, I’ve said it before, Italy always just do enough to qualify, that is their record. And they just did enough last time to win the World Cup.
“They’ve done enough over the last 20 years, history shows that. So to perform the way we did was great for the boys, so credit where credit is due.
“I’m the first to say if we were rubbish, then say what you want on TV, but don’t say stuff for the sake of saying things just to be different.
“And some of them in the press write stuff and then they don’t even turn up here (for Republic of Ireland training and player interviews), that’s the truth of it. What are they doing? What are they trying to achieve? Sell more newspapers, get more viewers? It’s ridiculous.”
Did anyone in particular annoy you and the players?
“There’s three or four, I’m not going to mention any names and give them more satisfaction. If they want to write something . . . if I’m crap, if I’m rubbish, I’ll say I’m rubbish. If I play okay I’ll tell you I played okay. But don’t say stuff for the sake of saying it, it’s stupid.
“The players know what goes on. They have families, families watch games. Where do they get their kicks from? Especially (Eamon) Dunphy, he should know better by now. He’s a skinny rat, like.”
Malnourished rodents weren’t the only creatures in Hunt’s line of fire: Fifa’s decision to seed teams for the play-offs also ruffled his feathers and left him questioning what affect it will have on the officials in charge of the games.
“The rules should have been set first of all, I think everyone’s agreed on that, it’s obvious, but they’ve changed now for the big lads. It makes it difficult because the referees who look after the play-offs know that Fifa want the big teams to qualify, so how will they feel about giving a decision for a smaller country in the last few minutes? It’s not good, to be honest, it’s not very professional. But I’m sure the referees will do their jobs,” he added, with half a grin.
If his emotions were high yesterday they were at rock bottom last week when he realised he wouldn’t be starting against Italy. Did Giovanni Trapattoni talk to him about his decision?
“No, he doesn’t need to, he’s the manager. You get on with it. When you train you train normally, but deep down, when you’re back in the room, you’re unhappy you’re not playing, that’s for sure. I was gutted, but you keep your emotions to yourself.”
Well, sometimes.
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