STAR statement, 16th October 2006

STAR Voice · by **STAR Voice** » 16 Oct 2006 08:14

STAR, on behalf of all Reading fans, would like to emphasise our whole-hearted support for Stephen Hunt after Saturday's unfortunate incident, as well as sending our condolences and best wishes to Petr Cech.

Anyone who knows Stephen Hunt or actually saw the incident themselves can have absolutely no doubt that there was no intent whatsoever, as has been confirmed by virtually all serious football journalists.

Finally, we believe Jose Mourinho's post-match comments are an outrageous slander that should be acted on by the FA for "bringing the game into disrepute".

Jerry St Clair · by **Jerry St Clair** » 16 Oct 2006 08:24

Amen to that.

Canny old Steve Coppell said he'd "welcome" an inquiry. And it not be the one Mourhinho expects!

M4 Junction 11 · by **M4 Junction 11** » 16 Oct 2006 08:28

It would be nice to collect some of the best wishes on here and send them to Hunt. Well done STAR!

southbank1871 · by **southbank1871** » 16 Oct 2006 08:32

I'd second that.

I can understand why Jose isn't best pleased considering he's lost his two first choice 'keepers in one game, but to start throwing out accusations like he did is outrageous. There's absolutely no way there was any intent in Hunt's challenge.

Barry the bird boggler · by **Barry the bird boggler** » 16 Oct 2006 08:37

Some common sense from Bob Wilson

Keeper Cech has surgery on skull

Cech suffered a sickening blow only 20 seconds into the game
Chelsea keeper Petr Cech has undergone surgery for a depressed fracture of the skull after he was injured during the Blues' 1-0 win at Reading on Saturday.

The 24-year-old collided with Reading's Stephen Hunt in the first minute of the game at the Madejski Stadium.

Cech was transferred to the Radcliffe Infirmary's specialist neuro-surgical unit in Oxford on Saturday night.

"The operation was successful but it is too early for an accurate assessment of his condition," said a Blues statement.

Cech and his replacement Carlo Cudicini were both carried off during the game and were both immediately taken to hospital.

Chelsea will be writing to the Football Association with our observations

Cudicini was discharged on Saturday night after being knocked unconscious in injury time.

Blues boss Jose Mourinho said immediately after the game that he was deeply unhappy with Hunt's challenge and said Cech was "lucky to still be alive".

The Chelsea statement continued: "Chelsea have reviewed the video of both incidents.

"We endorse the post-match comments of Jose Mourinho regarding the seriousness of these incidents.

"Chelsea will be writing to the Football Association with our observations."

Reading boss Steve Coppell said he was confident neither Hunt nor Sonko were deliberately trying to hurt the Chelsea keepers.

"I welcome Jose saying the FA should review them," he said. "We apologise to Chelsea for the injuries but I still think both players will be vindicated."

Arsenal goalkeeping legend Bob Wilson said he was disappointed by Mourinho's comments and agreed with Coppell that there was no intent shown by Hunt and Sonko.

"I was sad to hear Jose's comments after the game," Wilson told Five Live's Sportweek programme.

"Keepers expect to get bumps and bruises, it's part of what we do. We don't want to be protected all the time."

Chelsea face Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday, with third-choice keeper Hilario set for a start.

Hilario, 31 next Saturday, joined Chelsea on a free transfer last June from Portuguese side Nacional but he has yet make his debut for the Premiership champions.

Forbury Lion · by **Forbury Lion** » 16 Oct 2006 09:10

Best wishes to Carlo Cudicini too and apologies for not spelling your name correctly.

M4 Junction 11 · by **M4 Junction 11** » 16 Oct 2006 09:12

Forbury Lion wrote:Best wishes to Carlo Cudicini too and apologies for not spelling your name correctly.

... perhaps STAR could also send something to Cech on behalf of the fans.

Forbury Lion · by **Forbury Lion** » 16 Oct 2006 13:01

Why not just send him a card.

yappy · by **yappy** » 16 Oct 2006 15:36

STAR Campaigns wrote:Finally, we believe Jose Mourinho's post-match comments are an outrageous slander that should be acted on by the FA for "bringing the game into disrepute".

Jose was a bit OTT admittingly, but this is going a step to far, you can't really blame him for being a little bitter at losing two class keepers. This situation has already gone further than it should, and I think it should be put to rest asap.

M4 Junction 11 · by **M4 Junction 11** » 16 Oct 2006 15:41

yappy wrote:
STAR Campaigns wrote:Finally, we believe Jose Mourinho's post-match comments are an outrageous slander that should be acted on by the FA for "bringing the game into disrepute".
Jose was a bit OTT admittingly, but this is going a step to far, you can't really blame him for being a little bitter at losing two class keepers. This situation has already gone further than it should, and I think it should be put to rest asap.

I'm not sure that being a bitter little man is a valid defence for the malicious claims made by Jose. I agree that most would now probably want to sweep all this under the carpet and I'm sure the Chelsea media machine will be looking for a way to exit from the media histeria.

Barry the bird boggler · by **Barry the bird boggler** » 16 Oct 2006 16:40

M4 Junction 11 wrote:
Forbury Lion wrote:Best wishes to Carlo Cudicini too and apologies for not spelling your name correctly.
... perhaps STAR could also send something to Cech on behalf of the fans.

Seconded - STAR how about a card or something to each keeper signed on behalf of all of all Reading fans everywhere - anyone able to write it in perfect Czech?!

Presumably the club itself, and probably Hunty, will do something and I think it'd be a nice touch to show that at the end of the day any players health is far more important than a stupid game.

M4 Junction 11 · by **M4 Junction 11** » 16 Oct 2006 16:43

Barry the bird boggler wrote:
M4 Junction 11 wrote:
Forbury Lion wrote:Best wishes to Carlo Cudicini too and apologies for not spelling your name correctly.
... perhaps STAR could also send something to Cech on behalf of the fans.
Seconded - STAR how about a card or something to each keeper signed on behalf of all of all Reading fans everywhere - anyone able to write it in perfect Czech?!

Presumably the club itself, and probably Hunty, will do something and I think it'd be a nice touch to show that at the end of the day any players health is far more important than a stupid game.

On SSN confirmed Hunty's already sent his.

STAR Voice · by **STAR Voice** » 16 Oct 2006 20:24

M4 Junction 11 wrote:
Forbury Lion wrote:Best wishes to Carlo Cudicini too and apologies for not spelling your name correctly.
... perhaps STAR could also send something to Cech on behalf of the fans.

This has been organised - flowers will be delivered tomorrow.

I've also removed a small number of posts from this thread in the interests of taste - PM me if you have a problem with that - JK

Legend · by **Legend** » 16 Oct 2006 20:38

Anyone would have thought Cech had died.

He's only cracked a bone in an accident. No big deal as far as Finch is concerned.

BLUES & ROYAL · by **BLUES & ROYAL** » 16 Oct 2006 21:13

STAR Campaigns wrote:

Finally, we believe Jose Mourinho's post-match comments are an outrageous slander that should be acted on by the FA for "bringing the game into disrepute".

Totally agree
Dont know about Special one more like special needs.

FA Act now

Forbury Lion · by **Forbury Lion** » 16 Oct 2006 21:17

Legend wrote:Anyone would have thought Cech had died.

He's only cracked a bone in an accident. No big deal as far as Finch is concerned.

Depends which papers you read.

Sun reports he may be out for a year, may suffer fits and if epilepsy may never play again.

Legend · by **Legend** » 16 Oct 2006 21:26

Forbury Lion wrote:
Legend wrote:Anyone would have thought Cech had died.

He's only cracked a bone in an accident. No big deal as far as Finch is concerned.
Depends which papers you read.

Sun reports he may be out for a year, may suffer fits and if epilepsy may never play again.

A career threatening injury, ahhhhhhhh

What will he do now, he'll only have about Â£10m in the bank, maybe Sidders can lend him a tenner a week.

STAR Voice · by **STAR Voice** » 16 Oct 2006 21:26

Forbury Lion wrote:
Legend wrote:Anyone would have thought Cech had died.

He's only cracked a bone in an accident. No big deal as far as Finch is concerned.
Depends which papers you read.

Sun reports he may be out for a year, may suffer fits and if epilepsy may never play again.

The Sun always goes for the most sensationalist approach possible.

Legend · by **Legend** » 16 Oct 2006 21:28

STAR Campaigns wrote:
Forbury Lion wrote:
Legend wrote:Anyone would have thought Cech had died.

He's only cracked a bone in an accident. No big deal as far as Finch is concerned.
Depends which papers you read.

Sun reports he may be out for a year, may suffer fits and if epilepsy may never play again.
The Sun always goes for the most sensationalist approach possible.

Behave, they tell THE TRUTH

Gav · by **Gav** » 16 Oct 2006 22:58

After meeting Stephen Hunt a while back (towards the start of last season), I was literally stunned at how much of a model professional he came across as... far more than Lita (rather unsuprisingly) and far more than Sonko (not that Sonks came across in a bad way at all).

He was out, but not drinking, as he felt he hadn't 'earnt the right to yet', had absolutely ages to talk to me and was geniunely interested in what games I'd seen him in and how well I thought he'd performed.

Came across as a model professional and a thoroughly nice guy... In fact, I'll eat all my limbs if he the incident was deliberate.

Stephen Hunt deserves all of our backing. He's got himself in a difficult position through an accident largely caused by his desire to do what we all wanted him to; put pressure on the opponents from the first whistle - is this also not the reason why we've scored so many goals in the first few minutes?