Alex Bruce

[the doc]

[QUOTE=geysir; I don't know if he is any better than St Ledger. They look much of a muchness.[/QUOTE]

Bruce isnt fit to lace St Ledgers boots!

Bruce lacks pace, awareness, isnt as good on the ball. What games have you been watching?

I'll have a pint of what your drinking! :party:

[geysir]

What I drink would be wasted on you Doc.
At least Bruce had the balls to tell Keane he was faking it as a manager and couldn't hack it as a coach.

[Predator]

Bruce isnt fit to lace St Ledgers boots!

Bruce lacks pace, awareness, isnt as good on the ball. What games have you been watching?

I'll have a pint of what your drinking! :party:I'd hardly say that there's a gulf in class. They're both Championship players.

[Sullivinho]

I'd agree there isn't a gulf between them but an in-form Sledge over Bruce every time for me.

[irishfan86]

I think Sledge is the superior player but they are both young enough and it is possible that Bruce could overtake Sledger on the pecking order as he continues to grow.

As it stands Sledge seems to be standing still or going backward, and Bruce is on an upward trend.

[Sullivinho]

As it stands Sledge seems to be standing still or going backward

Aptly enough, he's apparently going "Nowhere" (http://greenscene.me/2011/01/sean-st-ledger-going-nowhere/)

[ifk101]

He's not a PNE fan, he's not an Ireland fan, he only posts on one topic.

the doc is Sean St Ledger.

[the doc]

He's not a PNE fan, he's not an Ireland fan, he only posts on one topic.

the doc is Sean St Ledger.


How do you know? I go to lots of games in my work, I also go home and away to Ireland games, do you?

If anyone on here thinks that Alex Bruce is a better player than the Saint, then they havent a clue about football.

I've worked on a few Leeds and in the past Ipswich, Brum and Tranmere, games, so I know all about his game.

End of debate!

[ifk101]

Hi Sean! :bigsmile:

[Supreme feet]

How do you know? I play lots of games in my work, I also play home and away for Ireland, do you?

If anyone on here thinks that Alex Bruce is a better player than me, then they havent a clue about football.

I've played against Leeds and in the past Ipswich, Brum and Tranmere, games, so I know all about his game.

End of debate!

Fixed. Hi Sean!

[geysir]

Post cup match quote, when asked about his performance, Alex declared, "Heather Mills could have marked Niklas Bendtner"

[Stuttgart88]

But could she mark Kevin Doyle?

[OwlsFan]

Bruce is a stick. It is always amusing how long forgotton topics on players are suddenly moved to the top after one or two decent performances. The guy has had more loans than the banks in Nama, including one at Wednesday (enough said).

[geysir]

I know in your long life Owls, 2 years is merely a blink of an eye, but was that game at Wednesday some 2 years ago when Bruce's team won?
We have one central defender playing in the lower half of the epl, a couple of newcomers and the rest are at championship level.
Enough said = considering our available talent, Bruce has a case for a call up, he is worth have a closer look while playing for Leeds

[OwlsFan]

ANyone else hear that Bruce has been approached by Worthington to play for Norn Iron? Apparently he's only played for us in a couple of friendlies.

I think he lost his place at Leeds in the latter part of the season.

[BonnieShels]

Yeah. Check out the eligibility thread.

[cornflakes]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/13996856.stm

We need to start a petition to stop the North taking our players

[ArdeeBhoy]

To be honest I always thought O'Brien was like Gary Breen, only not quite as good or endearing.
Good summary, though appears more over-stated by the day??

Though my pals at school with Breen would never have been so respectful....

[Predator]

Bruce has opted for Worthington's crew. Scandalous! Player-thieving, beggars!
I just choked on the bitter.

[Irwin3]

I'm guessing that after seeing the likes of Kelly and even Delaney being preferred at centre back in recent months he realised that he was never going to be in with a shot. Losing his place in the Leeds team obviously didn't help his cause but then that never stopped Kelly from being picked even though his last appearance for Fulham was in November! Not the greatest loss and he obviously just wants to play. Good luck to him.

[BonnieShels]

Bruce has opted for Worthington's crew. Scandalous! Player-thieving, beggars!
I just choked on the bitter.

How's OWC spinning it?

[Predator]

In general there is a lot of uproar about Worthington's decision to dissolve any sense of moral superiority they thought they had by approaching Bruce.
One has suggested that Worthington is an evil genius getting one over on the FAI by 'stealing' Bruce. The spin-doctors have been slacking.

[BonnieShels]

The world is a better place for the OWC.

[boovidge]

The IFA is a laughing stock at this stage

[DannyInvincible]

In general there is a lot of uproar about Worthington's decision to dissolve any sense of moral superiority they thought they had by approaching Bruce.

Was there ever a moral high-ground established anyway?


One has suggested that Worthington is an evil genius getting one over on the FAI by 'stealing' Bruce.

Och, now, that's no neighbourly way to go about things at all, at all.

[DannyInvincible]

Oh, and my thoughts on Bruce; it's his choice, so he's free to go. He's eligible and entitled to play for them, so good luck to him and cheers for the, eh, service. ;)

Hmm, that doesn't read right, does it?

[Predator]

Was there ever a moral high-ground established anyway?It was founded on silicon dioxide.




Och, now, that's no neighbourly way to go about things at all, at all.He's playing us all for fools. Visiting one of the biggest Catholic boys schools in Ireland, talking about "the north of Ireland" and then nicking players. Damaging relations and ensuring apartheid...and all that guff.

[DannyInvincible]

From OWC:



We've potentially lost some moral high ground.Or, if handled properly, perhaps it can be used to gain some.

Suppose the IFA were to contact the FAI and say:

"We have been approached by Alex Bruce, who has expressed his interest in playing for us, and is eligible. However, we are mindful that he has previously represented your association, and we wish to respect this. Therefore we would like to open dialogue to put some protocol in place to deal with this situation now, and when it happens in the future - in either direction."

Of course, this pre-supposes that the IFA are capable of manning up and at the same time showing some leadership and initiative, none of which seem likely. And even if they did, I think we can all predict the FAI's response. But it is an opportunity to put them in a corner, and worst case scenario, show them up for the scummy tramps that they are.

:confused:

Wouldn't that be just a blatant contradiction?: "I respect what you've done, but just don't do it again, right!"

And anyway, Worthington approached Bruce, so it's also a blatant lie. He admitted as much two or three weeks ago.

As for putting the "scummy tramps" in a corner... What does he think he's talking about?

[ArdeeBhoy]

From OWC:

As for putting the "scummy tramps" in a corner... What does he think he's talking about?

Hence my, er, doubt, in my last reply in the eligibility thread....

[Sullivinho]

The IFA is a laughing stock at this stage

I'm indifferent to Bruce himself (he's more middle-of-the-road than a dead badger) but the eligibility saga is proceeding in the style of a Fawlty Towers episode with Basil Worthington on top form. Whatever happened to farcical comedies? There's nothing like kicking back and watching a farce unfold from a good vantage point. :D

[DannyInvincible]

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/alex-bruce-wants-to-play-for-northern-ireland-16018801.html?r=RSS


Nigel Worthington has turned the tables on the Republic of Ireland by persuading Alex Bruce to switch his international allegiance to Northern Ireland.

The Leeds United defender was twice capped by the Republic, but remains eligible for Northern Ireland due to those games being friendlies and he has now agreed to turn out for Northern Ireland.

Provided Fifa agree to the switch in time Bruce could make his debut in next month's Euro 2012 qualifier against the Faroe Islands.

Worthington has seen the likes of Darron Gibson, Marc Wilson, Shane Duffy and Daniel Devine switch to the Republic as the Irish FA fights against eligibility rules regarding Northern Ireland born players.

Really amused by the BT's new-found vagueness.

[Murfinator]

This whole charade is somewhat unsettling regarding the significance of international football. Bruce isn't a kid, hes 26 and should by now know his identity and what nationality he belongs to. To switch national allegiance because he isn't getting picked just seems vile to me. Your country is your country regardless, and if Bruce's attitude is clearly to play for the best international team that'll take him I wonder how many others in our squad are the same.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Well, as pointed out in numerous other posts, everyone's got the choice until they play a competitive game....

[Noelys Guitar]

Not sure if he is going to improve NI's chances of beating the Faroes. That game is still too close to call. Always good to see two evenly matched teams up against one another.

[tetsujin1979]

The only loss here is to the North's credibility

[Lionel Ritchie]

seventy two euros and thirty-six cents Nigel. Every last bit of it. Plus the six euro priority boarding pass. Only time Bruce'll get on before a host of others.

[DannyInvincible]

This whole charade is somewhat unsettling regarding the significance of international football. Bruce isn't a kid, hes 26 and should by now know his identity and what nationality he belongs to. To switch national allegiance because he isn't getting picked just seems vile to me. Your country is your country regardless, and if Bruce's attitude is clearly to play for the best international team that'll take him I wonder how many others in our squad are the same.

Well, arguably Bruce has two nationalities. He's British-born but is also entitled to Irish nationality. Technically, you could even say he has three countries under FIFA rules. In saying that, his previous comments with regard to why he opted for us and his current actions in light of those comments do leave him vulnerable to criticism from the anti-mercenary brigade (I'm not necessarily using that patronisingly or in a dismissive manner, by the way) and make a mockery of any notions of national allegiance you'd hope players might have. But them's the rules.

I wouldn't imagine the attitude is a common thing throughout the squad. We have players like Kilbane, McGeady, McCarthy and Clark who are extremely proud of their Irish heritage. Some of those went through quite a lot and were at the receiving end of incessant vitriolic abuse because of their display of allegiance to their nation, but it didn't dent their pride. Then there are the northern players who've opted for us even if it will expose them to greater competition for places and less game-time. I think that's a very brave and positive show of commitment, as it's a risky move career-wise. Shane Duffy would be making NI senior squads right now. Gibson and Wilson would also be playing more pivotal roles than those they perform for Ireland had they stuck with the IFA all those years ago. As for guys like Robbie, Shay and Richard Dunne, it would be difficult to take the jersey off them. They love playing for Ireland.

Just as an aside, Tony Kane and Michael O'Connor, after declaring their intentions to switch to the FAI from the IFA and joining up with a few Ireland squads for friendlies, later decided they might have a better chance of regularly playing back at the IFA and returned north.

[tricky_colour]

Good luck to him, nice to see someone keen to play international football for a change.

[geysir]

The only loss here is to the North's credibility
That statement includes a massive assumption.

[Philly]

Good luck to him, a decent addition for NI.

[Predator]

The spin-doctors have arrived at OWC:


Ermmm, it was Alex Bruce that first approached his Leeds United coach Glynn Snoddin about the possibility so we haven't poached anybody nor do we need to 'spin' the issue.

Alex is eligible for Northern Ireland via family lines so again he is only going to be representing a country he has blood ties to. For players opting to play for the Republic it is a political document which gives them the freedom to do so. The FAI actively persue players who they feel will 'want to' use that document for their benefit. Please don't confuse the actions of the FAI with the inactions of the IFA. There is only one poaching association on this Island. To clarify on Lee Camp, he himself made contact with the IFA so again the IFA poaching arguement is null and void.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Good luck to him, nice to see someone keen to play international football for a change.

Are you sure???

Desperate more like....

[ArdeeBhoy]

The spin-doctors have arrived at OWC

That's almost balanced by their standards....
:eek:

[Charlie Darwin]

I hope Alex Bruce helps Norn Iron qualify for the Euros. That's all.

[paul_oshea]

This whole charade is somewhat unsettling regarding the significance of international football. Bruce isn't a kid, hes 26 and should by now know his identity and what nationality he belongs to. To switch national allegiance because he isn't getting picked just seems vile to me. Your country is your country regardless, and if Bruce's attitude is clearly to play for the best international team that'll take him I wonder how many others in our squad are the same.

just like your favourite sport rugby then

[CraftyToePoke]

This whole charade is somewhat unsettling regarding the significance of international football. Bruce isn't a kid, hes 26 and should by now know his identity and what nationality he belongs to. To switch national allegiance because he isn't getting picked just seems vile to me. Your country is your country regardless

But this mans country is England, always was, his Irishness was taken from his father who thought so little of his own Irishness he elected not to upset Ferguson and the four foreigner rule at the time by pursuing it and maybe putting his place at Old Trafford under threat, if memory serves.

I think justice here would be well served on him if the Norn Iron fans turned on him en masse and refused to accept him representing them, that would be fun to watch unfold.

[Not Brazil]

I think justice here would be well served on him if the Norn Iron fans turned on him en masse and refused to accept him representing them, that would be fun to watch unfold.

I don't want Bruce anywhere near the Northern Ireland team.

He took his chance with the South - it didn't work out. Tough.

Fcuk him.

[holidaysong]

That's a myth about Steve Bruce not playing for Ireland due to some foreigner rule. He got a B team cap for England in 1987 which subsequently made him ineligible for Ireland. After that, he couldn't have played for us even if he had wanted to.

[ArdeeBhoy]

I don't want Bruce anywhere near the Northern Ireland team.

He took his chance with the South - it didn't work out. Tough.

South Korea?

Anyway, he's eligible, like anyone without a competitive cap. Tougher still.

The same must be true of thousands of British citizens....
;)

[Sullivinho]

Alex to score the winner vs the Faroes. Towering header in the 90th minute. The script is written.