Alex Bruce

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sp...801.html?r=RSS

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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.

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

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

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.

The only loss here is to the North's credibility

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.

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Originally Posted by 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.

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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.

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

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Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

The only loss here is to the North's credibility

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That statement includes a massive assumption.

Good luck to him, a decent addition for NI.

The spin-doctors have arrived at OWC:

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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.

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Originally Posted by tricky_colour

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

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Are you sure???

Desperate more like....

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Originally Posted by Predator

The spin-doctors have arrived at OWC

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

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

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Originally Posted by 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.

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just like your favourite sport rugby then

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Originally Posted by 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

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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.

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Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke

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.

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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.

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.

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Originally Posted by Not Brazil

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

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

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South Korea?

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

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

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