Is Alex Bruce the ultimate mercenary?

**as_i_say** · 21/02/2006, 2:19 PM

so thats obviously where the northern ireland thing comes from-this has been discussed here before with regards to people being born in the north wanting to play for us-i would say most of us here wouldnt have any issues with this at all...??

yeah same deal with kernaghan though he did actually play for the north at some level

**joeSoap** · 21/02/2006, 2:22 PM

Originally Posted by FarBeag

To answer the question yes he is the ultimate mercenary imo.Breen, McLoughlin, McCarthy, Sheridan are Irish by the way and there is no way you can put Bruce in the same league.

Gary Breen: Born London, December 12th 1973
Alan McLoughlin: Born Swindon April 20th 1967
Mick McCarthy: Born Barnsley February 7th 1959
John Sheridan: Born Stretford October 1st 1964

Where in Ireland are London, Swindon, Barnsley and Stretford??

If we accepted the above through the parent / grandparent / great grandparent rule, then Alex Bruce is more than entitled to be considered, regardless of his ability. That is for Staunton and Robson to decide. Since when could we afford to be choosy anyway?

**as_i_say** · 21/02/2006, 2:24 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Steve Bruce's mother was born in Co. Down. And the point is he's "trying to sort it". If he wasn't a footballer he wouldn't be trying to sort out an Irish passport

Not a fan of Alex then are we?? I agree with what you're saying but I mean what can we do? I think what happens with these lads is that if they shine for us, people will take to them more, like Holland, morrisson etc. otherwise they'll just end up on the reject heap like Butler and Macken,and from what Ive seen of Bruce thats his likely destination.

**Dodge** · 21/02/2006, 2:25 PM

Originally Posted by joeSoap

Since when could we afford to be choosy anyway?

1922?

**joeSoap** · 21/02/2006, 2:30 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Steve Bruce's mother was born in Co. Down. And the point is he's "trying to sort it". If he wasn't a footballer he wouldn't be trying to sort out an Irish passport

She was born in Tyrone actually, and if it was a better, higher profile footballer, you'd probably be helping him sort his passport out, so why not just admit that your gripe is cos he's only an average Joe trying to get on the bandwagon.

**Dodge** · 21/02/2006, 2:31 PM

Originally Posted by as_i_say

Not a fan of Alex then are we?? I agree with what you're saying but I mean what can we do? I think what happens with these lads is that if they shine for us, people will take to them more, like Holland, morrisson etc. otherwise they'll just end up on the reject heap like Butler and Macken,and from what Ive seen of Bruce thats his likely destination.

Its nothing to do with his football ability. I've never seen him play. Its this whole ****ing thing that annoys the hell out of me. As I've stressed 100s of times here, I have absolutely no problem with 2g or even 3g Irish playing for their country, and seeing that as the honour it is. What I do have a huge problem with is players "declaring" for Ireland just to play international football and advance teir own club careers. I honestly can't support an Irish team made up of these types

**as_i_say** · 21/02/2006, 2:31 PM

Originally Posted by joeSoap

Gary Breen: Born London, December 12th 1973
Alan McLoughlin: Born Swindon April 20th 1967
Mick McCarthy: Born Barnsley February 7th 1959
John Sheridan: Born Stretford October 1st 1964

Where in Ireland are London, Swindon, Barnsley and Stretford??

If we accepted the above through the parent / grandparent / great grandparent rule, then Alex Bruce is more than entitled to be considered, regardless of his ability. That is for Staunton and Robson to decide. Since when could we afford to be choosy anyway?

Argh. I believe there is a difference between grabbing a granny and having an irish parent. I dont know for sure about Mcloughlin or sheridan but mccarthy and breen have irish fathers and breen in particular was brought up to be irish-going to bogball games etc.

IMO You cannot compare the likes of Kilbane, Breen, David Connolly, Mick mccarthy with Alex Bruce, Matt Holland or Clinton Morrisson

**Dodge** · 21/02/2006, 2:33 PM

Originally Posted by joeSoap

She was born in Tyrone actually, and if it was a better, higher profile footballer, you'd probably be helping him sort his passport out, so why not just admit that your gripe is cos he's only an average Joe trying to get on the bandwagon.

How would I help him out with his passport?

Anyway I think you'll find I've been very consistent on this issue. I've never even seen Bruce play

**joeSoap** · 21/02/2006, 2:34 PM

You can't blame a guy for trying to better himself, and if this is a way of doing it, then so be it. He can declare for who ever he is eligible for, thats his human right. He's not guaranteed to be picked however, but if he is, then your gripe should be with the management, not the player.

**FarBeag** · 21/02/2006, 2:53 PM

Originally Posted by joeSoap

Gary Breen: Born London, December 12th 1973
Alan McLoughlin: Born Swindon April 20th 1967
Mick McCarthy: Born Barnsley February 7th 1959
John Sheridan: Born Stretford October 1st 1964

Where in Ireland are London, Swindon, Barnsley and Stretford??

If we accepted the above through the parent / grandparent / great grandparent rule, then Alex Bruce is more than entitled to be considered, regardless of his ability. That is for Staunton and Robson to decide. Since when could we afford to be choosy anyway?

Look mate, I am not going to get into this 'made in Ireland ' debate again but the guys I made reference to are all second generation Irishmen and made their choice to play for Ireland in the same way people born there made /make there�s. They did it out of pride, without pressure and not because they saw it as an opportunity to put themselves in the shop window.Alex Bruce is a totally different kettle of fish and in my opinion and want what the other guys didnt ''a chance to play International football'' knowing he has fcuk all chance of playing for the country of his birth and does not want to play with the team he has more connections with NI.

Tell me what make�s him so different from his dad who never had the inclination to play for us...If you don�t care who play's for us, that�s your choice and the best of luck to you but I do.

**as_i_say** · 21/02/2006, 2:59 PM

Originally Posted by joeSoap

You can't blame a guy for trying to better himself, and if this is a way of doing it, then so be it. He can declare for who ever he is eligible for, thats his human right. He's not guaranteed to be picked however, but if he is, then your gripe should be with the management, not the player.

this is totally true but you cant expect there to be some people who are passionate about irish international football not to be wary about the likes of him.

The granny rule is just part of our make up and always will be so what can you do? TBH I cant see Bruce ever getting a look in anytime soon but who knows-what age is he anyway?

**Bald Student** · 21/02/2006, 3:14 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

How would I help him out with his passport?

They have homosexual marraige in Britain now.

**Hither green** · 21/02/2006, 3:31 PM

Originally Posted by as_i_say

I think there have only been a few true and utter mercenaries to play for us (that i can remember) but the ultimate one would have to be Paul Butler now of Wolves.

No Irish blood whatsoever, got his passport from his Irish Wife. Played one game for us in a friendly 3-2 win against the Czechs (remember Babb's overhead?!!!). He had a mare and was taken off at half time and announced months later that if he didnt get picked again he was declaring for Wales!

Tony Cascarino. In fairness to Butler at least he didn't write a book about it, adding to the whole "you just have to drink a pint of Guinness to qualify" mockery.

**klein4** · 21/02/2006, 3:46 PM

This is the managements fault for being as subtle as a sledgehammer about the whole "Granny Rule" from day one. Its embarrassing. We have had very successful underage teams in the last few years so we shouldnt be lettin these oppurtunists play for us.

**Dodge** · 21/02/2006, 3:52 PM

Originally Posted by Bald Student

They have homosexual marraige in Britain now.

Still wouldn't entitle him to a passport

And to answer JoeSoap, of course I'm more unhappy with the FAI than with Bruce.

**Bald Student** · 21/02/2006, 3:56 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Still wouldn't entitle him to a passport

To be honest I hadn't seriously looked into it. It's good to hear that there are fans like yourself out there exploring everything they can do to help the team.

**Hither green** · 21/02/2006, 4:02 PM

Originally Posted by Bald Student

Originally Posted by Dodge

Still wouldn't entitle him to a passport

To be honest I hadn't seriously looked into it. It's good to hear that there are fans like yourself out there exploring everything they can do to help the team.

Yes, you could marry Ronaldo and get him into the team, he is afterall currently feeling unloved and we'll take anyone

**dynamo kerry** · 21/02/2006, 6:10 PM

Originally Posted by as_i_say

Babb's overhead kick though-that lad was great.

legend alright. my seat was level with the goal when he kicked it. nearly choked on my coke

**pete** · 21/02/2006, 8:40 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Its nothing to do with his football ability. I've never seen him play. Its this whole ****ing thing that annoys the hell out of me. As I've stressed 100s of times here, I have absolutely no problem with 2g or even 3g Irish playing for their country, and seeing that as the honour it is.

This is the real issue to debate here. Anyone bringing up the 2g or 3g stuff is IMO off topic.

If you are irish you play for Ireland. There should be no decision to make - if you have to think about it then you are not irish. Just to be clear - a 2 or 3g person can have dual nationality but when the offer comes around it should not require a decision as he should know already.

**gustavo** · 21/02/2006, 9:00 PM

Exactly Pete if Bruce had said " i have always wanted to play for Ireland since i was a child and it will be with immense pride that i put on the Irish jersey for the first time" rather than "I am going to pick the Republic purely because I think they are a better team" there would be no issue at all.