Bruce

[davieG]

http://www.greenun24.co.uk/ipswich-town/bruce_set_for_foxes_switch_1_303382?

LEICESTER City look set to make a move for Ipswich Town defender Alex Bruce.

And for two good reasons. Firstly, Foxes manager Nigel Pearson was impressed with Bruce’s workmanlike displays during his recent loan spell at the Walkers Stadium; and secondly, ex-Town defender Wayne Brown looks to have played his last game for the East Midlands club.

Bruce overcame his season-long struggle with injuries to feature in Leicester’s last three games of the season, including the two play-off semi-final legs against Cardiff City, which the Bluebirds won on penalties after a 3-3 aggregate score.

The 25-year-old partnered Jack Hobbs in the heart of defence in both play-off ties, after fellow centre-half Brown was dropped from the squad because of a training ground row concerning the player’s alleged political support for the BNP.

While Brown is now the subject of an internal inquiry, and is still a member of Leicester’s squad, he has been linked with a move to League Two champions Notts County.

A former member of Colchester United’s promotion-winning squad of 2005-06, when the Essex club reached the Championship, Brown still has a year left on his contract with the Foxes. But he might fancy a fresh challenge at Meadow Lane, and the Magpies have already expressed their interest in the 32-year-old left-footer. Wages might be the only stumbling block.

Likewise, Bruce still has a year to run on his current deal at Ipswich, and he has certainly relished the change of environment at Leicester since his loan switch in January.

In fact, Bruce recently revealed that Town have not even been keeping close tabs on his progress, which seems to suggest that he could be on his way out of Portman Road permanently, not least because manager Roy Keane wants to operate with a smaller squad next season.

“I’m not sure where I stand as I haven’t heard from Ipswich since January,” revealed Bruce before the play-off semi-finals.

“It’s nice to feel wanted and appreciated, and I’ve been enjoying it at Leicester. If I’m surplus to requirements at Portman Road, then I’ll look elsewhere.”

Bruce had only made a couple of brief appearances for Leicester, when a recurring groin problem forced him to have a hernia operation, but he ended the season in Pearson’s starting line-up and is reported to have caught the eye of the Foxes boss.

Ex-Birmingham City defender Bruce, who arrived at Town in the summer of 2006, has rattled up 115 league appearances for the Suffolk club, although he only played 13 games in the Championship for Keane’s men last season, including a brief spell as skipper.

[Jimmy]

I'd be happy with that

[WillyP]

I'd take that, did alright at the end of season

[Hitesh]

Wouldn't grumble about that.

[bluebeau]

Definetly would be a good signing, & possibly would get him on a 'free'.

Brown has shit his nest at City me thinks, silly sod.

If & when he joins a new football club, the odds are several of the squad will be non-white, so he had better tell them that when he said BNP, he meant Bravo Nigel Pearson!

[Ric Flair]

I dunno. He looked decent in the 1st leg, but I fear he'll be one of thsoe players that the more he plays for us, the more we moan about him. Every club he's been at, he's got stick, so I don't see why that will change here.

I'd rather we look elsewhere.

[Fox 4 Life]

Would be a good signing. He looked very solid in the last few games and he complements Hobbs well.

[eleven points]

Still only 25, so still has plenty of room for improvement. If we do sign him Nige could probably help him get to the next level.

[Dr The Singh]

Not convinced by him. IMO and from what i've seen of him, he's not quick, or that big or great in the tackle, he's seems a mixed bag or average Joe!! If we do sign him, then I hope he will prove me wrong!!

[Bryn]

To be honest with you I wasn't mightily impressed with him during the playoffs, I thought his positional sense was suspect, he's not particularly quick and he's not particularly good in the air. If the price is low and the wages are low, I'd take him as a backup, but I think Morrison, a fit Tunchev and, dare I say it, Brown, are better defenders. I wouldn't describe Bruce as better than Kisnorbo or McAuley even.

[Carlos9]

To be honest with you I wasn't mightily impressed with him during the playoffs, I thought his positional sense was suspect, he's not particularly quick and he's not particularly good in the air. If the price is low and the wages are low, I'd take him as a backup, but I think Morrison, a fit Tunchev and, dare I say it, Brown, are better defenders. I wouldn't describe Bruce as better than Kisnorbo or McAuley even.

He had just come back from injury. It takes players a while to get back into the swing of things so if we do get him i would judge him next season! Obviously Pearson see's something in him and i back his views.

[maddog]

It does say he ended the season in the starting 11 but that was only because of the Brown incident.

I would be meh with this, i think we could find better.

[Criggers]

I dunno. He looked decent in the 1st leg, but I fear he'll be one of thsoe players that the more he plays for us, the more we moan about him. Every club he's been at, he's got stick, so I don't see why that will change here.

I wonder what the Wigan fans thought when they signed the error prone Titus Bramble? Some players just need a new club that has some faith, and a manager that rates them.

What does it say about Ipswich/Keane if he managed to put on the captains arm band within 13 matches this season then went out on loan without even keeping tabs on him? Peculiar. Unless his brief spell was 5 minutes at the end of a game?

[Edmund]

I have faith with any CB Pearson signs. Even if they have a few flaws in their game, Nige seems to get the best out of them.

[StanSP]

Happy that we're considering it. If he turns out to be have a similar impact as Hobbs after a loan spell then it can only be a good thing

[Koke]

Not overly impressed with him. At best he should be back-up for us. I wouldn't want him to be first choice centre back for us next season.

Brown is better than Bruce, and not many people here rated Brown much.

[Corky]

Don't mind the bloke, but I'd rather see a CB pairing of Hobbs and Morrison.

[OriginalRobboFOX]

All I'd say is see his challenge against McCormack in the 1st leg... goal saving, if he can produce this a bit more often then I'd be happy with this...

[MC Prussian]

Alex Bruce will be an essential part of our squad next season - that's what I'm looking forward to.

Another piece to the puzzle that is Automatic Promotion.

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

I'd like us to get him. He has performed ok in his games and if we only had him as a squad player he would do well.

Especially with Brown leaving we are a bit short at the back.

[teblin]

Bruce, morrison, Hobbs, and tunch would be awesome. two of those can play right back too.

[Tilley]

Good back up for what will hopefully be a first choice pairing of Hobbs and Morrison.

[Mee]

I thought he had a strong game in the first leg, but looked shaky on the second. Would be a nice signing though (especially with all this Brown saga going on).

[Cobbo]

I dunno. He looked decent in the 1st leg, but I fear he'll be one of thsoe players that the more he plays for us, the more we moan about him. Every club he's been at, he's got stick, so I don't see why that will change here.

I'd rather we look elsewhere.

Completely agree.

If we're looking to progress, we should be looking for a player of a higher calibre than Bruce.

Hobbs, Morrison, Brown & Tunchev would be a fabulous 4, but for various reasons seems unlikely to be the case for us next season.

[Dylan]

Sign him up. Looks like he can form a good partnership with Hobbs. With Morrison looking comfortable at adapting to RB, and Berner a great LB, we'll have a solid defence.