Bruce

[Edmund]

http://www.greenun24.co.uk:80/ipswich-town/bruce_set_for_blues_exit_1_327280?

Leicester City are poised to move in for Bruce, after the experienced defender impressed Foxes boss Nigel Pearson during a loan stint at the Walkers Stadium last term. He played in both play-off semi-final ties against Cardiff.

The deal could be done in the next few weeks, as opposed to most of the club’s other transfer activity, that will probably be finalised after the World Cup.

Bruce had a stint as Town skipper early last season, but he was in-and-out of the side and also troubled by a groin injury that eventually required an operation. He has chalked up 115 league appearances for Town and still has a year left on his current contract.

Manager Roy Keane is prepared to let Bruce leave, if a deal can be struck with the Foxes, and the same goes for Town team-mates Alan Quinn, Owen Garvan and Colin Healy. None of this midfield trio were key members of Keane’s squad last season, with Healy spending the second half of the campaign on loan at Falkirk.

It is therefore likely that all three will be playing their football away from Portman Road next term. At the end of the season, both keeper Richard Wright and full-back David Wright were released, without being offered new deals, while Dutchman Pim Balkestein was also deemed to be surplus to requirements at the end of his initial two-year deal.

Meanwhile, Tommy Smith warmed up for next month’s World Cup by playing the final half-hour of New Zealand’s friendly against arch-rivals Australia in Melbourne yesterday morning.

Centre-half Smith, who is in the All-Whites squad for South Africa, earned his second international cap when coming on as a 59th minute substitute for Ricki Herbert’s team, filling the role of a left wing-back. He had made his international debut in a friendly against Mexico during last season.

Australia snatched a 2-1 victory in stoppage time through Brett Holman’s goal in what was New Zealand’s first pre-World Cup fixture.

Further friendlies are planned against Serbia and Slovenia, while the All-Whites sharpen up at a training camp in Austria. They are in the same World Cup group as Slovakia, Paraguay and Italy.

[goal-mangal]

Bruce, looked very nervous in second leg against Cardiff. If possible, sign some other player. Bruce is certainly not Premier quality.

- Goal -

[Guest]

Bruce is certainly not Premier quality.

- Goal -

Well we're in the Championship

[Liamlcfc1]

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.

We also have Nobby who can go in RB as cover if we need him

[CosbehFox]

Bruce, looked very nervous in second leg against Cardiff

- Goal -

Understandable...biggest game of his career. Just like Hobbs looked nervous first half, first leg.

[AjcW]

Well he is still in leicester which surprised me so maybe thats a sign .

[Bert]

I thought Morrison was shit in his first season, what a great second season he's had....

[Ozwin]

I thought Morrison was shit in his first season, what a great second season he's had....

I'd say he looked a bit intimidated rather than shit. This season he's looked like a seasoned pro.

[Legend_in_blue]

Not convinced by this potential permanent signing. But if this fairly low-key transfer goes through, hopefully we'll end up with a steady increase in the profile of players being signed up come the end of July.

If not, opportunity missed imo, the league will be weak next season and we need to take advantage of it while we can. The season after next will be tough as nails once Leeds and Norwich are established.

[Kierzz]

Hes not good enough to start all season at CB with hobbs. He was the cause for both goals in the 2nd leg against Cardiff

(played chopra onside and brought down chopra in the penalty are)

But we should defo get him on a free and he will be great for cover.

[lanxfox]

I didn't think much of him when he played in the play-off's, would rather see a partnership with Hobbs and Morrison and Nobby and Berner full-backs. Anyone agree?

[STUHILL]

Don't think we can argue on a free and probably wont be breaking the bank on his moderate wage demands too. I think he is a step-up from Brown but I still want to see a Hobbs, Tunchev partnership next season, with Brown and Berner as full-backs. That is an awesome back four!

[The Doctor]

Don't think we can argue on a free and probably wont be breaking the bank on his moderate wage demands too. I think he is a step-up from Brown but I still want to see a Hobbs, Tunchev partnership next season, with Brown and Berner as full-backs. That is an awesome back four!

brown at right back?

[MikeyT]

Don't think we can argue on a free and probably wont be breaking the bank on his moderate wage demands too. I think he is a step-up from Brown but I still want to see a Hobbs, Tunchev partnership next season, with Brown and Berner as full-backs. That is an awesome back four!

Morrison??

[STUHILL]

Morrison??

haha yep I meant Morrison. My bad!

[ousefox]

I don't now how anyone can slate him from his playoff performances as i thought he looked solid. Apart from that penalty which he had played chopra offside anyway, he didn't do anything wrong at all.

[sdb]

he looked pretty vulnerable in the 1st leg to me. would happily take him but only as a 3rd choice CB

[Anish]

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.

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!!

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.

I wasn't impressed with him in the playoffs. He's not big or strong in the air, made a horrendous mistake for the penalty (even though Chopra was offside) and Bothroyd was clearly targetting Bruce rather than Hobbs as the man to play against. He'd be an adequate back up but I don't rate him as better than any of our other centre backs. I'd prefer we looked elsewhere if possible.

[Sylvie85]

I thought he was okay, don't massively rate him, would be okay as a back up I suppose, just not sure he puts his stamp on the game think he could do with being a little stronger.

[Guest]

I only saw him in the playoff games but he was nothing more than average. I would've been disappointed to keep him on if we'd been promoted so think we should be looking for better or just getting a year loan in to replace him.

[dandannieldanok]

I don't now how anyone can slate him from his playoff performances as i thought he looked solid. Apart from that penalty which he had played chopra offside anyway, he didn't do anything wrong at all.

Yes he did look solid but those kind of mistakes are unforgivable really. I'm not saying we shouldn't sign the bloke because of it, but Pearson will need to get rid of those lapses in concentration in his game if we sign him.

[Lester LXXIV]

But what people are forgetting is that he had hardly kicked a ball all season so wasn't exactly match fit. It probably wasn't NP's first choice but after Brown's misdemeanor he had no other option.

[The Padster]

Latest.

Alex Bruce is interested in making a permanent move to Leicester City.

The 25-year-old Ipswich defender had a four-month spell on loan at the Walkers Stadium last season and says he enjoyed the experience.

City are believed to be interested in signing Bruce, who still has a year left to run on his contract at Portman Road.

But any move will depend on how much Tractor Boys boss Roy Keane wants for the centre-back. Bruce said he would be happy to stay at Ipswich if a deal was not agreed, but he admitted a move is possible.

"I have spoken to the manager and he said he would like to do something, so I will have to wait and see," he said.

"There are a few hurdles to overcome and a lot will depend on how much Ipswich ask for me.

"I hope they do get something sorted but, if they don't, I will knuckle down at Ipswich and win my place back."

Bruce had to wait more than a month to make his full debut and then lasted only half-an-hour in the 1-0 win over Cardiff City in March and needed keyhole surgery to repair a hernia.

But he came back into contention and finished the season alongside Jack Hobbs at the heart of the City defence.

The season ended in heartbreak as City went out of the Championship play-offs on penalties at Cardiff, but Bruce says his stay at City was very enjoyable.

"I have some fantastic memories of my time with Leicester," he said.

"It was great to go into a team that was flying high in the table. I had to wait for my chance and I was disappointed that I picked up the stomach injury just as I got my chance.

"But I got back into the side for the last few games and to play in the play-off games was a great experience. I want that again.

"It was a day we were all really looking forward to and we were buzzing about it at the time. But to lose in the way we did was heart-breaking.

"I suppose once it went to penalties it was a lottery and anything could happen. Someone had to lose.

"People have said to me what a play-off semi-final it was and it must have been unbelievable for the neutral.

"The spirit the lads showed on the night was incredible to come back to take the lead, so to lose it in that manner was hard to take.

"We were all heartbroken in the dressing room. It was our dream to get to Wembley and to get that close and have it taken away from us like that left us all sick to the pit of our stomachs.

"You could have heard a pin drop in the dressing room. But City can bounce back."

Mercury

[taffyfox]

I for one hope we do sign him. Much better than Brown IMO. Dont think Tunch will play much if I'm honest. We'd then have Hobbs, Morrison and Bruce fighting for CB positions, plus Morrison and Bruce could both play RB. Really think Nobby can play a full season at RB?

Bruce had the armband at Ipswich so he must have some leadership about him. Granted he made a mistake in the Play off Semi final, but that was a misunderstanding between him and Weale - that happens. I'm sure Hobbs made a few mistakes over the course of the season. Just a shame it was in such a high profile game.

Good signing, Strengthens us..... plus his Dad may do us a few favours with Loans.

[Babylon]

I thought he did ok in the playoff games, lets be honest the Cardiff attack was a real handful. Even Hobbs couldn't win a ball against Bothroyd so it's harsh to judge him completely on those games. I think he'd be a good member of the squad.