davieG Posted 20 January 2011 Posted 20 January 2011 Merc Bruno Berner has signed a new one-year contract with Leicester City. The Switzerland international had refused to sign a new deal and asked to leave the Walkers Stadium after just over two years with the club. He had lost his place in the starting line-up to Greg Cunningham. However, Cunningham has returned to Manchester City after his loan spell was cut short when he broke a leg at Hull City on New Year's Day, and Berner has since been an ever-present in the side. City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson had consistently said he did not want to lose the 33-year-old, who was out of contract this summer, and said the contract offer was still on the table. "I always try to convince him and we have offered him a one-year contract," Eriksson has said. "He is a great example to young players. I told him I want to keep him. In training he is so professional, works hard every day and never creates any problems." But Berner had insisted he still wanted a move and revealed several Championship clubs had expressed an interest. However, the defender has had a change of heart and has agreed to commit himself to City for another season. Berner has always insisted he loved City and was only looking to leave so he could play first-team football, and Eriksson has now given him the chance. "It is more a case of I have to move rather than I want to move and end this lovely chapter at Leicester City," he told the Mercury after revealing his transfer wish. "I am ambitious and too proud to sit on the bench, and pick up my money at the end of the month. I can't do that." Berner is a big favourite with the Blue Army because of his whole-hearted, committed approach, and his change of heart will give Eriksson's men a big boost ahead of Saturday's Championship clash with Millwall at the Walkers Stadium. Berner is also a talisman for the club and, when he missed seven games through injury midway through last season, City failed to keep a clean sheet, but they embarked on an unbeaten run when he returned. Since he stepped in for Cunningham on New Year's Day, City have remained unbeaten in the Championship and held Manchester City to a 2-2 draw in the FA Cup third round, although they went out after a 4-2 defeat on Tuesday.
Ric Flair Posted 20 January 2011 Posted 20 January 2011 Good news. A motivated Berner is still a quality player at this level.
I am Rod Hull Posted 20 January 2011 Posted 20 January 2011 Glad thats sorted .. It would have been a shame to see him go .
hackneyfox Posted 20 January 2011 Posted 20 January 2011 Glad he's stopping but I want him as cover. Not good enough if we are serious about going up.
Tommy G Posted 20 January 2011 Posted 20 January 2011 Does he think he'll start every week now then? Poor on wed along with hobbs. Don't think Mee has come to warm the bench??
hackneyfox Posted 20 January 2011 Posted 20 January 2011 Hopefully not, Mee needs to start playing because that current defence will see us struggling to make the top half let alone the top 6.
Wycombe Fox Posted 20 January 2011 Posted 20 January 2011 Berner has always insisted he loved City and was only looking to leave so he could play first-team football, and Eriksson has now given him the chance."It is more a case of I have to move rather than I want to move and end this lovely chapter at Leicester City," he told the Mercury after revealing his transfer wish. "I am ambitious and too proud to sit on the bench, and pick up my money at the end of the month. I can't do that." Berner is a big favourite with the Blue Army because of his whole-hearted, committed approach, and his change of heart will give Eriksson's men a big boost ahead of Saturday's Championship clash with Millwall at the Walkers Stadium. Is Berner becoming to Leicester what Powell became to Charlton? I like the guy.
Tommy G Posted 20 January 2011 Posted 20 January 2011 No powell was at charlton a lot longer than Bruno
hackneyfox Posted 20 January 2011 Posted 20 January 2011 I love his attitude but I don't want him playing every game. Let's see how Weale, Hobbs & Berner do against Millwall but at the moment I want to see all 3 on the bench.
Babylon Posted 20 January 2011 Posted 20 January 2011 Could be securing his future in case of injury if we wouldn't let him leave until summer. I think he'll still go at the end of the season as Sven will want younger more mobile full back.
Alexikokopops Posted 20 January 2011 Posted 20 January 2011 Is Berner becoming to Leicester what Powell became to Charlton? I like the guy. Powell had three spells totalling 8 years at Charlton, with over 250 games. Bruno's got a while to go yet!
hackneyfox Posted 20 January 2011 Posted 20 January 2011 Makes sense, I'm hoping that Sven will get that younger more mobile full back within the next 10 days though or Mee gets a run out.
lcfcsnow Posted 20 January 2011 Posted 20 January 2011 I love his attitude but I don't want him playing every game. Let's see how Weale, Hobbs & Berner do against Millwall but at the moment I want to see all 3 on the bench. Agreed, I'm not impressed that we've given Howard and Berner new contracts when both are clearly on their last legs. I thought we was improving the squad this month?
Babylon Posted 20 January 2011 Posted 20 January 2011 Agreed, I'm not impressed that we've given Howard and Berner new contracts when both are clearly on their last legs. I thought we was improving the squad this month? There is nothing wrong with having them as squad players. Bruno is more than capable in the champ and Howard gives another option.
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 20 January 2011 Posted 20 January 2011 Good news. A motivated Berner is still a quality player at this level. Key word i reckon
lcfcsnow Posted 20 January 2011 Posted 20 January 2011 Well I'm concerned that Sven is keeping the deluded Leicester fans happy, who can't let certain players go for some reason. Howard and Berners wages could have gone towards 1 v good player but instead we're stuck with both for another year. If Oakley gets a new contract i give up.
Jonezy Posted 20 January 2011 Posted 20 January 2011 Thank heavens, we are not playing Adam Johnson every week then... Seriously Berner has shown, that he is a solid leftback in the Championship. Also he is very professional and an outlet on our set-pieces, so surely this can't be a bad thing.
hackneyfox Posted 20 January 2011 Posted 20 January 2011 I'm happy for Weale, Hobbs, Berner & Howard to be in the squad as back up, I just don't want to see them week in week out. Sven is still chasing Davies. as a replacement for Hobbs.
Corky Posted 20 January 2011 Posted 20 January 2011 Useful to have around the squad, can still do a job but probably not every game. Good move
muzzy1981 Posted 20 January 2011 Posted 20 January 2011 Every good squad/team needs a blend of youth and experience. Great news, he playing even better now he is back int he side too! Every good squad/team needs a blend of youth and experience. Great news, he playing even better now he is back int he side too!
Wymsey Posted 20 January 2011 Posted 20 January 2011 Good thing sorted out yes but we can't rely on him in every match due to his age (look at Howard, eg. we can't rely on him all the while) but we need him here.
cc_star Posted 20 January 2011 Posted 20 January 2011 Agreed, I'm not impressed that we've given Howard and Berner new contracts when both are clearly on their last legs. I thought we was improving the squad this month? Berner's doing an excellent job. It's no coincidence we're now a threat from corners & set-pieces since he came back into the team. Fair enough he got turned over by the 2nd best team in the country, but they turn a lot of players inside out. It was the most expensive side to play in the FA Cup ever on Tuesday night, hardly surprising it was like a knife through butter at times. His signing gives us a bit of breathing space to pick up a replacement. Howard on the other hand looks like he needs putting down, however he does give us other options, ie. coming on with 10mins to go if we're defending the lead and we drop a bit deeper to play the ball a bit longer, fortunately for him not every defence costs about £40m
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