If you look when Alex Bruce gets the ball in our own half it's usually side pass to another centre back or a poor ball into midfield. The problem it slows our play down and allows the other teams to get back in position.
You can't apply reason to someone who has already made his mind up, so let's leave it at that. Especially as this thread is actually about Nathan Doyle, and I haven't a clue who his Dad is.
How condescendingly pompous. Thats were we are different then. I'm interested in your opinions and others but will challenge alleged "facts". You cant stand that.
Hobbs orchestrated his move as he wanted game time, not bench time. There isn't anything between Hobbs and Bruce IMHO. Bruce has in key games been the outstanding centre half, much of the criticism levelled at him is unjustified.
I seem to remember that Cooper was one of the ones allegedly taken in by Bullard and his flash ways so I'm not sure he is anywhere near Bruces level at all now, if he ever was. People like to bash Bruce but he is solid, if we had won the cup it would have been largely down to him (Kieron Gibbs made sure it wasn't with that clearance)
For original poster, re ND Bought as Brownio's first signing; good youth pedigree Youth National team‡ 2001–2002 England U16 10 (0) 2003–2004 England U17 18 (0) 2004–2005 England U18 2 (0) 2006 England U19 1 (0) Always more of a midfielder than defender, I suspect brought in to develop, though (un)fortunately we got promoted , so he did not have chance to develop in the championship (holding midfielder , not going to displace Ash) - when if / played in premiership , usually out of best position & not ready for that level. Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 2003–2007 Derby County 9 (0) 2006 → Notts County (loan) 12 (0) 2006–2007 → Bradford City (loan) 28 (0) 2007–2010 Hull City 5 (0) 2009 → Barnsley (loan) 11 (0) 2010–2012 Barnsley 87 (2) 2011 → Preston North End (loan) 5 (0) 2012–2014 Bradford City 76 (2) Rumour : Left Bradford as offered less money after getting promotion with them. Has been offered a few clubs down south (not sure which division's) - but turned down as family settled in area. Looking for a club - as free agent ... but a lot of free agents out there Wouldn't be out of place at Scunnie, Donnie, York etc His only goal for us - (with goal celebration for his son's birth) [video=youtube;kdZIlm0H0C0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdZIlm0H0C0[/video] Go and ask your sister ...
He also had an absolute shocking game against Man Utd, swings and roundabouts. Bruce's all round game is not good enough for the Premier League, Bruce wouldn't have brought in Michael Dawson if it was. Bruce can play in a back three as the pressure isn't on him so much to distribute but put him in a team at this level playing with only two centre backs and he would be awful. Bruce is very limited, he is a good Championship player but i stand by last season he had numerous games where he was awful. The issue i feel is some people stick up for him because they think people like me have a go at him because he is SB's son, i don't, i have a go at him as he should be in my eyes at best our 6th best CB.
Cheers! at least this is what the thread was about.. my brother-in-law played against him for Long Riston Parents charity match! She hasn't seen him lately and was wondering.. often bumps into him though when she's out cycling or jogging It's true he's quite settled - lived at same address for a few years
It's obvious, you could see in the Championship games that Brucey was trying to find ways to fit him in (Millwall in particular stood out; he was played as a DM and yet he'd never played there in his life, when we had both Chester and the very experienced, very good Abdoulaye Faye waiting in the wings who had). Thankfully, it worked, but there were times when it didn't. What annoyed me was that he was supposed to be injured for the Lokeren game; imagine my dismay as I saw him warming up on the sideline. In fact, there are a few times when he's been a strong doubt with some sort of injury and still made the match day squad, which to me suggests nepotism. That's not good enough anymore though. When you look at the players we've just brought in, what use is it to just have a player that's average hanging around the squad? We brought in two centre halves this window, that suggests to me that even Bruce Snr has accepted Alex's time with us is up. It's not harsh, he can't make a career of having a good game against Liverpool, you have to look at how he plays week in, week out and he just isn't consistent or talented enough to be a regular Premier League player. He was brought in to do a job, he's done it, give him a rolex and a picture of a spitfire and push him out the door.
