Town defender Alex Bruce’s proposed £200,000 move to Sheffield United has fallen through. According to reports in Sheffield, Blues boss Roy Keane has called off the deal with the central defender having been expected to complete the switch early this week.
Bruce was reported to have agreed personal terms with the Blades over the weekend, but the Republic of Ireland international was back training at Playford Road today.
Town manager Roy Keane may have decided against allowing Bruce to move on with Damien Delaney out of action for three months with a serious thigh injury and with little senior cover for likely first choices Gareth McAuley and Tommy Smith.
Bruce is understood to want to leave to play first team football and, if the Blues were to sign another experienced centre-half, the former Birmingham man could still be on his way out of the club - perhaps reviving the Blades move - before the season starts.
Meanwhile, Cardiff left-back Mark Kennedy is yet to undergo a medical at Town and his £75,000 move from the Welsh club will not be concluded today. Contrary to reports, Kennedy wasn't at Portman Road over the weekend.
Yep, agreed boncho - assume the season long loan move for a player has fallen through. This is very disappointing if true. Bruce is not the answer. Also worrying that Kennedy hasn't signed yet - will any deals be oncluded this week?
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Yes, I suspect one of our deals has fallen through which isn't good for Ipswich or Bruce himself, who must be rather frustrated at the plug being pulled on this at the last minute.
Bruce is not good enough to take us forwards, but he is a reasonable defender who has enough ability to stand in for our first choice centre backs. He can play right back to (covering Peters), but I don't like him there. I suppose there is no point selling him for £200K if we have to spend £500K to bring in a player of similar ability.
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Mark - good point - I am sure this is also very diappointing for Bruce himself. At the end of the day, I wish the guy well, even though I don't think he is good enough.
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Mark & jas0999- I couldn't agree more with both you're comments. I'm sure Bruce will be disappointed as he obviously wants to leave. Personally I thought he was going to Sheff Utd as back up there and not first team. That's besides the point I guess, but I'm sure Bruce will give it his all while he's here. He's ability is questionable yes, but the one thing you can't doubt about Bruce is his detrimination. I'm intrigued as to the identity of the player we've missed out on? If that is the reason for the U-turn which I'm certain it is.
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It's a pity as I think Bruce is a) below average due to his god awful positional sense and b) an ego-maniac and complete mercenary with even less loyalty than most pro footballers, despite c) most fans apparently viewing him as some kind of badge kissing 110% commited hero due to the frequency with which he has to make last ditch tackles.
However, if the move for his replacement has fallen through (what with delaney injured) it's a sensible move to hang on to him for now. I'm sure that won't stop some from engaging flounce mode once again and calling our preseason a shambles tho.
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I am a Town fan and always will be and I have never posted a negative comment, but (you knew it was coming), I am seriously concerned at the lack of transfer action. We desperately need a proven striker who can knock them in week after week (and I would love it to be Priskin, but don't think it is) and I am concerned that we are supposed to be signing a ex target of Big Fat Joe in Kennedy. I am excited about the new season starting, but without that elusive goalscorer I do think we're gonna struggle, even with the most promising youngster out there in young Connor. Am I alone in these fears?!!
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We seem to be living in a very small world. Remember Arnold Mûhren? Great players from a wide ambit. How is it that Ipswich Town is forced into Republic of Ireland shot gun marriages? In whose interest is this reducing the world to dribs and brabs? You know how it is...you can't get on with people in the real world, so you force yourself on yr family. Is Ipswich Town to become little Ireland. A miserable little nonentity?
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mripswichtown, no i don't think it's linked to Kennedy - they plan different positions. i suspect another player was going to be bought in and that folded so Keane pulled the plug on this one. My guess Bruce will go once he's got a replacement sorted but not before.
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How would you feel if you were Bruce now, knowing that you are not wanted but expected to give your all if selected. The sorry state of affairs continues and whilst I continue to support Keane players obviously do not want to come to Ipswich for varying reasons. At the moment we certainly look a bottom six team at best - we have no right back only one central defender who is good enough (Smith will come I hope). We have no pace in the team whatsoever and are relying on a 17 year old to score our goals. At best you can only expect the lad to play two thirds of the season with at most a 12 goal haul. For me this is very very worrying - I cling on to the hope that we can do a Blackpool against all the odds, but I would not bank on it. Unlike some I am not looking forward to the season at all but will be there through thick and thin.
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Bruce's Blades Move Off
