African Cup of Nations

[IFWaters]

Sorry to raise this just as we seem to be turning a corner, but any idea who we will lose and for how long ?

Kodija plays for Ivory Coast who are in it.
Ayew and Adomah play for Ghana who are in it.
Gestede plays for Benin who ARENT in it.

any others ?

didnt Dr X say something about loans to cover, not easy with that trio out for what 4-6 weeks.

[Salsa Party Animal]

So this means we got Rudi, Gaby, Ross and the kids for attacking option. Don't know who could join us on loan though. Perhaps looking at MLS in America should be ideal solution.

[eamonn]

Arise young Rushian!

[class-of-82]

You win nothing with kids

[brian green]

Whereas you get 17 points a season with old ones.  Not having a go at you c o 82.  I am just very bitter about how little game time RH-M has had.

[Virgil Caine]

So this means we got Rudi, Gaby, Ross and the kids for attacking option. Don't know who could join us on loan though. Perhaps looking at MLS in America should be ideal solution.

. 

Once again the forgotten man of Villa Park, Libor Kozak, appears to have been er, forgotten.

[Meanwood Villa]

Aren't we loaning Messi as cover?

[Salsa Party Animal]

Don't know if Kozak is fit or injured.

[sickbeggar]

Could really derail us if we're not careful. Anyone expecting gabby and rudy to score the goals?

[Old Kodjia]

Just looking at this, the group games start on 14th Jan, meaning that we will probably lose our players after the Cardiff game on the 2nd Jan (hopefully we can keep them for that game).

On the 7th Jan, we have the FA Cup round 3.  Under normal circumstances, I would hope to lose this, in order to focus on the league.  However, on 28 Jan, we are scheduled to play Bristol City.  If one of us win in round 3, this will mean that the game on the 28th gets postponed.

The group games for the African cup finish on 25th January and the quarter finals take place on the 28th & 29th January.

If our players teams are knocked out by quarter final stage and we are able to get the Bristol game postponed, the only games the players would miss would be Wolves and Brentford away and Preston at home.  The next game would be Forest away on 4th Feb, which may also be a bit too soon, if the players had played in a quarter final.

[Matt Collins]

We might get someone in. But could also be the time for Rudy, gabby, RHM or McCormack to shine

[class-of-82]

Also by January we can have got some players in that Bruce wants and players out that he doesn't fancy

[Matt Collins]

True but I'd rather he concentrated on the midfield 

[IFWaters]

I had a quick look at possible short term loans to help fill in for Kodija, Ayew and Adomah. MLS looks to be a good source... David Villa, Frank Lampard and Andrea Pirlo anyone ?

[JJ-AV]

We should be fine. Kodj and Ayew are obviously going to be misses - but we've got enough numbers: Gestede, McCormack, Gabby, Adomah and Grealish is enough for the forward positions. We've an embarrassment of riches up-front at this level.