African Cup of Nations

[South Stand Balti]

The rules state the countries have control of the players for 48 hours after the tournament. The club have no say and Ivory are taking the players back home when this tournament finishes. It's fucking ridiculous. Yaya flew out on Jan 6th and will not be available for us now until Feb 21st.

And this applies only if they are playing their final?

Sick. Ashley brought Cisse with a personal plane the next day Senegal went home and we have to wait a year to use our players

No it applies from whatever point the country is eliminated. If the country choose not to enforce the 48 hours then the players can go back to their clubs. Yaya was never going to play against chelsea even if they had been knocked out at the group stages last Wednesday as Ivory intended taking all the players back home for a presentation and Yaya would not have been released until Friday night. It seems ridiculous they planned a presentation for not even getting through the group. Maybe other countries don't bother with the presentation thing.

[Ted Hughes]

They're not in the final yet. They have to face Doctor Congo next. He may have an evil trick up his sleeve..

[blues2win]

Won't they play in a third place match if they're eliminated? I think we're fucked for the Stoke match. What gets my goat is the absolute nonsense of holding the tournament every two years.

[Ted Hughes]

Won't they play in a third place match if they're eliminated? I think we're fucked for the Stoke match. What gets my goat is the absolute nonsense of holding the tournament every two years.

That may mean they're free to come home Tues morning. They may let them come home if they don't reach the final though.

Can't see Yaya being any use then anyhow but Bony is another story.

[South Stand Balti]

Won't they play in a third place match if they're eliminated? I think we're fucked for the Stoke match. What gets my goat is the absolute nonsense of holding the tournament every two years.

Yes there is a third place thing on Saturday. This may mean they could fly back on Tuesday but I don't think they would be ready to play the day after. Ivory could just allow them to leave straight after the game but that's not the plan. Yaya is african player of the year and I suppose they would want him at the presentation they do but I also wonder if he approaches them and asks to be released or if he is happy to go back to Ivory coast. By missing Stoke it means yaya and bony don't have a game until Feb 21st so I suppose they could have a couple of extra days at home.

[phips]

god damnit Bony

[Ted Hughes]

Dr Congo is playing some ok stuff so far.

[Moonchesteri]

Soo...does their results matter anymore in terms of when they're back? Or was it so that they will miss the Stoke game even if they finish fourth in the tourno?

[Ted Hughes]

They have to play a 3rd place game on Saturday if they lose. Whether we can pull strings to get them back in time to be viable for Wed, after that, I've no idea.

[World Toure]

YAYAYAYAYAYAAYAAYA

[Ted Hughes]

Great goal.

[Lev Bronstein]

He scores some crackers doesn't he

[Ted Hughes]

Accidental handball, pen, 1-1.

Bailly is fucking terrible though. Media were trying to link us with him.

[Bluedj]

Two assists in this game for Bony lol

[Ted Hughes]

2-1 half time. Bony set up Gervinho after shit play by Doctor Congo.

[Ted Hughes]

Yaya Toure of 'well Manchester City at the moment' just put in the 'City' corner & it worked. 3-1.

[Scatman]

Yaya Toure of 'well Manchester City at the moment' just put in the 'City' corner & it worked. 3-1.

First man turned it into his own net did he?

[Green & Blue]

Just saw Yayas goal that was some thunder bolt

[Ted Hughes]

Yaya Toure of 'well Manchester City at the moment' just put in the 'City' corner & it worked. 3-1.

First man turned it into his own net did he?

No, the one we try to do, rather than the scuffer.

The near post attacker headed it goalwards & they scored the rebound. Same corner we do but we never get the header anymore.

[DoomMerchant]

Basically...they need to win this tourney and press on for a personal treble of PL and CL IMHO.

The cunts.

Cheers