With David Nugent returning, a few poor performances in the midfield and the return of Michael Johnson what team should we put out on Wednesday. The back 5 has looked solid for 2 games now and shouldnt be changed. The midfield places are more then up for grabs and the striker situation is just starting to get some decent competition. This is the team I would play on Wednesday Schmeichel Peltier Mills Bamba Konchesky Wellens Abe Fernandes Danns Beckford Vassell Subs St. Ledger, Pantsil, King, Johnson, Nugent
I said after cardiff that danns should come in for either abe or king. King does need to get his act together i think. Didnt sven say before cardiff that nugent played a full part in training?? surely he must get a fair amount of mins.
Johnson and Danns should be in IMO. The midfielders have been inconsistent at best, and King has just done nothing apart from that one goal. Danns has only had one good game himself but since he's had a kick up the arse by being dropped, hopefully throwing him back in will bring his confident, creative side out. I'd drop 2 of King, Wellens and Abe, Fernandes has been the 'best' of all of them so far, which doesn't say much for our midfield. Half the time he's been electric, the rest all over the place. But his energy in away games can be vital. I'd keep Vassell and Beckford in with those changes as we should create more with Danns and Johnson (if they play well that is). Vassell had a great game against Brighton and despite his ****ness at Cardiff, he does look like he's been told to get the bit between his teeth, which makes him the most effective. Beckford hasn't done great but we did know that he needs service and can't be expected to hold it up. He hasn't had one proper goalscoring chance in 3 games which isn't really good enough from the team perspective. Give him chances and he will score. I don't expect it will be long before Nugent's back in though, one way or another. I just hope it's not in a 4-3-3.
Nugent and Beckford have to start up front in a 442 if we are going to get out of this league. Vassell should be used as an impact sub but we need a 4th striker who can score goals as well. Is Howard or Schlupp that man. Or should we dip into the loan Market
Beckford, Nugent, Loan youth, Schlupp would be the 4 for me. Vassell is like N'Guessan. He's unstoppable in one game (vs Brighton) and then **** in the next (vs Cardiff)
Vassell is Svens golden boy who can do no wrong, although he should be dropped for this next match, something tells me its going to be 4-3-3 again
I don't think he should be dropped, he was the only player in our forward six who had a go and ran at the Cardiff defence and attempted to do something with the ball and while he might have missed a couple of chances (the header was unlucky) he at least put himself in the position which is more than Beckford has done in his three games so far!!
Vassell will start on Wednesday, Some needs to tell him he needs a performance or he will lose his place. He isnt good enough in the box for my liking. Around the box he is fine but in the box he doesnt get in enough scoring opportunities and his finishing isnt good enough. Nugent and Beckford both will score the fair share of goals while Vassell wont
Problem is, Beckford is seen as more of a threat, i think Cardiff showed this quite well, their defence closed down Beckford faster and marked him closer then Vassell. I am so pleased that Vassell is finally playing in the right position though, been crying out for him to be pressing on defenders for about 6 months+ now, hes proved hes much more of a problem in a 4-4-2 than a 4-3-3.
At the minute teams know that Beckford will score if they give him a chance so they try and frustrate him and man mark him. When Nugent returns they cant afford to man mark one of them because the other will have a field day. Nugent and Beckford will probaly be the best partnership in the league
First of all, a couple of clues in today's media about who will/won't be starting tommorow. "nuge101235 david nugent Ill be in squad wed! Little cameo from bench hopefully!" I think this means that Nugent won't start which is sensible IMO. Don't want to rush him in too soon and Vassell has been playing well lately. Secondly, http://www.thisisleicestershire.co....icester-City/story-13412020-detail/story.html. I'd take it that Sven is saying Johnson will probably start and I agree with that move. He looked neat and tidy on the ball and I think we do need to create more chances in games and Johnson is arguably our most creative player and Beckford has been somewhat starved of service. He is the type who can create something from nothing. One thing I wouldn't do is play him as the deepest player in the diamond. I think he needs to play further forward to influence games higher up the pitch and I think we have both Wellens and Fernandes who are capable of playing that role well enough. The midfield is the only place I would consider changes. I agree with Sven that Johnson should come in and I think the other 3 is anybody's guess. I don't think any of the midfielders could complain if they were dropped but in the same way, I could understand if they all kept their place. The person I'd probably drop for Johnson would be Fernandes because he was probably the worst of the midfielders. I don't think he got involved enough in an attacking sense and he didn't give Konchesky any help down our left when McNaughton was attacking. I would probably keep Wellens and Abe because they both had super games last week and I think Wellens has merited his 'cemented' spot if I can call it that and I thought Abe was good tracking back and him and Peltier were good down that right side together. I also think that when possible, we should try and keep some sort of consistency with team selection. So that leaves Danns or King for the final spot. I can see arguements both for and against with these two and I'm going to sit on the fence with this one. Schmeichel Peltier - Mills (C) - Bamba - Konchesky Wellens Abe - Danns/King Johnson Beckford - Vassell Subs: Weale Pantsil Fernandes Danns/King Nugent I'm going for 1-0 to us with Wellens scoring the goal.
Be good to have Johnson play 90 minutes. Was a class act for manc. Fernandes has looked better on the right hand side of midfield. Havent seen Yuki on the left as far as i can remember - this season anyway. Dans on the left, Fernandes right, Johnson at the head of the diamond and Wellens at the base. The rest of the team should stay as it is. Vassell has taken a lot of stick from some on here, but he was virtually alone on Sunday as Beckford didnt look up for it. Still cant believe he didnt dive for his header. Will be good to have Nuge back, and depending on whether we need to chase a goal or not depends on whether he comes on for Vassell or Beckford, or one of the midfield. Personally, am really happy with the way we are performing at the moment - huge improvement from the brizzle and reading games.
i reckon nugent on bench in a 4-4-2 and then bought on for a 4-3-3. i too would drop king, but i have an awfully good feeling about him in this game...
