Tonight's game

nugent said on twitter that he's deffo on the bench.

I'd go for same as sunday for a bit of consistancy, maybe swapping fernandes for johnson (if fit enough)

It's going to be a tough game so I'm going to say another away draw at 2-2

King and Vassell

A draw would be a good result tonight. Tough fixture away from home. We need to be a little more realistic. There was disappointment that we "only" drew with Cardiff. That was a good point. Clean sheets these days, defence is starting to bind together and we are easing up the table. The progress we need may take a little longer although we could be ready to give somebody a thumping in any game soon. Just no more moans if we "only draw" away.

For me:

Schmeichel
Peltier
Mills
Bamba
Konchesky
Abe
Wellens
Johnson
King
Vassell
Beckford

Subs: Weale, St Ledger, Danns, Dyer, Nugent

Although I think Sven may opt for Fernandes on the bench over Dyer.

Johnson to start deffo who will stand down Abe or the leggy one?

Surely not King?

I wouldn't be massively surprised if Johnson started tonight either, although who for is a very difficult question.

I just hope we don't go 4-3-3 and stick Nugent out wide. Either start him in a 4-4-2 or have him come on from the bench.

Dannzy for Fernandes.

2-1 Leicester.

I wouldn't drop Fernandes but I'd like to see Johnson in, probably for Abe.

Dietmar Hamann said that the midfield he played in at Man City with Johnson and Fernandes was the best he'd ever played in, so I'd like to see them both in the same side and see what they can do.

Not sure I'd want Wellens or Johnson at the back of the Diamond and as we are playing away against 5 in midfield, I think Sven will want Abe at the back.

Concerning 4-3-3, if Vassell and Beckford play well and Nugent comes on and carries on his form before injury, I have a feeling all three will start on Saturday, unless the four midfielders are brilliant tonight.

Suggestion for 4-3-3 formation which to a certain extent retains the tactics of the diamond:

-------------------------Schmeichel----------------------------

Peltier-------------Mills------------Bamba-----Konchesky


------------------------------Abe---------------------------------

---------------Wellens----------------Johnson---------------



---------------------------Nugent-------------------------------

------------Vasell--------------------Beckford----------------


Allows for space behind the three strikers for Wellens and Johnson to be creative, but it means leaving midfielders like King, Danns, Fernandes completely out of the squad in some cases.

Yeah, don't think we'll go 433 tonight. Maybe if it's not working out after an hour we could try it, but i think we'll start saturday with 433

Interesting quotes from today's Merc regarding how to re-intergrate Nugent:

"We will find a place for him in the team if he is what he was before he got injured," said Eriksson."

"Beckford is a centre-forward and I can't see him playing wide, but Vassell and Nugent can both play wide if necessary, so we can play three up front or two up front and one of them wide."

"They look better as a pair. They are a threat and not easy to play against. They are strong and have pace, both of them."

Few things from that. Firstly, Sven is telling Nugent that he has to get back into the form he previously was in to get in and be guaranteed a place which is good. Also, he's also contemplating Vassell as part of the diamond and Nuge and Becks up top which I would prefer to 4-3-3 as it allows us to keep the shape which has worked so well so far this season. I also infer from that last one that Beckford plays better in a pair (in fact I think Sven said as much after the Barnsley game) so that again would point to sticking with the diamond and putting Vassell in it.

Might not be such a bad idea as its often Darius' finishing that lets him down so maybe putting him deeper where he can be more creative and not have such an onus to score goals might benefit him and the team?