Mojo

We had a clean sheet today, so I suggest sticking with this back four a while longer, and our goalie (do you hear, Mr Gary Shit-stirring Neville?)

This

Coutinho Raheemio Manquillo

Unlucky today, lucky last week. Barca getting thrashed by Real. And so it goes...

Souness bought the wrong player from Forest when he bought boy Clough

This

I think Brendan showed his astuteness by bringing Lucas on with 30 to go and giving Gerrard freedom during the period when his legs can't track back. This way we get Gerrard controlling the game for an hour with his skill and game intelligence, then adding to our attack at the end without putting us at risk at the back. 10 out of 10 for Brendan today.

Well played Simon

Hendo Lallana Stevie

Balotelli sweats and uses energy, but he is still a maverick and not a team player, thinking about combinations. Remember when Lallana had to tell him where to run so he could pass to him? That is pub league level. Although he has bags of talent, I would drop him until he gets it. Goalscoring is too important to indulge someone with that position at the expense of the team.

Talk is cheap. Look at Souness. Legend of a player, but I remember more abysmal performances in Europe when he was manager. And did anyone other than him rate Paul Stewart enough? We've got to get the TEAM back. I think Balotelli should be dropped, even if Sturridge isn't fit, until he gets it that the team comes first. Surely the rest haven't forgotten what a team is, and Lallana looks like he can slot right in, as have Moreno and Manquillo. We've got to use the strengths we have already established, and let Balotelli catch up and get himself ready. It isn't the end of a dream. We'll come out of this and then laugh at the Mancs in May as they look forward to Thursday night football, once we become a team again.

We were spineless tonight, but Basel were a lot dirtier and the ref a lot blinder than we remembered after our one year exile from Europe. We had better get used to it, especially Sterling. I expect a good reaction on Saturday. We are going to need it against set-piece experts Baggies.

Why don't we wait until we have a viable goalkeeping option on the bench before making him feel like shit.

Too right, and no one mentions that. I am a lot less scared when defenders pass back to him than I was a year ago.

Obviously, I failed Maths. 4+5 = 9, so it must be our number 45 who acts like he is God's gift but does not show it in actions.

hope not. I still find it painful to remember what happened to Dudek once he started doubting himself.

yes, he could be right. I amjust suspicious when that kind of thing comes from one of them. Last thing we want is a nervous wreck of a goalie.

You are right, but what I am saying is that Mign's low starting position encourages them to shoot high, with a higher likelihood of missing the target than if they shoot low, because it is more difficult to get the height just right, like Jagielka did. If some anorak would bring together all his one-on-one's and compare how many shoot high and miss, I'd be interested. Of course, it is a shame Ba didn't get lured into trying to shoot high..

Neville's "analysis" is about as useful as Youtube videos of unheard of players. It is so selective! Now we know Mign crouches down, but how many times has it caused someone to shoot high and over, eh? For a striker the hardest thing is to hit it high, but under the bar. Mign almost got to Jagielka's shot even with his low starting point, but it was in the one position that meant a goal -- hit the underside of the bar and in. And he praises Neuer, who is admittedly an excellent goalie, but if you watch Neuer, he is like the Balotelli of goalkeepers -- his body position is nearly always extremely casual and looks inattentively. However, unlike our 24 year old going on 13, Neuer's body doesn't seem to reflect his very focused mind -- that guy oozes confidence and shows why with his performance. If only our no. 49 could do that.

hope the boys are practicing set-piece defending, and that Sturridge comes back

Let's see if we can keep a clean sheet

Now that is below the belt! He's going to be a first-team regular, and is NOT a shit Adam Johnson

Lovren Lallana Sterling

I think his biggest flaw is his immaturity. Instead of concentrating and staying focused, he fools around in the tunnel. And some of his late reactions take the Oscar ahead of Robben. Still we live in hope. The day he stays focused in the tunnel to the final whist , like the others, he'll have learnt to be a professional and he might just fulfill his huge potential.

he'd better play tomorrow