My thoughts
1. The seeding system is a joke - Lille (in Pot 1) were deemed the most likely team to win their group. They finished bottom despite having a guy who is worth £50m by the second season of FIFA career mode..
2. Pienaar looked very good all things considered - not 2007-09 good but good enough to still cause some damage and the creativity will always be a threat to the more unassuming of teams. Had Baines played with him tonight, the game would have been very different.
3. Garbutt was magnificent, handle him right and he'll slot into LB seamlessly. Baines needs to take a leaf out of his book sometimes.....
4. For all the hype, Ledson isn't ready. Not by a long shot.
5. McAleny isn't good enough. Time to go son.
6. Barry isn't half bad at CB. Oviedo's versatility never ceases to amaze.
7. Robles needs more exp points - that goal he conceded. Reminded me of my good self keeping goal during games lessons. Yes I was the fat kid who went in goal....
New keeper needed in January. Badly.... what I wouldn't give for another Nigel Martyn bullseye!
8. They sang "Hey Jude" in the first half. Given how Putin has gone about his business, we should have replied with "Back in the USSR"
9 The coleslaw in the Joe Mercer suite was outstanding
10 How fit did that Russian announcer sound? She reminded me of a bond baddie who tries to kill him but he ends up schtupping her.