So, who's out and who's in for you?
Safe: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Skrtel, Mashcerano, Gerrard, Aquilani, Babel, Torres, Benayoun.
Not safe: Insua, Aurelio, Riera, Kuyt, Lucas, Degen, Ngog, Kyrgiakos.
New: Shweinsteiger, Marcelo, Silva, Villa (depends...)
Keep: Reina, Johnson, Carra, Skrtel, Agger, Gerard, Torres, Benayoun, Maxi
Get rid: Cavalieri, Degen, Insua, Aurelio, Kyrgiakos, Babel, Riera, Lucas, Kuyt, Ngog, El Zhar. All are simply not good enough, for various reasons.
Consider future: Mascherano, Aquilani
Go back to 4-4-2. Show a positive attitude and approach home and away. We're so much better when we attack but only seem to do so when we have to. Show more composure, play at a higher tempo. There's too much sideways & backwards passing and it's all so slow.
I'd play Johnson on the right of midfield (Kelly at RB) but I'm not sure he'd want to for the sake of his international career. We need someone to play alongside Torres plus a back-up, a left back and a left winger. If Masch goes (he's great at what he does but his passing is woeful and he can't keep his mouth shut) then we'd need a suitable replacement. Sort the first team and stick with it. If money is tight, show some faith in the ressies to cover for suspension & injury (Darby, Kelly, Irwin, Spearing, Pacheco, etc).
Next season is massive for us. Another wretched one like this year and we could slide rapidly towards obscurity.....