Looking at some more players from under TPM, and carrying on some if, buts and maybe's ...
Coutinho - likely only playing until end of the season, would leave massive hole, currently winning a chunk of our points almost single-handed
Sakho - potential first starter, sold
Lucas - defensive cover, sold
Sturridge - kept, but 'not really played'
Gomez - can argue not progressed
Hendo - remains captain which I've no problem with given alternatives
Origi - possible best striking cover sold? can argue
Can - better than Gino imho
Allen - sold - argue again on par with Gino, deffo better than Grujic
Clyne - imho still our first choice RB
Milner - makeshift FB which worked for a period of time
Not trying to run down Jürgen, some things have improved absolutely ... just think the story is more mixed ...
You know when the discourse starts to look at TPM manager virtually 3 seasons on, we've hit a bit of a bliiip.
That said, I'll play along.
Mignolet: As it turns out, a fail signing by TPM and fail by Klopp to offer him a new contract and continue him as number one when his own replacement has failed to oust him. Fail.
Coutinho: A good signing by TPM. A player in terms of quality this current squad desperately lacks. I can only think of Mane coming close enough in terms of production.
Moreno: Thought he looked good initially. Remember the goal against Spurs? Then his form dipped. Looked surplus to requirements under Klopp. Has come back apparently as Maldini incarnate - but really is practically still the same player he was a year ago. He was a fail signing but now Klopp manages him he's Maldani. Work that one out after being frozen completely out of the team for a year behind Milner. For him to show improvement he needs to show he can do that job better than a right footed midfielder this season.
Lovren: Ultimately, a poor signing by TPM. Too many individual brain-farts have confirmed this for me - at times he's a walking disaster. However, like with the entirety of our defence I don't think this system and team mates suit him. Him and his defensive team mates have been left over-exposed to the elements of an attacking system. Apparently systems cannot be tweaked which therefore means Lovren's gotta go. But still makes Jürgen's team, pain killers and all. Fail on both managers.
Sakho: A good signing by TPM. Definately no worse than where we are now with CB. May have attitude problems. No problem, get rid. Problem is, he has never been replaced or upgraded upon and no matter how you look at it that is a massive fail on Jürgen's part.
Lucas: Rafa signing used by most managers. Shipped out under Klopp with no replacement either for like 4 like, or versatility. Another fail for Klopp IMO.
Sturridge: Fantastic signing like Coutinho in the same impossible window. Admittedly needing to modify his game slightly these days, but due to a lack of opportunity we'll never really know whether he can do that here. Seems to be a bit part player chewing up massive wages. Again, it's a fail now under Jürgen, he should have been sold in that case and a replacement brought in.
Gomez: Don't want to judge this one, jury is still out for me. Needs time.
Henderson: Signed by Kenny. Played by Rodgers. Played by Klopp. I have no qualms in saying that contrary to all those experts with all that information I don't rate him enough. Forget Souness & Gerrard, Henderson is no McMahon, Houghton or Whelan. A nice honest worker with limited ability, similarly to Mignolet can be carried by team mates but ultimately not good enough if we're being frank. Have noticed to how his performances have been bigged up recently, the ulterior motive here being another premature feather in the cap of a narrative to add to the growing list of players signed/or worked under TPM who are now improving out of all recognition under Klopp. And again, in this instance it's bollock. Like Moreno, Henderson is not going to turn into something he isn't over night because of a Klopp hug.
Origi: Poor signing by TPM. Good work by Jürgen in moving this docile plod along.
Can: Signed by TPM? He's so hit and miss this fella still to this day. Apparently Klopp wanted him, and due to the amount of game time he's been getting it appears Klopp is trying to twist his arm to stay. But Emre appears to be having none of it - in that case Emre don't let the door hit you on the way out!
Lallana: Another good signing by the TPM. It did appear Klopp was getting more out of him in the #8 role before he got injured and it did look exciting watching him in that position.
Milner: For me was a very good signing by TPM. Top pro. Experienced. Used as a square peg last year in a round hole - being the pro he is, did his job to the best of his abilities. Still important in the camp, even if his appearances are becoming limited.
Firmino: A feather in the cap for Klopp this one. Overrated in many quarters but has his uses.
Allen: Welsh Xavi! Similar to Gini. Neat & tidy player. But ultimately a fail signing unless he's a regular bench warmer supplementing better players. Don't blame Klopp for moving him on but his own Gini is being questioned; Gini - the new Allen?
But have a look at these midfielders:- Hendo, Can, Gini, Allen. Over all, they just ooze mediocrity more than superiority don't they.
Clyne: This player has recently been ridiculed in some quarters as the coming of Trent was imminent. Unfortunately those prophecies have yet to eventuate and Clyne is still by a country mile our best RB in the squad. Has sorely been missed and it has showed. Problem with him, is he is very limited in attack - which is a conundrum; although a defensive bit of nous is sorely being missed at the moment. He knows when to go forward, and tracks back well by reading the game, better than any full back in our team. Good signing by TPM, and it seems Klopp likes this "machine" to.
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As you say bmck. A bit of a mixed dish.
