I honestly don't believe this squad (without Sturridge) is good enough to qualify for the CL consistently. I do think that one of the problems we have had over the last few years has been we have tried to run before we can walk and then when we fall down, we throw the plan out the window and have to start again.
I think our ambitions have been too high for the players we have had and maybe that's why we are now on our 4th manager in 5 years, or is it 5 managers in 6 years ( I'm starting to lose count!). We win three games and Klopp is then asked are we going to win the league, expectation is just too high, while the reality of the problems we have to overcome just get brushed aside.
Think this is a fair assessment mate, it was like the "can we dream thread" our expectations get carried away far too quickly.
In terms of who is good enough from our squad, if I'm going to be brutally honest:
Good enough:
Sturridge
Coutinho
Sakho
They'd be the only 3 that I'd be happy to build the squad around, I know people will point to Sakho's last game which was easily his worst ever but I have seen enough over his time with us to see if you put a proper leader alongside him he could easily be up to standard. Clearly it's a massive issue when 2 of those 3 are also the most injury prone players we have.
Squad players good enough to rotate into the first XI:Henderson - Massively over-rated by our fanbase
Lucas - Stamina issues, on his day he's the best in the league but his low drops far too low to maintain a first team place
Clyne - Doesn't offer enough going forward to be an absolute cert for first XI place but he's not too far away
Moreno - I like him but there are certainly better
Skrtel - Always underwhelms, another that is over-rated by our fans
Milner - Again, his time out of the side made him a better player again, a decent squad option
Lallana - Started the year brightly but has fallen back to the level of last year and this year there can be no excuses for him
Lovren - Improved this season but more because the emphasis wasn't on him than him actually becoming commanding
Not good enough:Benteke - Probably the one most will disagree with and there's a chance he could improve with training.
Origi - He did well in a couple of games, looks better out wide, but again if we're honest he really isn't up to it
Allen - We're in such a terrible situation that I'm thinking he should start, that's when we know we're desperate
Mignolet - Diabolical, it's a travesty he's been our number 1 for this long
Bogdan - Still think he could be better than Migs, but that doesn't make him good enough, not even close
Toure - I like Kolo but his time to move on has come
Enrique - Strange to find himself here, but with as long out as he has there must be convincing reasons for that
Jury still out:Firmino - Can't believe he's been as poor as he has, judged on only his time with us he should be on his bike but there's more there
Teixeira - Should be given his chance, he deserves it
Can - Squad player at worst, think he could develop into a first team player but he's being asked sooner than is probably right
Ibe - Signs he could make a first team player but if he doesn't make it, then I don't think a squad option is right, but our only winger
Gomez - Loved the look of this lad, gutted about his injury
Sinclair - Probably moving on anyway
Ings - Biggest loss to us in my opinion, would have change our entire dynamic
Overall massive work to be done and I honestly believe to get us close to "title contenders" we need 4 solid top class players and that would hopefully drag a few of the squad players levels up. That doesn't mean they then become first team choices though and should be looked to be improved upon in the future. As it stands I'd rather watch kids developing than watching the usual suspects fail.