I'm looking at long-term prospects for those listed on our first team squad on the official web site. I don't mean by this that we should be writing off our season. There is still plenty to play for, and I do think we will rebound. But yesterday reminds me that there is a process at work, like it or not. So I'm thinking in terms of the championship-winning side that Jürgen is looking to build (4 years is the number I see most frequently used, which means next season or the season after, I think).
GK
Mignolet - Not the long-term option.
Karius - Maybe the long-term option, but needs to play much more this season to have an idea. Fits our style of play better than Migs, but does he fit the English style of play (which we tend to play against because...we are in England).
Ward - He was kept here this season for a reason. I'd say he needs to play more as well.
Bogdan - Just waiting for his contract to expire I guess. I think he is still rehabbing an injury but even if the other 3 got injured at the same time, I think Klopp would use one of the kids before Adam.
Defence
Clyne - I think we've missed him more than I realized we would.
Matip - Agree with many on here that he can be decent as a 2nd center back. He's played well for us more often than not, but this season he has struggled and this in in part due to the rest of the group.
Lovren - Personally it wouldn't bother me a bit at this phase if he's shipped out in January. In truth, he will probably remain for a good bit as a squad player because I don't see teams lining up to buy him, but, we managed to sel Skrtel, so...
Gomez - Potentially a future starting center back for us. Should be given more opportunities while we are waiting for VVd or whoever to come in.
Klavan - useful backup - no more.
Moreno - Has done better defensively this season it is true, but I will remind people that while his pace is good going forward, his service more often than not is not good.
Robertson - Has looked good in limited opportunities. Hope to see more of him this season to see if he will be our left back of the future.
TAA - Very promising, but needs to improve as a defender.
Flanagan - Sorry about the injuries, but should be moved on unless he wants to be an unused squad player for the rest of his contract.
Overall: So regarding our future, championship winning side - I see zero definites and a few possibilities
Midfield
Gini - will he be in the starting midfield three of the championship winning team. My gut tells me probably not, but he could still be an important part of the team. He's as clean technically as they come, but he has to step up more in tougher situations so...possibly.
Milner - Utility player. Useful in the squad, but let's not get so over the top excited when he happens to have a good game against teams from Slovenia. I think his character is good, but hey, guys get old. It's what happened.
Coutinho - He's mostly being a professional as far as I can tell, but I do think his head has been permanently turned and while Jürgen was right to stand up to Barcelona - it's probably just as well that he move on now (by now I expect the end of the season rather than January).
Henderson - such a divisive subject on here. I think back to matches a few years ago when he was playing farther ahead in the midfield and he could be a real difference maker. Sadly he does not seem to be that same player anymore, and if consistency is what you want from your midfield leader, I'd have to say he is lacking there. Unfair to compare him to Gerrard, but I don't think he will be part of that championship-winning team.
Grujic - Starting to feel he will never step up to stake a claim for a first team place. Maybe it's unfair that he doesn't get a real chance, but that's life at a top club. Wouldn't shock me to see him off this summer.
Lallana - We really miss him, yeah? He could definitely be part of that winning side.
Emre - Yesterday seals it for me - he doesn't want to be there. All the physical qualities you could want from a midfielder, but his brain seems to have been lost in the post. I will expect him to leave in the summer and I will be unhappy with Jürgen if maintains a first team place going forward (barring some total revolution in Emre's attitude and performance).
Markovic - waiting for someone else to pay his wages, nothing more.
Wilson - Should get a chance at some point. Some rumblings that he's a bit on the unruly side.
Ejaria - I thought he looked a great prospect at the U17 World Cup, but he's clearly some way off from contending for a regular place in the first team.
Should add here that Keita is definitely pegged to be a key member of the first team in midfield.
Forwards
Ox - He could end up playing more as a #8 depending on what happens with Phil, but these last 2-3 matches he's eased my fears about being a bad signing. I think he can become an important part of our attack.
Firmino - I think his season has been affected by the big drop in our midfield performance. His work rate is just the same though and he should be a big part of our success going forward.
Sturridge - Probably crowded out numbers-wise unless he is content with being a regular backup on matchday. Quite a good backup to have, mind you, but I wouldn't expect him to want this.
Salah - Huge part of our future.
Mane - See Salah.
Ings - See Flanagan.
Solanke - Promising beginning. He definitely can be a key attacking option with continued development.
Woodburn - Very exciting prospect, but I hope to see him get more opportunities this season. Could end up being used more as a midfielder, but seems to have quite a nose for goal.
So where does that leave us? Of 11 starting positions, we have 3 definites (Sadio, Mo, Naby) and four if Phil surprises me and ends up staying around (doubt it).
Now the number we should be looking at is more like 16 because you really want a handful of key subs who are just as valuable as the first choice 11. Of that number we probably have 3-7 more in Gini, Adam, Bobby, Ox, Clyne and maybe Matip or Gomez.
Then you may end up adding Karius or Ward to that group of 16 or 17, or maybe not. This all adds up to leave us with a lot of maybes and a lot of definitely nots.
I get that with Klopp it is all about the system, and I'm fine with that - but even there I think we are still some way short of completing the group that would put the smiles on the faces of supporters for a long time to come. Hopefully a couple of young players can make the big leap to becoming a top player (Rhian Brewster and Liam Miller seem possibilities for that as well, but with kids you never know). Hopefully more of these "maybes" can make it than don't - but it is pretty evident there will need to be multiple top-level additions to form that truly serious contender over the long haul.
What do you think? Are we closer than that? Farther away?
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