I suppose the big question is are the current players that poor, or is it the management of them? It's a bit of both I suppose, but poor game management during the 90 has taken it's toll.
If your talking about individual effort and committment, then 10 Andy Rinomohtas on the pitch(I don't think he can play in goal) would have kept us up. On the other hand we wouldn't have won anything either but at least we'd still be a Championship club next season.
It's a balance between effective management and individual player skill zones - and we've got it all wrong. Players finding it difficult being asked to play outside of their limited comfort zone, and others when picked give the impression they couldn't care less.
It needs a shake up, but one thing I wouldn't have said a few weeks back when staying in the Championship looked positive. I'd sign up Rallsy right now - he's just the sort of club captain we'll need in League One. If we'd have retained Championship status, it would have been time for him to move on.
It's finding the balance between destruction and creation. A 6 as a 6 and an 8 as an 8.
In a limited, but structured gameplay, a 6 just wins the ball and gives it to the 8, 10 or a winger then gets in position for the next time the oposition have the ball. The same for the two CBs. The 8s job is to be available to receive a pass and move the ball forwards
An over simplification I know, but it provides structure.
On paper, we have (had) players to do this, but we found a round hole to put the square pegs into. Then we blame the player.
If we want to sign a player, let him do what he's good at. If we want a different type of player, don't sign him, however good he is at what he does (e.g. Siopis). Watching him play for us and in his international games was chalk and cheese.
If you're going to play Rubin, 8 or 10. Not out wide. Willock is not a 10.
We did it so many times in the season, it made my p!$$ boil.
Managers of top players don't play them out of position (Milner was a huge exception), though they would be more capable of adapting. As you come down the leagues, play to a players strengths.
There are two options, decide on a style and pick players to execute that. OR, pick a player and adapt your style to them.
I debated this year's ago when Keegan was England manager. He wanted to play with a back 5 but kept picking Adams, who looked lost. It should either have been a back 5 without Adams, or Adams in a back 4.
What chance do average players have?
OK, we know there are exceptions, with some in our squad over the years, but in general, square pegs, square holes.