They're taking a wage and that's an issue, yes. They're absolutely not a 'core' of the squad though, and it's ridiculous to suggest they are. Three of the players you've mentioned have started one game between them all season.
I’m not just talking about this season!
We’ve been in the bottom three before under both Koeman and Silva. We’ve had periods of ‘relegation form’ under every single manager since Koeman including Ancelotti by the end.
Most of these players have constituted the squad during that time and what’s most worrying is that most of our ‘best’ players this Godfrey Doucoure VdB Gray with the exceptions of Richarlison and Mina, only arrived in recent windows.
So whilst I get your point that it’s not exactly the same group that has been here for five years under different managers, and yes some of them haven’t played much this season, the team sheet is still starting every single game with Pickford Coleman Keane Holgate (who have all been here for ages) and then Kenny is now playing who was also playing in 17/18.
The midfield three is different now they’re all fit yes but this is really the first time we’ve had Allan Doucoure VdB together for any period. Just before the start of last season it was Davies Gomes Siggurdson Delph Gbamin as options. Last season as soon as one of Allan and Docuoure got injured we were straight into these players. Gomes has played a lot this season when Doucoure was injured.
It’s been the same forward upfront for years ‘supported’ by Tosun. It’s no surprise that Gray and Gordon look our best players this season and even Rondon offers more than Tosun.
So I get your point but I just don’t agree that there isn’t a critical mass of players at this club who have been here for years and have failed under successive managers to either perform in the first team or offer a decent alternative off the bench.
That’s not to say we haven’t also recruited poorly on top of these players, we have as well, or that managers haven’t made mistakes in that period because they have.
I just don’t agree that we’ve moved huge numbers of players in and out and the end result has been the same with all of them. Not when the back 5 still reads exactly the same now as it could have done in 17/18.
If I had to sum it up I’d say we have a rotten base of poor players that I’ve listed above. We’ve then bought numerous players who are only slightly better than them under each new manager. These newer players are more prone to injury so we end up right back with the poorer types.