When there's injury or form issues the coaching staff can do no more than play the best of a poor lot n hope they can contribute. Core of the problem stems from the recruiting and there's generally a three to five year lag between recruiting and delisting, or being a regular reliable player. A couple of years of ordinary recruiting or misses in a specific area can seriously haunt the list five years later.
Vickery,, reasonable return.
Griffiths,, still hoping to get a decent return.
Astbury,, still hoping to get a decent return.
Elton,, phhhhht done our dough.
McBean,, done our dough.
McKenzie,, done our dough.
Six players and it's only a tiny but clearly focused snapshot of how poor returns from the recruiting dept can hamstring an era.