You're creating a straw man Dave, I'm not claiming we're world beaters or that the manager doesn't have his work cut out with this bunch. I do think things don't have to be so negative and listless and that his game management continues to leave something to be desired.
Since you asked though, of the players currently available:
Davies
Smith
Souttar
Chester
RND
Cousins
Thompson
Clarke
Powell
Brown
Fletcher
Everything is a straw man argument if it doesn't agree with your tactical genius though. It's an accusation you throw around regularly.
Davies (he wouldn't have had any impact on last nights game)
Smith (He played and is generally crap)
Souttar (He played and clumsily contributed to opening goal)
Chester (He played and is useless in the air)
RND (he played and isn't as good as Fox. He's rash and stupid)
Cousins (I love Cousins but he gives us nothing in terms of game control and but does give us energy. He should start I agree but he's no game changer)
Thompson (played lots of games and offered very little. Changes nothing)
Clarke (had his best game for us last night and still did nothing positive of any note. Created no chances, didn't beat the full-back once)
Powell (Best player in the team and nursing a groin injury)
Brown (ha ha. He's wank according to absolutely everyone. Give him the ball and he'll fall over it or miscontrol it)
Fletcher (Class player but not fit. Played full 90 minutes yesterday. Changes nothing)
You see where I'm going with this. The players that improve us significantly are not available. Your preferred team is no better than the team that finished yesterday and no more likely to play well than the 11 that started the game. We are absolutely useless without our better players to mask the inadequacies of the rest of them.
The goalkeeper thing is getting right on my tits as well. Gunn has done little wrong and Davies absolutely does not improve things. Nor does Bursik. They are all much of a muchness.
I'll take the straw man argument and throw it back at you. You are clutching at straws thinking any of your preferred 11 improve us one iota compared with what we saw last night. The only player we have who isn't playing but should be is Cousins and you and many others thought he was shit a few short months ago.
As ever, we'll have to agree to differ. We rarely if ever agree on matters Stoke City. Long may that continue.