Ted Hughes wrote:
If we can't use these players v Sunderland, there is no point in having them. The only player we really missed was Silva & with all the games coming up, the bloke has to rest against either Sunderland, Liverpool or Utd as he is being ruined by over playing. Take your pick.
Whilst I would agree with not having some of the players outside the first 11, I've got to disagree with the 'v Sunderland' comment. I think that's exactly what caused the problem. By resting some of the best players (Silva, Aguero, potentially Balotelli) it said 'it's only Sunderland'. For the players who played, you've just told them this will be an easy game. At the same time, O'Neill sticks that team sheet up and tells his dressing room 'they think you're shit, go and prove them wrong'.
The players who got a chance yesterday and didn't take it need to take a look at themselves, but it sends out the wrong message from the manager. Taggart did the same thing against Blackburn and we accused him of arrogance. Mancini does it and people are defending the need to rotate. Sorry, it was arrogance and he got his comeuppance. Hopefully, he'll learn from it and stop making so many changes.