Anyone relying on the final game...

[Beeks]

Forget it

Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill says he will be using the final four games of the Premier League season to test his fringe players.

The Northern Irishman has secured a mid-table finish in the Premier League for Sunderland, following a disappointing start to the campaign under Steve Bruce.

By giving opportunities to those players who have only featured on the peripheries this season he hopes to give himself a better understanding of his squad before canvassing the transfer market in the off-season.

"For us to strengthen, of course, we would have to look at it," O'Neill said.

"I wouldn't mind some of the younger players who probably under match conditions, I maybe don't know enough about - of course, I watch them in training every single day here - but I would like to see them maybe get a little bit more match-time.

"How do you approach that with trying to get results at the same time?

"Obviously, I would like anybody who steps into the side to be there on merit, but I do have these considerations to make.

"No matter how young you are or no matter how old you are, you have to deserve to be in the side.

"It's a balancing act at the moment where I have got to just maybe look at the bigger picture."

Although O'Neill was unable to make any serious moves during January, only bringing Wayne Bridge and Sotirios Kyrgiakos in on-loan, he did not bemoan his missed chance, instead complimenting his players' efforts.

"All we did in the January window was take two players very, very late on loan, so closer to the end of the season, I will start to try to assess the situation," he said.

"But I have been really pleased with the effort of the team. I have to be pleased with it, it's been a fantastic effort by them.

"When the season ends and you have really got time to consider it, I will be absolutely delighted with it."

[Blue Since 76]

Bollox

Not that it is, that was just my immediate response

[ashton287]

Must be on a promise for a rag or two on loan next season. CUNT.

[halnone]

can't blame him. they don't have anything to play for.

hopefully Swansea can get a point at the swamp.

[Sideshow Bob]

can't blame him. they don't have anything to play for.

hopefully Swansea can get a point at the swamp.

swansea has absolutely nothing to play for.

[phips]

what a joke....

[Swales4ever]

It's ENGLAND against MCFC, the sooner You realize it, the lighter and free to enjoy the City constant progression You'll feel.

it's only matter of time, they won't be able to cheat City for long.

[LookMumImOnMCF.net]

can't blame him. they don't have anything to play for.
.

Precisely. Can't go blaming other teams for our own inabilities.

[Buffalo Soldier]

Just had a nice interview with John O'Shea on Sky Sports as well where he said he hopes the scum have the title wrapped up by the time they play them because he wouldn't know what to do if they needed the points against Sunderland.

Got no chance if it goes to the final game needing them to drop points.

[carl_feedthegoat]

can't blame him. they don't have anything to play for.
.

Precisely. Can't go blaming other teams for our own inabilities.

Incorrect.

Each position gained in the prem is worth over 500 k...so unless a couple of million is fuckall to a skint club like Sunderland Id suggest otherwise.

[halnone]

can't blame him. they don't have anything to play for.

hopefully Swansea can get a point at the swamp.

swansea has absolutely nothing to play for.

They play great football and in my opinion will want to show that against the rags. this season the rags have been incapable of handling teams that play decent football.

I can hope.

[gillie]

The point is he is virtually saying he will not play his team on merit of they are safe and he can rest his senior players which is bullshit as they will get most of the summer off.I wonder if the prem fine him like they did Macarthy it fuckin stinks to high heaven.

[halnone]

The point is he is virtually saying he will not play his team on merit of they are safe and he can rest his senior players which is bullshit as they will get most of the summer off.I wonder if the prem fine him like they did Macarthy it fuckin stinks to high heaven.

What's wrong with giving some of the younger players a chance to prove themselves on the first team?
If we had the title wrapped up by now I doubt you would have a problem with Mancini playing some youth.

[Swales4ever]

can't blame him. they don't have anything to play for.
.

Precisely. Can't go blaming other teams for our own inabilities.

So, basically, You are blaming City inability to buy referees and media and cheat the League.
or have I lost something along the road?

[Ted Hughes]

This is absolutely utterly wrong if true. I was sure ONeil would be someone who we could rely on to at least try to push his players to go 100% against the rags.

If he throws the towel in, exactly as Bruce's Sunderland did at OT after the 6-1, yet treats both games v us as cup finals, how can that possibly be anything other than biased or bent ?

[Swales4ever]

can't blame him. they don't have anything to play for.

hopefully Swansea can get a point at the swamp.

swansea has absolutely nothing to play for.

They play great football and in my opinion will want to show that against the rags. this season the rags have been incapable of handling teams that play decent football.

I can hope.

this have been the greatest concern coming to Wales so close to a long European trip and my biggest hope since the need of hunting the rags has raised.
their latest performances and mood is letting me not as confident as I was before, tho.

[freshie]

can't blame him. they don't have anything to play for.
.

Precisely. Can't go blaming other teams for our own inabilities.

Incorrect.

Each position gained in the prem is worth over 500 k...so unless a couple of million is fuckall to a skint club like Sunderland Id suggest otherwise.

This. Good point which a lot of people seem to have forgotten about

[Swales4ever]

This is absolutely utterly wrong if true. I was sure ONeil would be someone who we could rely on to at least try to push his players to go 100% against the rags.

If he throws the towel in, exactly as Bruce's Sunderland did at OT after the 6-1, yet treats both games v us as cup finals, how can that possibly be anything other than biased or bent ?

It's ENGLAND against MCFC, the sooner You realize it, the lighter and free to enjoy the City constant progression You'll feel.

difficult to face, but as bright as a sunny summer day nonetheless.

[patrickblue]

can't blame him. they don't have anything to play for.
.

Precisely. Can't go blaming other teams for our own inabilities.

So, basically, You are blaming City inability to buy referees and media and cheat the League.
or have I lost something along the road?

I think he was blaming our inability to win at home against Sunderland, and to get anything away to Swansea and Arse. I don't disagree with your sentiments regarding refs and media, but we had it in our own hands and cocked it up big time.

[BlueinBosnia]

can't blame him. they don't have anything to play for.

hopefully Swansea can get a point at the swamp.

swansea has absolutely nothing to play for.

They play great football and in my opinion will want to show that against the rags. this season the rags have been incapable of handling teams that play decent football.

I can hope.

this have been the greatest concern coming to Wales so close to a long European trip and my biggest hope since the need of hunting the rags has raised.
their latest performances and mood is letting me not as confident as I was before, tho.

??? Turin>Napoli is about 3 times further than Manchester>Swansea.

Swansea are going to go all out. Trust me.

O'Neill might try to blood youngsters, but they're going to be the players with the most to prove, so surely there's little to complain about there, even if true.

We've seen teams roll over for us this season, we've also seen teams we've expected to roll over put up a fight- Sunderland are one of those we haven't matched. We only have ourselves to blame.