Sunderland boss decided to start with Steven Pienaar ahead of both George Honeyman and Lynden Gooch against Bournemouth.
David Moyes’ decision to start Steven Pienaar ahead of both George Honeyman and Lynden Gooch against Bournemouth will go down as yet another bizarre selection choice by the Sunderland boss.
Gooch and Honeyman were both left on the substitutes’ bench last weekend, with Pienaar favoured.
Of course, Moyes may argue that he was looking towards experience, but with Sunderland in their current predicament surely giving youngsters a chance would’ve been a favourable option.
Sunderland’s relegation may have been mathematically confirmed after defeat to Bournemouth, but it has been inevitable for some time.
And now is the perfect chance for Moyes to test out some of Sunderland’s younger players.
Granted, Honeyman got some game time off the bench against Bournemouth, but he surely must be given a start before the end of the campaign as Sunderland build towards next season.
Both Gooch and Honeyman could have a big roles to play in the Championship, and there is no better time to test out their first-team credentials than now.
Pienaar, meanwhile, will surely leave the Stadium of Light this summer – and there appears to be little value in continuing to play him over the final few weeks of the campaign.
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