A good manager would not contrive to alienate his best player and one of his potentially best players. The problem for me is that we simply don't know the facts of the case. It's either:
Scenario A: Elano mouthed off and Hughes has since been cold with him and is 'punishing' him by not including him in the squads. This has pissed off Elano and by extension Robinho who are voting with their feet.
Scenario B: Elano mouthed off and Hughes offered an olive branch, but Elano didn't take his chance (and to be fair he hasn't played very well this season for me. In fact I would say he's been below average). When he wasn't being played he's poisoned Robinho's ear and they are both being petulant.
Scenario A: Hughes should be cut off.
Scenario B: Elano should be cut off, and yes, even Robinho if he's gonna throw his dummy out if Elano goes.
Garry Cook seems to be siding with Hughes, whereas most fans seem to be siding with Elano. I'm tempted to side with Cook as he's definitely gonna know the ins and outs. Yet at the same time Hughes is his man and also his source of information.
For fucks sake.