Source: Daily_Mail
HATCHET MAN: Memo to Martin O'Neill - You're either a poor manager or Aston Villa are a poor side
Martin O'Neill has started a potentially pivotal period in Aston Villa's[LNB]season by making a mistake.[LNB]Leaving eight first teamers at home for tomorrow's UEFA Cup second leg at CSKA Moscow is an error in judgement.[LNB] [LNB]How can I cope with all these distractions? Martin O'Neill has left his best players at home[LNB]The manager says he wants to concentrate on the prestige of the Premier League, but forsaking their chance in Europe this season will not restore Villa to the place among the biggest clubs that they covet.[LNB]Even if resting key players helps them to claim fourth place by the end of the campaign, what will have been proved by doing it that way? [LNB] More from Hatchet Man... HATCHET MAN: Plastic pitches and reserve teams: Don't Villa and Spurs just love the UEFA Cup experience?[LNB]26/02/09 HATCHET MAN: Happy, injury-free and motivated - childish Drogba forgets to complain and hobble now Guus rules the Stamford Bridge roost [LNB]26/02/09 HATCHET MAN: Toure, late for the game, late to ditch moneybags City, late to pledge loyalty to the Gunners - what a loyal club man he is[LNB]26/02/09 HATCHET MAN: Cut out the mock shock Rafa - you're no naive victim in the Liverpool contract battle[LNB]26/02/09 HATCHET MAN: There's nothing special about Mourinho any more - Inter looked second-rate against United[LNB]25/02/09 HATCHET MAN: Torres is no toro, he's a whippet so bully-boy Pepe's threat to snuff out the 'big powerful' Liverpool man is Real-ly stupid[LNB]25/02/09 HATCHET MAN: Carling Cup Final boost for Spurs as worse Brazilian keeper than Gomes unearthed in Spain[LNB]25/02/09 HATCHET MAN: Unprofessional Toure should be told: This is the Champions League, not the Sunday League[LNB]25/02/09 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE[LNB] That the decision to enter the Intertoto Cup last July and commit the team to a marathon season was a serious mistake. [LNB]That Villa don't have a deep enough squad to cope with two competitions at the same time, and that the manager doesn't really believe they are good enough to win the UEFA Cup.[LNB]Throwing everything into finishing fourth is a big gamble too. It only secures a place in the qualifying play-off next season and if Villa can get through into the group stage, it is a fair bet they will end up back at square one in the rebranded UEFA Cup anyway.[LNB] [LNB]
