Source: Daily_Mail
Hatchet man: Redknapp and O'Neill left with egg on their faces
Congratulations today must go to Harry Redknapp and Martin O'Neill. Dropping out of the UEFA Cup looks like a great decision now, doesn't it? [LNB]After resting players and effectively conceding defeat last week to prepare for the Carling Cup final and the Premier League, the Tottenham [LNB]and Aston Villa[LNB]managers would probably rather not talk about Europe just now.[LNB] Plenty to ponder: Redknapp now only has a relegation battle to consider after Wembley defeat[LNB]Both ended up disappointed at the weekend in the games they focused on and will have an even harder time justifying the way they prioritised as a result. That is what they call poetic justice.[LNB] More from Hatchet Man... Hatchet man: QPR owners should give Sousa the time they were promising[LNB]02/03/09 Hatchet man: Stumbling Brown matches Geovanni with a tantrum of his own[LNB]02/03/09 Hatchet man: Carling Cup final Fan-O-Meter was nothing to shout about[LNB]02/03/09 Hatchet man: Rio's in cloud cuckoo land if he thinks Jose is fit to replace Fergie[LNB]02/03/09 Simon Jordan [LNB]27/02/09 HATCHET MAN: Gray was pie in the Sky when he said Baggies lack fight - West Brom lack quality not bottle[LNB]27/02/09 HATCHET MAN: When players can count the fans at a near-empty Riverside, Pogatetz thinks it's brilliant practice for the second division[LNB]27/02/09 HATCHET MAN: If Liverpool send for Mourinho it will be Benitez's own fault - at least Jose knows how to sign contracts and win Premier League titles [LNB]27/02/09 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE[LNB] Aston Villa, after resting eight players for their trip to CSKA Moscow, threw away a two-goal lead on Sunday in the last few minutes. The television pundits said O'Neill's side looked tired.[LNB]The 2-2 draw with Stoke meant yet another Arsenal slip-up (their goalless draw with Fulham on Saturday) went unpunished. Villa's grip on fourth place was not tightened and their fans ended the match booing as things threaten to turn sour.[LNB]As for Spurs, after fielding a B team against Shakhtar Donetsk, they gave Manchester United a good run for their money in the Carling Cup final but ended up losers on penalties and with injuries and cramp added to their woes after the exhausting extra-time.[LNB] It won't help them one bit in achieving their top priority of Premier League survival as they have another game against a resurgent Middlesbrough on Wednesday, but at least they won't have that pesky irritation of Europe to worry about next season.[LNB] [LNB]
