Source: Daily_Mail
HATCHET MAN: Plastic pitches and reserve teams: Don't Villa and Spurs just love the UEFA Cup experie
The UEFA Cup, or what is rapidly becoming the reserve team trophy for Premier League clubs, really doesn't need any more tarnishing.But the reminder from CSKA Moscow in their match against Aston Villathat playing on artificial turf is still allowed in the competition certainly doesn't provide much shine. Artificial in ever aspect: The Luzhniki Stadium pitch is plastic which Villa - or indeed no team - should be expected to play on The game was meant to be played on grass and however good the technology is these days - or however bad the weather is in Russia - a way around the need for an artificial surface must be found.It gives the home team a clear advantage and alters the way matches are played. Even if just means that Martin O'Neill is not permitted a valid excuse for any problems faced by his Villa team, it is worth it. More from Hatchet Man. HATCHET MAN: Happy, injury-free and motivated - childish Drogba forgets to complain and hobble now Guus rules the Stamford Bridge roost 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 is26/02/09 HATCHET MAN: Cut out the mock shock Rafa - you're no naive victim in the Liverpool contract battle26/02/09 HATCHET MAN: There's nothing special about Mourinho any more - Inter looked second-rate against United25/02/09 HATCHET MAN: Memo to Martin O'Neill - You're either a poor manager or Aston Villa are a poor side25/02/09 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 stupid25/02/09 HATCHET MAN: Carling Cup Final boost for Spurs as worse Brazilian keeper than Gomes unearthed in Spain25/02/09 HATCHET MAN: Unprofessional Toure should be told: This is the Champions League, not the Sunday League25/02/09 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE PS: Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp promised to play a shadow team against Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Cup because the Carling Cup took priority. Now Spurs may be in the final of the competition, but that is a phrase you don't hear very often.