Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Rip Van We Go Again on April 12, 2011, 10:56:14 AM
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sportinglife.com
Aston Villa skipper Stiliyan Petrov wants to prove manager Gerard Houllier wrong and play a bigger role in the battle for Barclays Premier League survival.
Petrov won his 100th cap for Bulgaria during the recent international break and the achievement was honoured by Villa ahead of yesterday's game with Newcastle.
The midfielder is no longer guaranteed an automatic place in the Villa starting line-up with Houllier signing Jean Makoun in January and giving an extended run to Nigel Reo-Coker.
But Petrov was back in the first eleven for the first time in more than two months - apart from an FA Cup tie at Manchester City - against the Magpies.
He earned praise after the game from Houllier and is hoping he can have a greater involvement in the finale to the campaign.
Petrov told Press Association Sport: "It is difficult when you are not playing, not just because I'm the club captain, but because I love playing.
"It's been a frustrating time and it's not been happening for me.
"But you just have to deal with it and try and get back in the team.
"It is down to the manager to decide. He makes the decisions and we just need to stick with them.
"I can only prove him wrong with my game. I feel I have done that. I hope I can keep going now."
Petrov admits ensuring Villa stay in the top flight is the most important thing.
He said: "The main thing is to stay in the top flight because we are in a very difficult position.
"With all the talent that we have got here, and haven't shown this season, we know that we can win games.
"As long as we can keep clean sheets, we know that we have got players who can score goals.
"It was a massive win for us against Newcastle. I'm not going to lie, we know how important the three points were for us.
"We know where we are at the moment and it was massive."
Petrov added: "We have had a frustrating season and when we get the points that make us safe, maybe we will play some more football.
"At the moment it is about getting points and climbing the table.
"It's hard, we've been looking behind our backs for a long time but I hope we get out of it soon."
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"As long as we can keep clean sheets, we know that we have got players who can score goals."
And therein lies the rub. Even under the much maligned Houllier we have rarely been outplayed, it's only really been injuries, sloppiness and mistakes that have cost us so many points and the difference between where we are now and the top 6 or 7.
A team as average as Everton are in 7th place for instance.
Anyway, nice words from Stan and hard to argue with. I still think he'll be elsewhere next season and probably rightly so.
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Hopefully he can carry on the form he showed Saturday, while he's still with us.
Best game i've seen him play for some time.
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"As long as we can keep clean sheets, we know that we have got players who can score goals."
And therein lies the rub. Even under the much maligned Houllier we have rarely been outplayed, it's only really been injuries, sloppiness and mistakes that have cost us so many points and the difference between where we are now and the top 6 or 7.
A team as average as Everton are in 7th place for instance.
Anyway, nice words from Stan and hard to argue with. I still think he'll be elsewhere next season and probably rightly so.
I don't agree with your last comment, if he can keep putting on performances like he did on Sat then I would still have him in the squad... It may have been a one off to show GH, but he can still do it.
I still think GH needs to get the midfiled right, I don't think he know his best players in the right positions and more importantly have to play off each other.
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"As long as we can keep clean sheets, we know that we have got players who can score goals."
And therein lies the rub. Even under the much maligned Houllier we have rarely been outplayed, it's only really been injuries, sloppiness and mistakes that have cost us so many points and the difference between where we are now and the top 6 or 7.
A team as average as Everton are in 7th place for instance.
Anyway, nice words from Stan and hard to argue with. I still think he'll be elsewhere next season and probably rightly so.
I don't agree with your last comment, if he can keep putting on performances like he did on Sat then I would still have him in the squad... It may have been a one off to show GH, but he can still do it.
Not so sure.
I like Stan, but I honestly think his legs are starting to go, hence Houllier not playing him in every game.
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Yes, sorry, I meant more of a squad player than a def starter every game - still useful to have.
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Yes, sorry, I meant more of a squad player than a def starter every game - still useful to have.
Aye.
I wouldn't mind keeping him if he was willing to sit on the bench, but I would imagine he'll want regular games now he's getting on a bit.
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MLS beckons and a Golden Goodbye
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MLS beckons and a Golden Goodbye
He hasn't been a great player but I dont think pissing on him is called for.
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Straight question - would we prefer NRC or Stan to stay next season?
NRC for me!
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Straight question - would we prefer NRC or Stan to stay next season?
NRC for me!
Me too. Without question.
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I would like Stan to stay next season. His experience must count for a lot with the likes of Albrighton, Bannan, Clark etc. Wouldn't expect him to be a regular starter but neither is Scholes at Man U. Stan knows how to keep the ball, is one of our better passers and no one can beat him for milking free kicks when we are in our danger area!
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I still think GH needs to get the midfiled right, I don't think he know his best players in the right positions and more importantly have to play off each other.
Very true. The only thing that is guaranteed is Makoun will always start as he's a GH signing. Petrov, NRC, Delph, Pires and Bradley will have to fight it out for the other position.
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I think we only really have room for one of Bradley, petrol or NRC because I think it is of paramount importance that we sign a player intended for the first team. Which of the three stays is not that important to me - they all have different qualities - so it would probably come down to economics for me.
Anyone know how many seasons Petrov has left on his contract?
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Whatever happens in the future, we'll always have this goal...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukq-5HyZ_bM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukq-5HyZ_bM)
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Petrov, NRC, Delph, Pires and Bradley will have to fight it out for the other position.
I think Bradley will be moved on before Petrov will be. He hasn't been in the squad since his debut and it doesn't look like its working out for him.
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tbf to petrov, and im not a fan of his, he had a decent game against the barcodes, and did help settle things down a little in the centre of the park...
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The problem for Stan has always been he came to us as a swashbuckling, goalscoring midfielder from Scotland, and we were expecting some of that here. MON said as much when he brought him down (OK, maybe not the swashbuckling part).
What we got on Sunday was closer to Stan's best form for us in 2008/09 and the type of football he plays for Bulgaria. Namely; intelligent use of the ball and keeping things ticking over in a steady Eddie type of way. His close control in tight areas and general awareness are not things that are likely to go due to age, so a role as a squad player -if he was receptive to it- could be useful to us for a while yet.
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If Petrov could play every week like he did on Sunday, I'd have him first on the team sheet.
I think we have MON to thank for his previously negative style of play. He is so much better in the more positive midfield role.
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I thought he played good on sunday like you said E I Adio if he could play like that every game i would put him straight in.
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He wont play like that every game though. That's the problem.
It's been the problem since he arrived here.
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Straight question - would we prefer NRC or Stan to stay next season?
NRC for me!
Neither are good enough. If I had to choose one to have as a squad player then I'd choose Stan.
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I think we only really have room for one of Bradley, petrol or NRC because I think it is of paramount importance that we sign a player intended for the first team. Which of the three stays is not that important to me - they all have different qualities - so it would probably come down to economics for me.
Anyone know how many seasons Petrov has left on his contract?
Another 2 after this season phew thanks martin for tying him up on a long term big money deal
Pires wont feature next season and Bradley must be really really shit if Pires gets the nod before him.
I would like to see a midfield central 3 of makoun (with a pre season) NRC & Delph/Bannan
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Pires wont feature next season and Bradley must be really really shit if Pires gets the nod before him.
I know it was only one game, but Bradley was arse wipingly bad against Man City.
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We know he's capable of a lot more though but if he doesn't show it soon he'll be sent back to Germany.
In the meantime, Petrov is so used to breathing through his arse that he's developed a second set of lungs in his battycheeks. It's time to let him go to warmer climes and easier paced game before he has a coronary.
The odd tidy (no more) performance shouldn't change that.
At least NRC, who has been far better than Stan this year, has the engine and attributes to still compete in this league.
Neither should be starting for us any more though and hopefully by the start of next season we'll have upped the quality in the midfeld area so they won't.
I do see a point in keeping NRC in the squad though but not Stan. I just dont see the point. He can hardly last a game and cant really come off the bench and change a game so why bother? He's a model pro and is an admirable character and deserves respect but that's it for me. Time to say tarrah a bit.
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We know he's capable of a lot more though but if he doesn't show it soon he'll be sent back to Germany.
In the meantime, Petrov is so used to breathing through his arse that he's developed a second set of lungs in his battycheeks. It's time to let him go to warmer climes and easier paced game before he has a coronary.
The odd tidy (no more) performance shouldn't change that.
At least NRC, who has been far better than Stan this year, has the engine and attributes to still compete in this league.
Neither should be starting for us any more though and hopefully by the start of next season we'll have upped the quality in the midfeld area so they won't.
I do see a point in keeping NRC in the squad though but not Stan. I just dont see the point. He can hardly last a game and cant really come off the bench and change a game so why bother? He's a model pro and is an admirable character and deserves respect but that's it for me. Time to say tarrah a bit.
Agree Mazrim
I've only seen petrov in the flesh (so to speak) last season and this season and Ive what ive seen of him is that he tries hard, is a mediocre player and has an appalling level of fitness.
I dont think Bradley makes the bench these days so he will be on his way soon - good job he was only on loan
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he tries hard, is a mediocre player and has an appalling level of fitness.
What rubbish! He has great first-touch control, always sees the pass (even if it is backwards / sideways) and makes numerous interceptions / tackles. He is a 60-minute player to be sure, but to say "mediocre" is just ludicrous.
You don't get 100 caps for being mediocre .... even in a mediocre national side.
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Straight question - would we prefer NRC or Stan to stay next season?
NRC for me!
Neither are good enough. If I had to choose one to have as a squad player then I'd choose Stan.
Same here.
He'll be useful for the duration of his contract if for no other reason than to be steady and support the younger players coming through.
There's no way that Reo-Coker should be offered the sort of contract he'll be able to get from another club just to be a reserve, which is all that he should be.
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Hopefully he can carry on the form he showed Saturday, while he's still with us.
Best game i've seen him play for some time.
I didn't see Saturdays performance but I thought he was excellent on Sunday, and two top showings inside 24hrs must surely end questions about his fitness.
Seriously though, a decision between who to keep out of Stan and Nige will surely just come down to the fact one has a two year contract and the other one doesn't.
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Seriously though, a decision between who to keep out of Stan and Nige will surely just come down to the fact one has a two year contract and the other one doesn't.
That's the crux of the matter. If each of them had two years left on their contract I wouldn't want to sell either of them unless an offer came in that made it really worth our while. They can then both be used in the right situation as they have been over the past few months.
But Reo-Coker on a free transfer will probably command £50k per week. Should we be paying him that much to sit on our bench?
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If we keep Petrov we will be paying him 50k+ per week to sit on our bench.
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If we keep Petrov we will be paying him 50k+ per week to sit on our bench.
Because that's what is in the contract we gave him.
If they were both out of contract I wouldn't be suggesting we then offer him that contract. Which is what we would need to do with NRC.
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Stan does an important and much under-estimated job for the team. Its no surprise to me that his first game back in the team coincided with our first clean sheet since the Man City game (when he also played). He may not be the fastest player around the pitch, but his footballing intelligence is absolutely vital, and something that NRC simply doesn't possess (despite his committed hard work). I'd be pleased for our younger players to learn from him over the next couple of years even if he doesn't play every game.
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i'd probably get rid. He's on the way out and 50k a week for someone who may not figure every week seems daft unless RL is gonna pay that and fund a replacement. whether he'd want to leave is another question
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Stan does an important and much under-estimated job for the team. Its no surprise to me that his first game back in the team coincided with our first clean sheet since the Man City game (when he also played). He may not be the fastest player around the pitch, but his footballing intelligence is absolutely vital, and something that NRC simply doesn't possess (despite his committed hard work). I'd be pleased for our younger players to learn from him over the next couple of years even if he doesn't play every game.
I agree with that assessment of him as a player, but his on the pitch contribution is diminishing as he still needs to be mobile and his legs are going a bit. I think that NRC would give us more than him next season, so that's who I'd keep if it's a straight choice.
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Petrov is not a 90 minute player we all know that. But he brings a lot of control and stability in midfield. He draws fouls in good positions and has an eye for a pass. He also so happens to be our captain. We have to get rid of him or NRC or both and Petrov has much more to offer in my books .....
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But then Petrov is 32 this summer and Reo-Coker is 27 in May, so that's a factor in any decision. You could give NRC a new three-year deal and get three really good years out of him; Petrov perhaps one more season.
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Sorry, I'm not being hoodwinked by one decent game.
For the vast majority of the games he's played in this season he has faded badly, been completely outmanouvered in midfield and left the defence exposed and has done little except pass sideways or backwards and to players in a worse position than himself.
Despite his flaws, NRC not only offers more but has offered more this season.
And yes, I'd rather see neither in the starting line up but if I had to trust one to have a run in the team (and I suppose that's the point isn't it?), it would have to be NRC.
But dont get me wrong, I'm not for one minute suggesting we offer NRC a bumper new contract at all. He would have to be realistic and accept he is a supporting figure.
And even though Petrov has a couple of years left on his contract, I just dont see how he will be of any use to us during them, therefore get whatever we can for him and wish him well.
Neither should be ahead of Delph, Makoun or most likely whoever comes in this summer.
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Opinions opinions.
Poor old Stan - he's never been loved at Villa Park - yet the numbers show that we do better with him on the pitch than without him.
NRC is indeed an energetic - pacy - hard tackling dynamo - sadly finding a colleague with a pass is his big weakness. Combine this with his Vassell-like ability to sprint forward and then fall over or generally lose the ball and he becomes very one dimensional. Especially as we are talking about horses for courses. NRC may well be a better player (though I don't think he is) - but what he isn't is a playmaker. We have Jean Makoun to do the hussling and hassling and to play the simple pass - we have wide talent - and striking talent - but we need that central midfield vision also. That's why we went sniffing round Charlie Adam. This is GH talking about the Newcastle game and Petrov to Teamtalk.
"When you are in the position we are in, you need experience... I knew we needed someone who could make a long pass to switch play because Newcastle are very good at defending and squeezing up."
That is the only criterion on which to have this discussion. It's not Petrov or NRC. It's Makoun or NRC because they are the going to do the digging work. We need a visionary central player - Scott Parker would have been ideal and I would have loved it to be Barry B - but that is for next year. Our attacking pace needs a good ball to thrive - and whatever qualities Mr Coker does have - silky passing skills and the sublime long ball are not among them.
He may not be the world's greatest playmaker - but right now Stan is the best we've got and he's served our club well.
So UTV and another win at Upton Park.
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Opinions opinions.
Poor old Stan - he's never been loved at Villa Park - yet the numbers show that we do better with him on the pitch than without him.
NRC is indeed an energetic - pacy - hard tackling dynamo - sadly finding a colleague with a pass is his big weakness. Combine this with his Vassell-like ability to sprint forward and then fall over or generally lose the ball and he becomes very one dimensional. Especially as we are talking about horses for courses. NRC may well be a better player (though I don't think he is) - but what he isn't is a playmaker. We have Jean Makoun to do the hussling and hassling and to play the simple pass - we have wide talent - and striking talent - but we need that central midfield vision also. That's why we went sniffing round Charlie Adam. This is GH talking about the Newcastle game and Petrov to Teamtalk.
"When you are in the position we are in, you need experience... I knew we needed someone who could make a long pass to switch play because Newcastle are very good at defending and squeezing up."
That is the only criterion on which to have this discussion. It's not Petrov or NRC. It's Makoun or NRC because they are the going to do the digging work. We need a visionary central player - Scott Parker would have been ideal and I would have loved it to be Barry B - but that is for next year. Our attacking pace needs a good ball to thrive - and whatever qualities Mr Coker does have - silky passing skills and the sublime long ball are not among them.
He may not be the world's greatest playmaker - but right now Stan is the best we've got and he's served our club well.
So UTV and another win at Upton Park.
Excellent post.
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Agreed.
Spot on, sonlyme.