Stan Petrov to Liverpool?

[bobcat]

SELL, SELL, SELL.

£7M? If this story is true then get rid asap. Or a swap for Babel would be acceptable imo.

[Monty]

SELL, SELL, SELL.

£7M? If this story is true then get rid asap. Or a swap for Babel would be acceptable imo.

Babel?! BABEL?!? My God, man, I'd rather have Mc-bloody-Geady.

[john e]

SELL, SELL, SELL.

£7M? If this story is true then get rid asap. Or a swap for Babel would be acceptable imo.

Babel?! BABEL?!? My God, man, I'd rather have Mc-bloody-Geady.

i have agreed with everything you have said re Petrov Monty,

but would love Babel at Villa, he's young and there is a class player in there waiting to get out, just got to believe he could flourish at VP,

[Monty]

He's just got the worst attitude, and he's another headless chicken straight-line, head down dribbler. What we need is more composure, we've got the pace on the break and on the flanks, we need more craft and intelligence in the middle.

[hawkeye]

right lets get rid of one of our most consistant players to be replaced by who exactly?

[Monty]

right lets get rid of one of our most consistant players to be replaced by who exactly?

Well said. Consistency is such an underrated thing in football, and such a difficult thing in a league like the Premiership.

[richard moore]

He's just got the worst attitude, and he's another headless chicken straight-line, head down dribbler. What we need is more composure, we've got the pace on the break and on the flanks, we need more craft and intelligence in the middle.

I agree totally. I can't actually believe anyone thinks Babel is what we need. The sort of notion that leaves me utterly speechless really...

[Karl Bridges]

Babel is a no for me too. He's rubbish.

[*shellac*]

Babel is a no for me too. He's rubbish.

But he could be useful as a translator, provided MON sign some foreigners.  As if he will.

[Singapore Villa]

Babel ?  He is about as useful as a chocolate tea-pot.

My god man, swap our captain for him?  Yes, I know
Petrov has his limitations but that suggestion is laughable.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Think this is crap journalism. He still can do a job for Villa. Would like Witsel. He looks perfect for Villa .....

[Merv]

What we need is more composure, we've got the pace on the break and on the flanks, we need more craft and intelligence in the middle.

Yes.

I'd keep Petrov. We play him too much and MON needs to give serious consideration to how he's used, how often he's rested, whether our usual 4-4-2 system leaves him too isolated and overworked (it does) but for me, Petrov stays. Not saying he should be a nailed-on starter every time and I do recognise that he's now into his 30s and we need to be thinking of a long-term plan to succeed him. But bearing in mind everything else going on, the other areas of the team we need to consider, we should keep him.

He's currently the one guy we have in the front six positions who slows it down, puts his foot on the ball, aims to keep possession. I'd restructure the midfield so we have NRC (until a replacement/better player is signed) alongside him to ease the ball-winning burden and Milner (if he stays) slightly further forward.

[old man villa fan]

When good teams do not have the ball they set themselves up so that the team with the ball eventually play it to the weakest ball player in team.  They do this by marking other players and press on the player with the ball.

All too frequently last season, Petrov fell into this trap by playing the easy sideways pass to Cuellar.  This is exactly the pass the opposition want as they know that Cuellar will give them the ball, either by a poor pass or kicking into touch.

Petrov is not helped by the lack of good movement of other players.  How often do we see players drop off their marker to receive a short pass.  If it does happen it is usually only one player whereas it should be two or three to give the ball player options.  However, as captain and senior player in the side, he should be demanding players to do this.

How often do you see Petrov beat a player.  Too often he is willing to draw a foul 30m from his own goal, rather than drive on with the ball so as to draw another player to him, thus creating space.

Too many times last season he was either playing the ball sideways or going to ground too easily, thus leading to us giving the ball back to the opposition by poor passing or poor free kicks.

I am not saying he is a bad player but he is not the player to push on and improve the team, or, maintain the position we are now in.  I'm afraid he is getting no younger and he cannot keep up with the demands of the modern game.  There are players that are no quicker than Petrov that seem to be able to get around the pitch better and last the game.  Whether this is by a better reading of the game, more concentration and therefore not on their heels when a ball is played, or what, I don't know.

[pedro25]

I doubt there are many players in the Prem who read the game better than Petrov, he makes countless crucial interceptions in games.  I love the bloke, he binds our team together, we would miss him if he went.  He has to play the Cuellar pass as we have the front five all taking risks going forward so we struggle enough for possession without Petrov trying to thread it through a needle, he does the simple stuff and does it well, can't blame him for us having a useless right back.

[Merv]

Key thing here, I feel, is that long-term (or medium term) we need to be improving on Petrov but in terms of selling him this summer.... no.