Petrov eager to repay fans with strong showing in Chelsea clash

[Legion]

"We owe supporters a performance," insists Villa skipper.

From Pravda:

Stiliyan Petrov insists Villa are determined to give their supporters something to cheer about by kicking off 2011 with a strong performance against Chelsea.

The skipper expressed his gratitude to the claret and blue faithful for their backing during what has been a tough festive period so far.

And he says the squad are keen to repay the fans with a marked improvement on the field, starting with Sunday's trip to Stamford Bridge.

Asked if the players felt they owe the fans a performance, the Bulgarian midfielder said: "We do. We are 15th. We put ourselves there and we need to get ourselves out of that position.

"The fans have been great and we are in it together. We know they are going to be behind us.

"But we need to give them something to cheer about and I hope we can start from the next game because we can't afford to lose more points."

While Petrov appreciates the size of the task facing Villa, he reckons there would be no better way to boost confidence in the camp than by putting on a fine display against last season's double winners.

The 31-year-old has challenged his team-mates to roll their sleeves up for a battle as the claret and blues look to move up the Barclays Premier League table.

"The smallest things in football can turn things around," he added.

"We are aware of that and as long as we keep our heads up and just keep working we know that we are going to turn things around.

"It is a different kind of pressure but now we are going to show if we are man enough to stand up and get ourselves out of this situation."

[pablopicasso_10]

deja vu?

groundhog day?

[SO Villa]

Is there a rota on the notice board at Bodymoor Heath?

[TimTheVillain]

JFDI

[Apyadg]

I know they have to put some sort of content on the site, but do we really need to have this under-performing twat coming out with the same bollocks every couple of days. And yes, I know he's been injured and has just come back, but he's constantly shit and has been coming out with these comments, every time we're on a bad run, for years. I'm sick to death of him.

[taylorsworkrate]

Please please please stop telling the press / official site that you're "Up for it"/ "Too good to go down" / "owe us one" etc etc ecbleedincetera.

Until we see it on the pitch it means FUCK ALL.

[treaders12000]

Blah...
blah
blah

Actions are what counts - words are easy. Now prove that mouth not writing cheques their bodies cant pay !

[Pete3206]

I've missed Lee Hendrie's battle cries on the OS.

[WikiVilla]

I do miss Olof's rants "I don't like them"

[not3bad]

Fair play.  They talked the talk but today they walked the walk.

[supertom]

Cheers Stan. We've missed him actually. More than I thought in all honesty.

[SoccerHQ]

Stan played really well in the second half I thought.

Intercepting nicely infront of the back 4 and also winning those cheap free kicks to run the clock down.

[citizenDJ]

He did play well, I thought.

I've said it before, but I don't think there is a player in the league as good as Stan at winning free kicks - it's amazing to watch at times, and more than a little useful.

[Guy M]

Stan played really well in the second half I thought.

Intercepting nicely infront of the back 4 and also winning those cheap free kicks to run the clock down.

He did play well, I thought.

I've said it before, but I don't think there is a player in the league as good as Stan at winning free kicks - it's amazing to watch at times, and more than a little useful.

I agree entirely. And I've said it on a number of occasions too!

It never fails to surprise me how many supposedly professional footballers are apparently completely incapable of not fouling another player and get suckered into this by Petrov time and time again. Am sure if we played against him every week, it would annoy the hell out of me, although I'd be more annoyed with the foulers than Stan, for being so damn stupid.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Thought Petrov was very good. He is a master of gaining free kicks and would like to see him in the box more. Think its now really clear how much we have missed him .......