How big a loss is Stan

[N'ZMAV]

Stan has been a good player for us. I think he struggled to adapt to the style of the Premier League initiailly, and then adapted his game to a style which could see him perform to a higher standard. I think we will miss an older head in the middle of the park. But, I don't think he'd be an automatic starter now.

[not3bad]

I'm not sure how much of the best of Stan we saw and when his illness started to to affect him.  We saw the best of him on his debut that's for sure.  Going by that I think if he returned and combined peak fitness with the experience he has and the respect he has as captain then I think he'd be indispensible.

[N'ZMAV]

Does anyone think he will play again?

[darren woolley]

I hope he play's for us again we do miss him.

[Salsa Party Animal]

It would be nice to have an update to give us an idea what might be happening on his footballing career. Is he back at  training yet ? I think he can be our super sub in midfield covering for 3/4 players.

[eastie]

It would be nice to have an update to give us an idea what might be happening on his footballing career. Is he back at  training yet ? I think he can be our super sub in midfield covering for 3/4 players.

I think he's a long way off being back in training salsa and would be surprised if he comes back to play at the top level.

[SoccerHQ]

Of course he's not back in training he's still in remission!

I really don't see him playing again BUT say he does get the all clear by xmas (not that I understand it's as simple as that by beating Leukemia) then maybe after a couple of months of training it would be an extraordinary touch to bring him on in injury time in our last home game perhaps?

I've said this before but I could never understand why MON denied Bouma a farewell sub appearence at VP a couple of seasons ago when our last game with Blackburn was a dead game.
 

[Mellin]

Indeed. Especially considering, to his credit, he spotted the Mellberg opportunity.

[PaulWinch again]

I would be very surprised if Stan plays at the top level again. I think the priority is trying to recover from an extremely severe illness and hopefully having a long and happy life. Football really isn't that important next to all that. If he could return that would be nice, but I really doubt it.

[N'ZMAV]

I don't think he'll play again at the top level.

I wonder if he fancies doing his coaching badges? maybe a management career?