Stiliyan Petrov - update

[l_mckay]

All the best for the future stan,looking forward to giving you the send off you deserve on saturday

[Colhint]

I was really hoping he could be on the Subs bench, with a quiet word to the ref when there are just 30 seconds left. To bring him on with just a few seconds to go. Ah well, fantastic bloke good luck stan

[Phil from the upper holte]

Leading everyone out at the start would be good, It's probably so he can say goodbye properly

[Mortimer's Bear]

Having just read the full statement I'm sitting here with a tear in my eye, it certainly puts this season's trials and tribulations on the pitch into true perspective.

Good luck Stan, stay well.

[SaluteIanTaylor]

All the very best in the future Stan, Saturday will be a very sad day for football.  Sit back, relax and we all wish you the very best with regards your family and the charity work.

Legend and a Gentleman.

[Dr Butler]

I was really hoping he could be on the Subs bench, with a quiet word to the ref when there are just 30 seconds left. To bring him on with just a few seconds to go. Ah well, fantastic bloke good luck stan

I thought this...would of been a very emotional moment for Stan, our amazing support and the club. 

cheers Stan, sadly cannot be there on Saturday, but on the 19th minute will be there in spirit.

oh...and get a goal on the 19th minute will ya Villa !!

UTV

[Darlo Dave]

To echo what others have said, reading the statement has brought a tear to my eye.

All I can say is thanks to Stan. I'm sure he'll carry on fighting and beat his illness once and for all, and hopefully when he's better, he may consider working for the club again in come capacity.

[peter w]

Goood luck Stan. in a way its a relief that we have arrived here now and that we can all move on.

[supertom]

Top bloke, great player. One of the good ones. One of the few left from the O Neill era who comes across as really down to Earth, hard working and likeable, and it's such a rarity on the top flight these days.

When he's fit enough, and if he wants to, there should be a coaching gig ready for Stan the man somewhere at the club. He'll have a lot of knowledge and wisdom to pass on, particularly about how to conduct yourself.

[pauliewalnuts]

One of the things I liked about Petrov was that in just about every game, he had one moment where he did something that made me think "wow" - an excellent pass or something.

It is horribly cruel that he should have to retire through this. I also can't help but think what an influence he'd have had on this young team this season, too.

[supertom]

One of the things I liked about Petrov was that in just about every game, he had one moment where he did something that made me think "wow" - an excellent pass or something.

It is horribly cruel that he should have to retire through this. I also can't help but think what an influence he'd have had on this young team this season, too.

Yep, he was classy player. Once he finally got into the pace of this league he really shone. Also playing the deep role he did for most of O Neill's tenure, he really showed fantastic awareness. Stan would rarely go to ground unless he had to, but his ability to intercept the ball was top class. He read the game so well.

[not3bad]

I also can't help but think what an influence he'd have had on this young team this season, too.

He'll have had an influence.  Perhaps not one you can easily see on the pitch, but he will have had one.

[Mortimer's Bear]

One of the things I liked about Petrov was that in just about every game, he had one moment where he did something that made me think "wow" - an excellent pass or something.

It is horribly cruel that he should have to retire through this. I also can't help but think what an influence he'd have had on this young team this season, too.

Yep, he was classy player. Once he finally got into the pace of this league he really shone. Also playing the deep role he did for most of O Neill's tenure, he really showed fantastic awareness. Stan would rarely go to ground unless he had to, but his ability to intercept the ball was top class. He read the game so well.

It was nothing to do with adapting to the pace of the league, it was getting rid of the stupid Andrew Ridgeley style blonde highlights that made him shine!

[OCD]

I also can't help but think what an influence he'd have had on this young team this season, too.

He'll have had an influence.  Perhaps not one you can easily see on the pitch, but he will have had one.

Westwood would certainly have benefitted from playing alongside him and we would have been much stronger with those 2 together. Westy looks like a younger version to me.

Stan used to have his critics but for me he was the Lynchpin of O'Neill's team once Barry left. We looked totally lost whenever he wasn't available.

[walsall villain]

Bought a tear to my eye too. He has been a model professional in his time with us, I hope one day he can return to the game, preferably with us, to help develop the youngsters. He has spoken of how difficult it was to focus on the important things when he first game to play in the UK, he could help the new breed see the pitfalls and he certainly knows how to play the game in the proper way. We would have fitted in perfectly with the current line up.
Good luck Stan with the very important work you are choosing to do.
I will miss the last game but will be there in spirit. Tissues at the ready folks Saturday.