Stiliyan Petrov - update

[midnite]

Never his biggest fan until I started to appreciate what he did in the middle of the field. I often thought is stopped the fluidity of play with going sideways a lot. I can't remember which game it was I watch him in and it changed my opinion of him completely. Once he found his role in the centre of the field he became such an important player for us. The way we've been this season shows how much we've missed him.

My brother came it with a nice idea about retiring the number 19 but still being able to buy the petrov shirt in the club shops. Thought that was a great idea. Until petrov junior signs for the villa

[PeterWithesShin]

Apparently there will be Petrov masks on all the Villa seats for the Wigan game.

[nick harper]

I also don't think it's enough that our retiring club captain should have to wait till the end of the game when the ground is half empty for the fans to show their appreciation. It should be before the game when there are 40,000+ there. I would also hope that both the Chelsea players and fans would want to do the same.

The best of luck to him anyway. Too often underrated in terms of his technical ability and leadership - it was only when he wasn't there that his value to the side was fully appreciated.

[Chico Hamilton III]

Tweet from Pat Murphy this morning:

Stiliyan Petrov: Captain of the Nice Guys XI, Charming, approachable, impeccable manners. Should be charged with bringing the game into repute

[Legion]

Using that this evening.

[PeterWithesShin]

You get two captains for the price of one in the season's final issue of the Villa News & Record.

Skipper Ron Vlaar is the man in focus in our exclusive player interview - after stepping aside for club skipper Stiliyan Petrov to write the captain's column.

Stiliyan, of course, was a regular columnist in the programme before being diagnosed with acute leukaemia in March 2012.

And following the announcement of his retirement, we felt it only right that he should say a personal farewell to Villa supporters.

The man popularly known as Stan also features on the front cover of the programme for the game against Chelsea, while inside we trace his career in words and pictures.

There's also a giant pull-out poster, with a photo of him celebrating a goal for Villa on one side and a number 19 on the other.

We're sure some supporters will want to hold aloft the poster during the 19th-minute applause for our club captain.

Concrete Ron, meanwhile, talks at length about his debut season in claret and blue and his delight at scoring his first Villa goal - as well as giving his own tribute to the "inspirational" Petrov.

We also salute Gabby Agbonlahor and Christian Benteke for the scoring exploits which have seen them become Premier League record-breakers for the club.

And another prolific marksman, Juan Pablo Angel, is the subject of the My Favourite Villan feature, with trainee journalist Tara Lamb offering a female perspective on the Colombian striker.

Then there are the regular contributions from manager Paul Lambert and former Villa star Stan Collymore, while we conclude our series on Villa's Premier League campaigns with a look back at last season.

We're sure our "Stan Special" is one you will want to keep, and at £3 it's a great souvenir of a special occasion.

For even better, look out for our five-for-a-five programme bags, which contain the Chelsea edition, three back issues and a Villa poster book - all for just £5.

Back issues from the Liverpool, Fulham and Sunderland games will also be on sale at the programme kiosks.

[Pat McMahon]

Tweet from Pat Murphy this morning:

Stiliyan Petrov: Captain of the Nice Guys XI, Charming, approachable, impeccable manners. Should be charged with bringing the game into repute

I would add that he was a very decent player too.

[Concrete John]

Tweet from Pat Murphy this morning:

Stiliyan Petrov: Captain of the Nice Guys XI, Charming, approachable, impeccable manners. Should be charged with bringing the game into repute

Very well said.

[exigo]

I've wanted us to score in the 19th minute all season. We came desperately close with Benteke's offside finish at QPR, but what a great tribute it would be to do it this weekend.

[Ger Regan]

Best of luck, Stan. Here's hoping for a very long and happy retirement.

[PeterWithesShin]

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[Percy McCarthy]

Saturday is going to be so emotional, can't hold back the tears sitting here at work, think I'll be sobbing my heart out after the game.

God bless you Stan, and good luck.

[Des Little]

Will this bring the 19th minute applause to an end?  My view would be that maybe we'll continue to sing his name on minute 19 every game, as we do now and hopefully the opposition fans will do the same without the 'no respect' stuff that's been thrown about this season?

[Clampy]

His statement was a humbling read. Whatever he decides to do in the future, i sincerely hope that he stays healthy.

[ClaretAndBlueBlood]

I emailed Paul Faulkner suggesting that Stan should lead the team out prior to the game and that the game should come to a halt for the 19th minute to allow players, staff and officials to join in the applause. I am sure that he won't mind me posting his response here.......

Thank you for your email.  In terms of Saturday, as I am sure you would expect, we have discussed long and hard with Stiliyan and ultimately the decision as to what he wanted to do, and felt comfortable doing, was left up to him.  We discussed the option of leading the team out, but being the true leader that he is, and a very selfless man, he didn’t want to overshadow the team or the game, and asked instead just to be with the squad and his team-mates for the lap after the game, a request we would obviously respect.  I’m sure it will be a very emotional moment when he does step back out onto the Villa Park pitch, and everyone in the stadium will let him know just exactly what he does mean to the entire Villa family.

 

Regards,

Paul