Stiliyan Petrov - update

[mrfuse]

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

I'm disappointed that its been decided to combine Stan's appearance with the "lap of appreciation". As I mentioned earlier, I don't think that given the team's overall performance this season and the still precarious league position, that such a lap is merited.

However, due to Stan's participation, I'll be there applauding with everyone else.

While I respect your opinion and agree its a shame its combined, I do think the youngsters deserve a lap of appreciation.

We basically have a whole team of youngsters that have never played together in one of the best leagues in the world. We look like we will finish above teams that are fully experienced at relegation battles with experienced players.

Players that have taken some serious beatings, but have come back from them and have played some very decent Football at times.

Its for these reasons that I will be applauding them alongside Stan.

[Chris Smith]

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

I'm disappointed that its been decided to combine Stan's appearance with the "lap of appreciation". As I mentioned earlier, I don't think that given the team's overall performance this season and the still precarious league position, that such a lap is merited.

However, due to Stan's participation, I'll be there applauding with everyone else.

While I respect your opinion and agree its a shame its combined, I do think the youngsters deserve a lap of appreciation.

We basically have a whole team of youngsters that have never played together in one of the best leagues in the world. We look like we will finish above teams that are fully experienced at relegation battles with experienced players.

Players that have taken some serious beatings, but have come back from them and have played some very decent Football at times.

Its for these reasons that I will be applauding them alongside Stan.

As ClaretandBlueBlood posted a few pages back, this is the way Stan wanted. Surely that's what matters.

[Percy McCarthy]

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

I'm disappointed that its been decided to combine Stan's appearance with the "lap of appreciation". As I mentioned earlier, I don't think that given the team's overall performance this season and the still precarious league position, that such a lap is merited.

However, due to Stan's participation, I'll be there applauding with everyone else.

While I respect your opinion and agree its a shame its combined, I do think the youngsters deserve a lap of appreciation.

We basically have a whole team of youngsters that have never played together in one of the best leagues in the world. We look like we will finish above teams that are fully experienced at relegation battles with experienced players.

Players that have taken some serious beatings, but have come back from them and have played some very decent Football at times.

Its for these reasons that I will be applauding them alongside Stan.

Too right mrfuse, completely agree. They've played naively at times, but they've come back and fought like lions under tremendous pressure these last few months.

[Mister E]

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

I'm disappointed that its been decided to combine Stan's appearance with the "lap of appreciation". As I mentioned earlier, I don't think that given the team's overall performance this season and the still precarious league position, that such a lap is merited.

However, due to Stan's participation, I'll be there applauding with everyone else.

While I respect your opinion and agree its a shame its combined, I do think the youngsters deserve a lap of appreciation.

We basically have a whole team of youngsters that have never played together in one of the best leagues in the world. We look like we will finish above teams that are fully experienced at relegation battles with experienced players.

Players that have taken some serious beatings, but have come back from them and have played some very decent Football at times.

Its for these reasons that I will be applauding them alongside Stan.

Too right mrfuse, completely agree. They've played naively at times, but they've come back and fought like lions under tremendous pressure these last few months.

Thirded - I was surprised to Read UKRS's comment: these kids could have fizzled out months' ago and have instead bounced back, and some.

[Mister E]

I definitely think it's time to retire the 19th minute applause after Wigan too.

There are a few things about which this club can be proud this season, and the continued 19th minutes tribute is one. But I support the view that to continue the 19th minute into next season may start to look self-serving.

[mrfuse]

I definitely think it's time to retire the 19th minute applause after Wigan too.

There are a few things about which this club can be proud this season, and the continued 19th minutes tribute is one. But I support the view that to continue the 19th minute into next season may start to look self-serving.

Yeah I also agree with that, I wonder what people think about retiring the shirt number?

[Risso]

Even I think the player will deserve a clap if they stay up, and I'm a right miserable sod.  Best of luck to Stan with his continued recovery and whatever he decides to do next.

[not3bad]

Some of the tweets in tribute to Stan:

http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~3173213,00.html

[silhillvilla]

I didn't hang about last season after the spurs game I had much better things to do.

Saturday I will stay and applaud the lads and Stan . Yes we've had some nightmares but generally the effort has been first class.

Seeing Stan is going to be very emotional.

[john2710]

I don't think Stan would want the focus to be solely on him, he's obviously an emotional man who's had a difficult 12 months or so. Leading the team out afterwards allows him / us to say farewell and thank you without the emphasis being directly on Stan.

As for the stadium being half empty, there's only one solution to that & that's for everyone to stay behind for 10 minutes or so to pay him the tribute he deserves. It's not too much to ask, surely.

The 19th minute should end after the Wigan game, we have shown our support during Stan's illness, we now need to stop before it fades out & becomes half hearted. Stan and ourselves should now be looking forward to a better future rather focusing on the troubles of the past.

Retiring the number 19 shirt is not an option for me.

Stan, the club & the supporters have conducted themselves with highest level of dignity. These are the things that will always make Aston Villa a very special club & something we can all be proud of.

Now, all that is left to do is to give Stan the thank you he deserves. He will always be a special man. As soon as the whistle blows on FT we should start singing "there's only one Stylian Petrov" non-stop until he leaves the pitch.

UTV

 

[silhillvilla]

Lambert is on talksport shortly I believe to talk about Stan

[pauliewalnuts]

I thought Carlos Cuellar's comments today were very touching, too.

[PaulWinch again]

I see Stan is being inducted into our hall of fame.

[pauliewalnuts]

We've got a hall of fame?

[PeterWithesShin]

We've got a hall of fame?

Yes.