Stiliyan Petrov - update

[PeterWithe]

As a figurehead it's great, let's get him around the dressing room next year. As a player, not so sure.

[PaulTheVillan]

I'm not sure he'd cut it as a player now, but having him involved would be good for the rebuilding of the club. He's obviously passionate about Villa.

[SashasGrandad]

Put him on the bench for Newcastle and bring him on in the 74th minute.

It would give the crowd something to cheer before the lap of depreciation after the game.

[Clampy]

Put him on the bench for Newcastle and bring him on in the 74th minute.

It would give the crowd something to cheer before the lap of depreciation after the game.

He'd probably win player of the season.

[ozzjim]

He would probably look the best player on the pitch for us in fairness.

[MoetVillan]

I would like our youth team to be looking to his dedication to the game.  We have been missing this level of professionalism since Milner/Petrov/Barry.  Richards/Lescott/Agbonlahor as role models?  No wonder we have issues

[dave shelley]

He knows his own health better than anyone, and if he thinks he could get back I'd like to see us give him a chance. It would be great just to have him involved with the club again.

Sorry Monty, for possibly the first time I have to disagree with your post.  Cancer of any form is too insidious to fuck about with.  I accept your point about him knowing his own health but, imo it's too risky.  I'm not saying he should let it dictate fully how he lives his life but, why, at that age; would you even consider it?

Years ago, a friend who had been given the all-clear from cancer decided to play indoor football.  He got a knock and the cancer returned and the medical professionals attributed it directly to the knock he'd received, he died.   Maybe this has stuck with me and clouded my judgement.

Sounds like bollocks.

A knock might cause metastatic spread but very doubtful it could directly lead to a relapse, especially in haematological cancer.

Not bollocks and, I take exception to the way you describe something as serious as this.  You could have been more succinct.

It was what his wife and family were told and, being laypeople what were they to believe?  What would the doctors' have to gain by saying something like that if there wasn't any truth in it?

Sadly, I have no contact with his wife or family so I can't get full clarification because, believe me I would.  It's thirty years since I left and about thirty-five since he died.

Incidentally, I never said he had haematological cancer.  My original point still stands.  Why put yourself at risk.  I wouldn't.

[Villa in Denmark]

If he wants to try, all power to him.

The medical aspects are for him, the club and his doctors to clarify.  If he gets the green light there, let him do pre season and see if he can earn his place in the squad, a pure footballing decision.

We won't be able to afford to carry anyone next season and I'm sure that he wouldn't want a squad place as a sympathy vote, but if he can get fit enough to do it, having someone with his experience on the pitch and a proper role model on and off the pitch would propably be the best bit of news since Benteke signed a contract extension.

[chrisw1]

If he wants to try, all power to him.

The medical aspects are for him, the club and his doctors to clarify.  If he gets the green light there, let him do pre season and see if he can earn his place in the squad, a pure footballing decision.

We won't be able to afford to carry anyone next season and I'm sure that he wouldn't want a squad place as a sympathy vote, but if he can get fit enough to do it, having someone with his experience on the pitch and a proper role model on and off the pitch would propably be the best bit of news since Benteke signed a contract extension.

I agree, it needs to be on merit.  But if he can get fit I iamgine he will be quite cheap and it would be great to have him in the squad in place of some average squad filler clogger.

[Mister E]

As a figurehead it's great, let's get him around the dressing room next year. As a player, not so sure.

About what? - unless you're on his medical team or the club's coaching staff how can you possibly have an opinion about his potential as a player?!
He will have to prove to both sets of experts that he is worthy of, firstly, a place in the club's squad and then a slot in the matchday squad. If he proves himself worthy of both, fantastic: we will have a great holding midfielder whose stats in his last couple of seasons were the stuff of dreams for the likes of Westie, Sanchez and Gana. If not, he'll hopefully inspire the youngsters around him anyway.

This is a good-news, win-win story all round, isn't it? ....





.... as long as he doesn't try to bring Tonev back to VP (B'ham Airport are only just getting over his last appearance).

[LeeS]

Even 80% fit he'd waltz into our team. I'm not being all misty eyed and pretending he was world class or a Villa legend, but he was undoubtedly better than anyone in our current squad. And even if he never scales the heights of his playing peak, just putting in a shift each game would mark him out as a colossal improvement on the current shower of shite we have to watch each week.

Come on Stan - make the fairy tale a reality.

[eamonn]

Even if he can't regain the fitness and perhaps confidence to play a full part, having him around the dressing room cajoling our younger players who are crying out for positive role models would be great.

In which case maybe even making a brief sub appearance at a VP game when we're winning and the stadium is full (a derby game or late next April or May if/when we're gunning for promotion) so we could show our appreciation and he could keep to his word of playing at a high level again, would be incredible and be the only single feel-good act strong enough to trump the woes of this club since 2010.

[ROBBO]

Short memories people have, I like Petrov a great team man and always gave one hundred percent but I remember him struggling to get past sixty minutes of game time and his lack of pace was telling. That was three years ago.

[PeterWithe]

As a figurehead it's great, let's get him around the dressing room next year. As a player, not so sure.

About what? - unless you're on his medical team or the club's coaching staff how can you possibly have an opinion about his potential as a player?!

Why cant I have an opinion on it, if we were discussing signing Micheal Owen I'd have the same doubts given his age and time out of the game, and he hasn't gone through what Stan has.

[claretandblue barmy]

surely he was struggling due to his condition being not being diagnosed at the time .. ?