Petrov bouncing back

Now if this comes off it will be fantastic
http://www.itv.com/news/central/update/2016-04-26/former-captain-stiliyan-petrov-hoping-to-return-to-villa/

He's been training with the U21's for months? Hopefully, a few minutes each day spent on cautionary tales will stand the kids in good stead.

I'd love to see Stan back involved with the club as long as his health can stand up to it

A class professional, the 1st team could learn a lot from this gentleman.

You reckon if you start playing actively again after such a sickness, that it will make you vulnerable for a relapse?

He'd walk all over our midfield atm, even if he was under chemo.

Fantastic news.

Is he any good in goal? Or centre-half? Or up front? He'd walk straight back into his midfield job so I think we should challenge him

Would love to see Stan back! What a guy and model Captain (which we badly need) Get him in! :)

Believe in Stan

Stan Petrov

Stan to train with the 1st team through the summer and on to the training camp in Austria, no deal for Stan but an excellent opportunity to prove to himself if he has still got it. Fair play to the new management team for standing by him.

Could he earn a new deal?

Anyone remember Aldaniti/Bob Champion?

Anything can happen!

What an incredible story it would be, good luck Stan.

I am not being funny and I wish him all the very best but he is 36, just retire and let us remember the good times!

It's a romantic feel good idea but not a realistic one sadly, at Stan's age its a massive long shot. Cambiaso was this age for Leicester and was their player of the season 2 years ago though.

I'm pretty sure he is worth having in the squad as a motivator and Imagine how the players would feel when RDM and Clarke say if Stan can, why can't you?

If he does prove his fitness, gets a contract, plays and plays well then that would be something we would all love to see and would be an inspiration to everybody in the game.

Even if it's just one more time in the shirt, in a competitive game it would be some story.

A true legend, and not just a Villa one.

achilles wrote:I am not being funny and I wish him all the very best but he is 36, just retire and let us remember the good times!

Totally agree. I think people are letting their emotions cloud their judgement here tbh. He's been out of the game for four years and the championship is relentless. I don't even think the likes of Lescott can handle the championship now...let alone Stan. We're in a new era now...time to move on and give the likes of Gardner a proper chance now.

Whatever part he ends up playing it's a fantastic, wonderful story. I still remember the massive lump in my throat when his kids ran on the pitch at the end of his testimonial. Just great to see him come through for them if nothing else. My uncle died of cancer at 31 years of age leaving my 3 cousins without their dad when they were all less than 3 years old (ironically his name was Stan), so football apart, just seeing petrov at Villa in any capacity personally makes me feel anything can be overcome if you have a combination of luck and a positive approach. Good on you Stan, inject the respect our great shirt demands, and set that example to the new lads and the ones worth keeping alike. Proper legend.

Great news. This can only have a positive effect on the dressing room. I'm happy to see that Stan finally is back to doing what he is passionate about, playing football. Even if he didn't play another minute for us and just hung around the first team, he'll have an impact. Stan bleeds claret & blue and he'll expect everyone else in the team to do the same.