Stan's the Man

The Birmingham Mail yesterday evening has Stiliyan Petrov maintaining that Villa are a Top 5 team and need to regard themselves as such. "Top 5 teams don't have amateur players, they have top class players and to get in the team you have to work your socks off and I am prepared to do that".

I have been mighty impressed by Stan's determination and work ethic ever since he came to Villa. After an impressive start at Upton Park, his performances went through a long lull but he has stuck at his task, not moaned when dropped (even from the bench) and worked hard to reclaim and keep a first team place. We're only in early September, but Petrov is the player of the season for me so far...

Something else is interesting, too - is Petrov revealing that the target in the Villa is a 5th place finish. That would make sense - an improvement on last season, automatic UEFA Cup qualification but an acknowledgement that the Big 4 is a step too far at the moment.