It’s been a rough go the last few months round Villa Park. And it got rougher when our captain, Stiliyan Petrov, discovered he has leukemia. What was looking like a troublesome run-in with Darren Bent and Charles N’Zogbia out took a distinct turn from the nerve-wracking to the sobering as the news spread and sunk in. Not only are Villa losing an important player, we’re losing him in a sudden and shocking way.

Whether we’ve been arguing amongst ourselves or criticizing the club and players, we’ve taken Gerard Houllier’s cardiac event, Gary Speed’s death and Fabrice Muamba’s near-demise in stride, said and felt the right things, and moved on. Then it was Petrov’s diagnosis that brought the most inescapable aspect of human struggle to Villa’s door again, but in a unexpected way, a way that Houllier’s almost predictable scare couldn’t, even if it should’ve.

Writing about Villa week in and week out, it’s inevitable that one ends up saying less than flattering things about players and managers. I’d like to think that most times they’re true, if indelicate. And yes, when you step on a public stage, you invite public criticism. But even so, it’s easy to forget that the highly paid objects of our envy, scorn, and admiration are just people who are better at playing football, and people that we don’t really know.

Having written about Stan as a player, I’d like to think I’ve been balanced, and that I’ve been fair. If I’ve paid too little attention to what he’s brought to the side, I apologize.

Because he has always worked. He has always fought. He has always played as hard as any of us could hope to, and he’s led the side with quiet strength and dignity. He’s worn the armband well. He’s been a credit to Aston Villa Football Club, but more important, he’d been a credit to himself as a man, father, and husband.

I don’t know why, but the news about Stan really took the wind out of my sails. The talks of contracts, and moving players on…I found it had all left a bad taste in my mouth upon hearing Stiliyan was all of sudden leaving the stage at Villa Park for all the wrong reasons.

I don’t think I’m alone in finding his reaction to the news inspirational. i don’t think I’m alone in saying I’m proud of what he’s brought to Villa.

I know Stan will fight and acquit himself well. And I hope Aston Villa can honor their captain by doing the same.

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