Villa facing defeat over Martin Petrov deal
Monday 21st June 2010, 11:29AM BST.
Bolton today remained confident of landing Martin Petrov despite reported last-minute interest from Villa.
Morning speculation claimed Villa have held discussions with the free agent, who has been released by Manchester City after snubbing their offer of a new one-year deal.
But sources in the north-west have told the Express & Star the Trotters still expect to sign the 31-year-old after he underwent a medical at the Reebok Stadium.
That is unlikely to deter Villa, however, and with Wanderers yet to agree personal terms they could yet steal a march with the chance to play European football next season and join a club of superior stature likely to appeal to the player.
A move to the Midlands would also give him the chance to link up with close friend and compatriot Stiliyan Petrov.
Celtic, Everton and West Ham have also been linked with the wide man, who is believed to favour remaining in the Premier League.
The Bulgaria star was a £5m signing by Sven-Goran Eriksson in 2007 and went on to establish himself as a firm favourite with the Eastlands faithful, scoring 12 goals in 72 appearances.
Meanwhile, speculation is growing Villa’s Emile Heskey could be the fall guy for England’s disastrous draw with Algeria on Friday with Tottenham’s Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe having reportedly moved ahead of him in Fabio Capello’s thinking.
And former England and Villa star Dion Dublin says Stephen Warnock will benefit from his World Cup experience.
Dublin said: “He might not get on the field at all and if that happens then I’m sure it will be a bit frustrating. But just being in and around that squad will help him learn, gain great confidence and give him experience of pressure situations.”
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Have a look at the last 8 seasons and the finishing places of Bolton and Villa in the premier league and see which team is of a superior standing . I think you’ll find its Bolton !
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Phil, have you been drinking, when and whom obviously other than Boltons fans (and possibly Bham) would be daft enough to suggest that Bolton are a superior team to Villa, look at our history, Presumably Phil Gartside.
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What are you talking about Phil? since 2002-03 by my calculations Bolton has averaged a respectable 11.125 finish in the tables. Villa has averaged 9.625.
In the last three seasons, Bolton has averaged 14.33 and Villa has averaged 6.00. Bolton was noticeably more successful in three seasons from 2004/05, 2005/06 and 2006/07, but that’s it. Villa finished ahead of them in the other five seasons you cite.
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I actually live in Dickens Heath and I’m a Chelsea season ticket holder and all I’m saying is that there is not as much of a difference as you would think/like. . . . so its not out of the realms of possibility that Petrov would chose Bolton over Villa
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Phil
Keep taking the tablets matey…eventually they will work promise!!!!!!
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phill
lol a brummie chelsea fan.i smell glory hunting ,any 1 else smell it.
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Petrov does not have to move house to play for Bolton, I think its that simple.
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Must be Villa.
Bolton will struggles this year. They had a couple of lucky wins in the run in last May (one was Wolves who seriously outplayed them) which is why they kept out of the relegation fight – just.
Villa deserve to do well and I reckon they will do well in Europe – with guys like |Petrov especially.
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i think it will say it all if he picks Bolton over Villa.
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Well Al, Mark, Dave . . . for all your huff and puff, Petrov has just signed for Bolton. . . Thats says it all !
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Oh well we always got Heskey to help us out.
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