STILIYAN Petrov wants the Aston Villa fans to give Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry a warm welcome when he returns with the Blues on Monday.
Petrov believes the Villa supporters should be proud of what Barry achieved at the club where he clocked up more than 400 appearances during a 12-year stay after moving from Brighton.
The England midfielder made the £12million switch to Eastlands in the summer after a move to Liverpool collapsed 12 months earlier when the Reds failed to meet the then £18million asking price.
Petrov said: “Gareth deserves a good reception. The Villa fans should be very proud. Manchester City are building a good team, they want to compete at a high level, and they rate Gareth as one of the best midfielders in the country.
“He gave so much to this club and I think the supporters should give him a very good welcome. Every time he came on the pitch he tried to make them happy and gave his best for them.
“He played over 400 games for Villa. I have a lot of respect for players who can do that. Not many players can do that. Only players who love a club can do that and that was Gareth with Villa.
“He is always texting about the club so he still cares. He played a long time here, he just can’t forget it, and I hope they give him a warm welcome.”
Petrov added: “Gareth went on a high. Not many players can achieve what he did for this club - and he stayed an extra year as well.
“They should welcome him, to show why he was loved all the years he was here.”
What is your verdict on Barry's start at City? Have your say.
Petrov backing for Barry
October 02, 2009
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Gareth Barry
Showing comments 1 to 23 and replies | View All
Dukinfield Blue, Manchester (02/10/2009 at 16:43)
Same for Dunnie, some people on this forum should hang their heads in same at the "captain donkey" comments, that man deserves a Heroes welcome from City fans whenever we play the Villa. Without Dunnie's efforts city would be languishing in div one with Leeds and Charlton right now, probably facing bankruptcy, with no self-respecting arab consortium touching us with a barge pole. Some fans on here need to remember that instead of being obnoxiously patronising about legends like Dunnie.
"paul dickov saved my life", manc`land (02/10/2009 at 16:54)
bluetony (02/10/2009 at 17:07)
Unfortunately, the lame brains at Villa, Everton and Arsenal don't like the fact that City can cherry pick their better players and that those players see City as a better option.
Just knock one in at The Holte End Gareth. That'll please the locals no end. Knee slide perhaps??
Tommyducks Blue (02/10/2009 at 17:17)
Barry is immense and we are proud of him too. Here's to a cracking game.
£700m and rising......, Sale (02/10/2009 at 17:27)
a dictata in superbia , Manchester (02/10/2009 at 18:02)
fullsac, cleethorpes (02/10/2009 at 18:46)
if they don't appreciate you gareth don't lose any sleep we certainly do .......
Jack Thorley Trafford, Timperley (02/10/2009 at 18:53)
Agbonlahor gave central defenders Richards and Ben Haim a right old roasting, scoring a hat-trick.
Thankfully I think that there are only about 8 players who were in the City squad that day that are still on the books!
Sam-MANCHESTER CITY FOOTBALL CLUB (02/10/2009 at 19:05)
The rags have OFFICIALY 4 out of every 5 fans attending from outside the Manchester area., In my room. (02/10/2009 at 21:10)
bluemoon risin' (02/10/2009 at 22:21)
He's probably clean living married with two kids, average and modest egg n' chips type guy.
Since he's been at the club he has made a big difference in midfield in that we can go into away games knowing that mr dependable 'gaz baz' is mopping up mistakes and holding midfield together.
I think he's made a big difference this season, and he's a model professional that our younger players can look up to, admire and respect.
All in all he's a good signing that is to our gain and villa's and Liverpool's loss.
Gerry Gow's jockstrap (03/10/2009 at 02:35)
Tommy "Chopper" C, Oz. (03/10/2009 at 04:29)
Citizen Smith!, Ardwick (03/10/2009 at 11:56)
bluemoon risin' (03/10/2009 at 12:25)
To- Kings of leon/Sex on fire.
[or we're]
Wherever you're playing, don't matter what ground
You know we're there watching, there watching
All the commotion, wherever we play
Has people talking, talking
Yeh eh-ho, this city's on fire
Yeh eh-ho, this city's on fire
Yeh eh-ho, this city's on fire....
Comments?
MAN-KEY-UNION, MANCHESTER (03/10/2009 at 13:24)
3/10/2009 at 02:35 Yikes realisation must be setting in now, they'll really have it in for us now, probably try to pay us back good-style.
fowler, wythenshawe (03/10/2009 at 13:56)
fowler, wythenshawe (03/10/2009 at 14:05)
bluemoon risin' (03/10/2009 at 15:42)
3/10/2009 at 13:56
Thanks mate, will do v Burnley in Mary D's. I just think we need a new and preferably unique song[or two] like 'bluemoon' and 'we are not really here are, that reflects our position nowadays in a positive way.
I think it could catch on, but it's up to you guys.
Citizen_52, Whitefield (03/10/2009 at 16:49)
They were more annoyed about the fact that he didn't join a club playing European football and were not likely to be.
Some of their comments about City deeply offended me, but at the end of the day they have gone out to Rapid Vienna and City have 5 wins from the first 6. Not saying Villa won't be there or thereabouts but when they are signing players like Dunne, with all due respect, it shows which of the 2 clubs is on the up.
Tommy "Chopper" C, Oz. (03/10/2009 at 21:14)
born a red., canada (04/10/2009 at 01:27)
climb57, Droylsden (04/10/2009 at 13:10)