Once more the issue of the Old Firm, Celtic and Rangers for the uninitiated, joining the Premier League has been raised and subsequently shot down. Not surprising really as it is not exactly in the self interest of the majority of the Premier League clubs to add two more clubs into the mix that could divert revenue even if this time the idea was broached in the context of adding a Premier League 2.

Today I'm going to step away from the subject of City and talk about the death of German national keeper Robert Enke. As is now well known the Hannover 96 net minder was killed by a train near his home on Tuesday evening. All indications are that the 32 year old committed suicide having left a note to that effect.

I've received a couple of polite enquires from long time readers about recent results and my thoughts. My infrequent posting is not a lack of opinion, far from it, but just an overwhelming sense of frustration. I'd much rather post positive thoughts about the team winning and players playing well than harp on the negative issues which have seemed so obvious to me for so long.

"It's well documented in official records that the City's original name was 'Snottingham', or 'Home of the Snots', but when the Normans came, they couldn't pronounce the letter 'S', so decreed the town be called 'Nottingham' or the 'Home of the Notts'. It is therefore easy to understand why this change was resisted so fiercely by the people of Scunthorpe."
The late, great, Humphrey Lyttelton in one of his opening monologues for BBC Radio's I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue, 1999.

The focus will be on City losing a two goal lead and a couple of points at home, however I was more interested in the first half tactical decision that had Martin Petrov start on the right wing. Given that Petrov is quite possibly the most one footed person on the planet and it is his left foot I just don't understand this. City had a selection dilemma with the return of Bellamy but in this case I would have preferred Petrov to stay on his natural left side - which is what happened at the start of the second half.

Sad to see what Liverpool have become under Rafa Benitez. Always been my brother's team and during the 70's were a sight to behold as I was forced to watch every time they were on! Liverpool played the game right, in many ways the Arsenal of their day with the exception that they won a lot more often than Wenger's boys.

Nine games into a season, eight for City, but nine for most is a good point to take stock and see what trends are possible to detect. As such I was taking a look at the league table. There are a couple of truisms that I've found to be useful especially relatively early in the season.

I look at the table and I shouldn't complain. I look at the result against a team that beat Chelsea last time out and I shouldn't complain. I look at a gritty rear guard action by 10 men and I shouldn't complain and I look at Petrov getting a run in the side and I shouldn't complain.

And yet.

City win 3-1 and maintain their excellent start to the season with a game in hand over their rivals.

In the first of an occasional series we talk to a fan of an upcoming City opponent. Kicking us off is Dr. Greg Zeschuk mild mannered co founder of the Edmonton Canada video game company Bioware by day, but rabid Arsenal fanatic by night. Greg put aside playing the upcoming Dragon Age: Origins just long enough to answer our questions