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.

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.

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.

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

I'll leave it to others to analyze and talk about the Joleon Lescott signing. Instead I've had this crazy thought running through my head for a week now. Really crazy. I've written it down, kicked the tires as it were and gone back and forth and here it is. With the signing of Lescott, do City now have the best squad in the Premier League?

One game does not a season make and I'm certainly not going to get carried away with my Arsenal predication. I know one very prominent Arsenal supporter who thinks United will win the league so you never know. I was curious however to see the reaction of the Everton fans. Dear me. Everton manager David Moyes is considered by many observers including yours truly to be one of the better managers in the Premier League, but you wouldn't know it reading the Everton boards.

Another Premier League season is upon us. This season is shaping up to be quite fascinating.

The Big Four - Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool

Arsenal
It will be held against me if it doesn't come to pass, but my surprise pick for the title is Arsenal. Arsene Wenger has spent the past couple of years blooding the most impressive bunch of youngsters in recent memory. However the crucial addition didn't happen this transfer window, but instead was the capture of Zenit St. Petersburg's Andrei Arshavin this past January. Kolo Toure was quoted earlier in the month that Arsenal lack leaders and he was right these past few seasons. But not any more. The Russian forward is going to lead by example and become a true icon of the Gunners. Notwithstanding Fabio Capello's fairly idiotic statement that Jack Wilshere could go to the World Cup, England have more than enough midfielders it is the striking options that should be of concern, the Arsenal youngster should have a breakout season. Experience plus addition by subtraction and the loses of their challengers equals an opportunity.

August 4th 2009. Mark it down. Liverpool lost the title today. Certainly they will bring in a replacement for Xabi Alonso but that's it, game over. Must be a strange feeling to know, with an absolute certainty that your best chance in years to win the Premier League is gone. In Rafa we trust is going to sound pretty hollow now. You know how much I hate that Elano left City? This is ten times worse for Liverpool.

As you will have seen, my column concerning the departure of Elano has generated some interesting comment both agreeing and disagreeing with my position. Took me a while to figure it out but I have finally concluded what is annoying me so much about this move. Who is going to pass the ball?

Sir Bobby Robson February 18 1933 - July 31 2009

Player, England International, Manager, England Manager.

A Winner and a Gentleman in a day and age where both are seemingly beyond most.

Geordie Legend.

After losing Ronaldo and Tevez Manchester United have been thrown into chaos with the revelation that the club has plummeted to 13th in the Premier League in the latest table published this week. With Zero points United are perilously close to falling into the relegation zone with West Ham, Wigan and Wolves. Typically Spurs are off to their now traditional slow start and find themselves nestled in 17th just outside the relegation places.

The joy of selective quoting. City Chairman Khaldoon al Mubarak is quoted on the official club website as saying that the club will look for another "four to six" players in addition to Gareth Barry. So just about every headline you read this morning talks about how City are bringing in six more signings and in some cases this is six more big signings. Er... No.

I make a habit of blasting the print press, mainly because they're silly and their coverage would have old time journalists turning in their graves. Occasionally however you get a good little interview. Such is the case with Derick Allsop in the Independent this Sunday as he talks to Mark Hughes.

So when I said that we should start to see some movement in the transfer market after the internationals on Wednesday I can assure you that an £80m bid for Ronaldo from Real Madrid wasn't what I was alluding to!

Wow! That just blew next season wide open. Ronaldo's a petulant diver, but the guy can play.

All rumour no substance at the moment which is true for most teams. City just happened to get things off with a bang with Barry, but the lack of announced deals feels unusual even if I don't have specific data to back up said observation. The general consensus seems to be that Joe Hart is off to Birmingham on a year loan.

I'm looking forward to PFA Chief Executive Gordon Taylor putting out a statement today condemning the move of Kaka from AC Milan to Real Madrid. Similarly at UEFA headquarters in Nyon Switzerland where I'm sure President Michel Platini will be pontificating on the social responsibility of clubs to not spend vast sums on transfers.

Oh dear. After praising the Manchester Evening News they appear to have then fallen victim to the latest Elano speculation. Here's what we know. Late on the 5th of June the Daily Mail - yes them again - carried a quote from Elano claiming that either he would get a new contract from City or he was off. Now the problem with all of this is that there doesn't appear to be a specific source. Was the Daily Mail actually at the Brazilian training camp? Or was it reported by some other source and if so who?

The daily game of rumours continues as it does every day. A couple of interesting articles for different reasons take centre stage. First up is the Daily Mail quoting Elano as wanting a new contract or he will leave. The Daily Mail also just finished up a Top 50 Footballers of all time feature and didn't include Duncan Edwards so their credibility registers in negative figures at the moment. And regarding Edwards, you know my position on him. I don't care if he was a Rag, best player... ever.

More fallout today from the Gareth Barry signing with the news that Spurs tried to sign him but that City offered more in a transfer fee and wages, No surprise in the latter but interesting that the reported 12 million was more than Spurs or Liverpool were prepared to pay.

Curious. The Gareth Barry transfer was done in relative secrecy. The news only breaking when Barry was at City having a medical. Contrast this with the public statement from Hughes concerning an interest in Tevez. I wonder if we are sophisticated enough to be gaming Manchester United when it comes to the Argentinean striker.

I have to say that I am stunned, utterly delighted, but stunned by the signing of Gareth Barry. For reasons that I'll go into below the England international was the number one player I would have picked for City to sign.

The silly season has officially kicked off and while players can't move yet that is not the case when it comes to Managers. Stray thought, would be fascinating if Managers were restricted in movement the same way players were...

The Daily Fail is at it again. Once more City are being linked with Kaka and other world superstars. Enough already. Stupid papers with stupid rumours showing exactly why it's a failing business. We all know the script. City get linked to a hundred players in the off season, sign a number of quality players that are appropriate to our squad needs and then the club gets ripped in the press for not signing the superstars even though we are "the richest club in the world."

Last game of the season and I didn't watch. Typically City won leaving them agonizingly close to a Europa League spot. And what was I doing? Well I've noted in the past that I grew up in the North East. In many ways Newcastle mirror City. A club with great support, fabulous tradition especially in the 50's. Great players and managers - and I don't find it a coincidence that Keegan has managed both.

The Club has released an official statement saying that despite press reports today City have not placed a bid for Lionel Messi. Bit of a slippery slope in that once you start denying one transfer rumour if you don't deny all of them then the press will see this as confirmation that there must be some substance to the rumour.

That being said, I'm not sure the club could have done anything else as the constant harping by the rag supporting press leaves the impression that City have approached dozens of players all of whom have turned down City.

Funny the way things turn out. Normally for City the Derby is the biggest game of the year. Win it, especially sweep as Sven did, and City fans are a fairly content lot. Completely outplay United as was the case a couple of seasons ago and a warm afterglow permeates the summer off season.

And this year. Doesn't matter.

You have to feel for Mark Hughes. Here City are on a three game winning streak and everything should be focused on the last few games of the season.

Instead the issue of Elano is once more to the fore.

It would be very easy to get all upset at Mark Hughes after today's 1-3 home defeat. Easy, but wrong. Because tactically Hughes got it right. Hang on you are saying, how can he have got it right but City lost 1-3. Read on...

Three interesting results for City; home victories against a faltering Aston Villa, and yet another Danish club in the UEFA Cup before the expected loss to Chelsea away.

If you read the papers after the Villa game, City were brilliant. Best half of football by City all year and there should have been a hatful of goals. All good stuff and a great read. Now I'm pleased with this because I get to use one of my old Gran's favourite words. As in complete and utter twaddle!

I'm bored. Last three games; a rather credible draw against Liverpool, an efficient win against the Danes and a predictable loss against the Hammers. And I'm bored.

With any kind of decent away form the club could end the season with its best Premier League finish ever. But I don't see it. City could win the UEFA Cup, somewhat bizarrely we are both the only English club left in the competition and now considered the favourites.

Personally I happen to think Werder Bremen are the best team left in the competition but yes City on their day, and let me repeat that phrase, on their day are capable of winning the UEFA Cup. But do you have confidence that the best City team will show up for each game that is left in the competition? No, neither do I.

Still no word from the FA as to when they will charge Ronaldo for kicking an opponent in this weekend's tie against Blackburn. Nor frankly do i expect that to happen even as City are still dealing with the loss of SWP for three games. We know, deep in our hearts, that the FA and Premier League are not corrupt but time and again the appearance is given with uneven dispensation of disciplinary matters.

The Rambling view from the City Perspective

An unfortunate loss against Stoke after a positive result mid week against Newcastle. Same team each time, with a very interesting Zabaleta/De Jong midfield anchor partnership and the team playing a 4-2-3-1. Good. Yes I know we lost against ten man Stoke, however this was Hughes maximizing the resources he has available to him given injuries and suspensions.