You never quite know how a returning hero will be greeted in football. I remember when Ian Wright was sold from Palace to Arsenal he got a right earful from the fans. He replied by scoring the goals that got The Eagles relegated and celebrated as though he'd won the World Cup.
Other players have a much better relationship with supporters of their old clubs. Andy Johnson is well known for not celebrating scoring against Man United and Birmingham respectively.
Both players walked back to the centre circle with quiet dignity. This is not something that could be said about Lucas Podolski's return to Koln on Saturday.
Podolski left Cologne for Bayern two seasons ago after the latter were relegated. Since he arrived he's made it pretty clear where his heart remains. In fact sometimes he comes across like a player who has been forced out on loan rather than transferred for lots of money to one of the biggest clubs in Europe.
Anyhoo, last weekend saw the returning hero start Bayern's game at Koln on the bench where he spent most of the time signing programmes for the home supporters. When Kilnsie had decided he'd signed enough he sent Poldolski on the pitch where he received a rapturous welcome.
Bayern were 1-0 up from a goal by Luca Toni. The Italian doubled his tally and with the game won, Podolski put an easy chance away for the third. Being the emotional fella that he is rather than the quiet and dignified walk back to up the pitch, he fell to the ground and buried his head in the grass, stricken with grief or something. Toni wandered over to the ungrateful primadonna and ruffled his hair in sympathy, no doubt muttering "Get up you tart" under his breath, in Italian obviously.
The win for the champions moves them up to second after an unsteady start. Above them are Hamburg whose manager Martin Jol must be laughing his tits off every time he looks at the Premier League tables. His latest win was in a five goal thriller with Leverkusen. They were 2-0 down after 24 minutes and fought back to win with goals with from Guerrero and the two Craotians Olic and Petric.
Bremen's start to the season has been pretty awful by their standards and had to work hard against a dogged Cottbus, before Diego broke their spirit in the 75th minute. Goals from the returning Frings and Sanogo put some gloss on the performance.
Elsewhere, 'Gladbach are finding it tough going in the Bundesliga since their promotion. They found themselves on the end of a (gerd) mullering by Hannover. A brace a-piece from Szabolcs Huszti and Jan Schlaudraff plus a Brucie Bonus from Mikael Forsell. Hoffenheim and Stutgart played out a 0-0 draw while Berlin and Wolfsburg played out an entertaining 2-2 draw. Bochum will have targeted their home game to Bielefeld as 'must win' which is as well for them because that's exactly what they did, 2-0.
Which leaves us with the big derby: BVB v Schalke. The intensity of the fixture should not be downplayed. It is the biggest local derby in Germany and has been all the spikier since Schalke blew their title at the Westfalon two seasons ago. It was there that 80,000 plus turned up on Saturday to watch one of the most extraordinary matches so far anywhere this season.
Schalke took 3-0 lead with a penalty from debutant Jefferson Farfan and strikes from Rafinha and Heiko Westerman. Then it went wrong for the Royal Blues. The fun began when Alex Frei returned after his heart-breaking injury in Euro 2008 (right). He set up Subotic's 'consolation'.
Then Frei himself got in on the action just before Christian Pander was sent off. Pander wasn't playing with his rubber duck in the bath alone for long. He was joined by Fabian Ernst for a bad foul on Florian Kringe. The nine men hung on bravely until Mladen Krstajic handled in the box. Frei completed a triumphant comeback by slotting home the penalty and blowing the roof off the ground.
With the demise of West Ham's official shirt sponsor, travel firm XL, and Man United's equivalent, AIG, asking New York state for a multi-billion dollar loan to 'stabilise its finances' (give that one a try next time you meet your bank manager), you might be wondering whether the sponsors of any other Premier League clubs are about to go to the wall.
We certainly did, which is why we bring you our not-particularly-scientific report from the world of big business and high finance…
Arsenal: Emirates Let's face it - if you were going to hook up with an international airline as your main sponsor during a time of rising fuel prices, it's probably wise to choose one from a country that runs most of the world's oil fields. Last year, in spite of the economic downturn, Emirates made a profit of around £759 million quid - enough to ensure their name remains plastered all over The Gunners' stadium for at least another year with sufficient left over to wave in the face of Alitalia's Chief Executive. SPAOTP Survival Rating: 9/10
Aston Villa: Acorn Here's an exception to the rule - Aston Villa aren't so much sponsored by Acorn Children's Hospices as the other way around. For the first time in Premier League history, a club has abandoned the practice of taking as much money from the highest possible bidder, instead choosing to advertise this local registered charity which provides care for over 600 life-limited children and supports their families, too. Long may it continue, and if anyone from West Ham or West Brom are reading this, have you picked up any ideas for shirt sponsorship in the last ten seconds or so? SPAOTP Survival Rating: N/A
Blackburn: Crown Paints Er, yes. What can one say… Surely Crown Paints aren't like to go out of business anytime soon, are they? I mean, everyone needs paint, don't they? When did you ever hear about a paint company going into administration? Come to think of it, when did you ever hear about a paint company full stop? No, Crown Paints were around when Liverpool were ruling the old First Division and they'll be around when you and I are long gone too. I just wish they'd bring back that old sheepdog for their adverts. Wait a minute - that was Dulux… SPAOTP Survival Rating: 7/10
Bolton: Reebok Yes, Reebok - that British Sportswear company whose future took a distinctly different turn when Adidas bought them out in 2006. Still, Adidas look set to remain as omnipresent as they ever were, raking in one multi-million pound profit after another - the only question is 'how long will the Reebok brand name last for?' No-one seems to know (including us) so don't be surprised if Bolton suddenly stride out in an Adidas kit one day in the not-too-distant future. SPAOTP Survival Rating: 8/10
Chelsea: Samsung Electronic giants par excellence, Samsung remain one of the big players in the market, producing every electrical item from vacuum cleaners to mobile phones. And let's face it, the mobile phone boom continues to… er… boom, so don't expect the credit crunch to put even a slight dent in the prospects of this South Korean company. They're here to stay and will always be the best company you can go to when it comes to purchasing your next mobile phone. (So can I have my free upgrade now, please, Samsung? It's my SGH-G600, you see… the slidey cover doesn't quite work properly and it keeps losing all my ringtones…) SPAOTP Survival Rating: 10/10
Everton: Chang Beer They say that even in the deepest economic crisis, people will still buy chocolate, but there's a school of thought that the same applies to beer. If nothing else, it gets you so drunk you don't even realise the world around you is crumbling around you, but who do you know that drinks Chang Beer? Maybe they've got it on the menu down at your local Thai restaurant, but that's probably about all. Then again, if most of Thailand's drinking it, there shouldn't be any problems with it suffering from a lack of popularity. No problems here, we feel. SPAOTP Survival Rating: 8/10
Fulham: LG Yet another South Korean consumer electronics giant and arguably bigger than Samsung. A family of almost thirty sub-companies and co-partner with people like Philips and Hitachi, Lucky Goldstar (for that's their proper name) can also afford to be largely ignorant of the mess going on around them in this day and age. A shrewd business deal by Mohammed Al Fayed who knows a thing or two about acquiring a sizeable personal wealth. SPAOTP Survival Rating: 10/10
Hull City: Kingston Communications The biggest telecomms company in the world... are what Kingston Communications would like to be, but for now they're merely serving the fine folk of Kingston-upon-Hull. A big fish in a small pond, you might say, but with spiralling utility bills starting to affect your average UK household, will Joe Public turn to one of the millions of other companies providing similar services, hmmm? How long before the dot-com bubble bursts, hmmm? Are we quite possibly talking cobblers, hmmm? SPAOTP Survival Rating: 6/10
Liverpool: Carlsberg Carlsberg don't do credit crunches, but if they did, they'd probably be the best credit crunches in the world. SPAOTP Survival Rating: 10/10
Manchester City: Thomas Cook Given what happened to XL recently, you'd be excused for thinking any kind of collaboration with a travel company looks set to fail these days, but Thomas Cook are above all that. They've been going for donkey's years and have recently told all and sundry that there seems to be no let up in the number of people going abroad for their holidays. The thing is, as they put their prices up to make the most of the constant demand, so people will go elsewhere. Will their over-confidence prove to be their undoing? Time will tell… SPAOTP Survival Rating: 8/10
Middlesbrough: Garmin Sat-Nav Ask someone to name a maker of in-car satellite navigation systems, and people will say 'Tom Tom'. 'Nuff said. If Garmin wanna change that, they may have to drop the prices of their automotive hardware which in turn may affect profits, etc, etc, etc. There we are - another financial profile sorted. No FT - no waffle. SPAOTP Survival Rating: 7/10
Portsmouth: OKI All we know about this company is that they used to make rather shonky dot matrix printers back in the days of the ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64. Presumably nowadays they're making comparable shonky colour laser printers instead, but don't quote us on that. We're sure their printers are really very good nowadays. Actually we recommend you go out and buy one immediately. Please don't sue us, OKI… SPAOTP Survival Rating: 7/10
Stoke: Britannia Building Society Britain's second biggest mutual lender after the Nationwide might be on shakier ground than you think. Their subsidiary company, Platform, relies on capital markets for much of the money it lends, and we all know how well the markets have been doing over the last few days or so. Will Stoke be the next team to embarrassingly cover their replica shirts with a large patch of fabric? All we'll say is the trusty old floorboards look like a good option if you're a Britannia customer… SPAOTP Survival Rating: 3/10
Sunderland: Boyle Sports It's probably no bad time to be one of Ireland's biggest betting companies. With household bills going up along with the cost of food, many people are only too happy to increase their monthly incomings by frittering their salary away on the 4.15 at Leopardstown. Nothing to worry about if you’re a fan of the Black Cats. SPAOTP Survival Rating: 8/10
Tottenham: Mansion And the same goes for Tottenham who are hooked up with a big name in online gambling and casinos. Yes, there's much to be gained from having a wild punt on a vague uncertainty, but history tells us it can all go wrong, as was proved by the appointment of Christian Gross as Head Coach back in 1997. SPAOTP Survival Rating: 8/10
West Brom: No sponsor
Wigan: JJB Sports JJB may no longer make the kits, but it's their name that's still on the shirts, however that may now be about to change. Back in April, JJB announced a drop in profits of some 70%, signalling the closure of 72 of its high street stores. Many blame the failure of England to qualify for Euro 2008 last year as a reason why people weren't rushing out to buy replica shirts from its shops, and with England's future looking decidedly unpredictable, JJB may have to take further economic problems squarely on the chin. Wigan fans - keep your fingers crossed that Fabio can pull some more results out of the bag like the one last Wednesday… SPAOTP Survival Rating: 5/10
20.00 Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa, Premier League, Setanta Sports 1 Spurs' first win of the season isn't too far away. It might not be tonight though. Should be a good contest between two well-matched sides.
Tuesday 16 September
19.45 Chelsea v Bordeaux, UEFA Champions League Group A, ITV4 A first chance for most viewers to see Laurent Blanc's Bordeaux variety which is said to be entertaining and non-uncompromising-centre-half like. No doubt the pundits will predict a win for Chelsea and on this occasion they're probably right.
19.45 Roma v CFR Cluj-Napoca, UEFA Champions League Group A, Sky Sports Interactive Having guided his team to their first ever appearance in the group stages, the Cluj head coach Ioan Andone was sacked after a poor start to the domestic season. This has angered the football gods who have decreed that Roma give them an utter pasting on Tuesday. It shall be so.
19.45 Panathinaikos v Inter Milan, UEFA Champions League Group B, Sky Sports Xtra & HD3 Its been an easy-ozy start to the the season for Inter and the Greeks will reckon Jose's fancy-dans won't like it up 'em. Expect a suitably fawning interview with the Special One from Sky after the game with Richard Keys saying 'Never a dull moment with Jose Mourinho around...' to a disinterested Graeme Souness.
19.45 Werder Bremen v Anorthosis Famagusta, UEFA Champions League Group B, Sky Sports Interactive Bremen's unsteady start to the Bundesliga season was made a little more steady by the thrashing of Energie Cottbus at the weekend. There is a whiff of 'we're just happy to be here...' about Famagusta. However, the conquerors of Olympiacos will fancy their chances against the Germans and will be given plenty of them too.
19.45 Barcelona v Sporting Lisbon, UEFA Champions League Group C, Sky Sports 2 & HD2 A nice blend of styles between these two great European teams and a good antidote to the English stuff on ITV.
19.45 Basle v Shakhtar Donetsk, UEFA Champions League Group C, Sky Sports Interactive After nine games, Basle are five points clear at the top of the Swiss Super League. Shakhtar have not had such a great start and are languishing in 11th in their domestic league. In truth, there is not much to whet the appetite of the neutral unless you like being alternative down the pub. 'Er no actually I watched FC Baal play Donyetsk. It was one of the best nil-nils I've ever seen..."
19.45 Marseille v Liverpool, UEFA Champions League Group D, ITV1 & HD Marseille have got themselves together and could have a go at the French League this season. They'd have loved to be playing the Liverpool that narrowly beat Liege the other week. Unfortunately, they are more likely to be playing the Liverpool that beat Manchester United on Saturday.
19.45 PSV v Atletico Madrid, UEFA Champions League Group D, Sky Sports Interactive Two really good teams here. Atletico's return to the Champions League after an 11-year absence pits them against serial qualifiers PSV. Should be a cracker.
Wednesday 17 September
19.45 Celtic v Aalborg, UEFA Champions League Group E, Sky Sports Xtra Aalborg will need to rely heavily on manager Bruce Rioch's knowledge of the British game if they're to get anything from Parkhead, a place where only Barcelona have won in the Champions League.
19.45 Manchester Utd v Villarreal, UEFA Champions League Group E, Sky Sports 2 & HD2 Good to see Villareal back at the top table. Just the sort of team to stick it to the champions as well. Not at Old Trafford though.
19.45 Lyon v Fiorentina, UEFA Champions League Group F, Sky Sports Interactive Another former Champs League absentee is back after their travails with the bankers and the crooks. The best thing about La Viola's return to the big time is that the much maligned former Milan striker Gillardino will most likely be playing while his old comrades are reduced to playing in the UEFA Cup. Stitch that, Berlusconi.
19.45 Steaua Bucuresti v Bayern Munich, UEFA Champions League Group F, Sky Sports Interactive Possible upset on the cards. Steaua are in good touch and Klinsie's open, attacking, relaxed attitude to defending brand of football may not hold much water in Bucharest, not without Ribery at any rate.
19.45 Dynamo Kiev v Arsenal, UEFA Champions League Group G, Sky Sports 3 & HD3 Kiev has not proved the happiest of hunting grounds for The Gunners. No doubt Comrade Wenger will be happy to come home with a point and a clean bill of health.
19.45 FC Porto v Fenerbahce, UEFA Champions League Group G, Sky Sports Interactive Porto could easily have been kicked out of the competition for cheating. As it is, they face a tricky opener against Luis Aragones's new team. Will the fat old racist be looking to make it a country and club double?
19.45 Juventus v Zenit St Petersburg, UEFA Champions League Group H, Sky Sports Interactive As long as Zenit don't allow the occasion to get to them, they are well capable of beating Juve. The Old Lady's best attackers (Del Piero & Trezuget) will probably start from the bench and Mellberg has not settled in at the back yet. Arshavin could tear them a new... well I don't think I need to draw a picture.
19.45 Real Madrid v BATE, UEFA Champions League Group H, Sky Sports Interactive 'I just told them to go out and enjoy themselves. I didn't mean go and lose 5-0'
Thursday 18 September
02.00 Palmeiras v Vasco, Copa Sudamericana, Setanta Sports 2 While the two teams have had vastly different fortunes in their domestic league, Vasco take a 3-1 first leg lead to Sao Paolo. The two teams are due to repeat this fixture in the League in three days time.
15.20 Litex Lovech v Aston Villa, UEFA Cup 1st Round 1st Leg, Five Conveniently for Five, the three games they wanted to cover don't appear to overlap. Convenient for them, that is - not for anyone who works normal office hours.
18.00 AS Nancy v Motherwell, UEFA Cup 1st Round 1st Leg, BBC2 Scotland Nancy have had an indifferent start to their domestic campaign but are tough to beat on their own turf, having lost only once in all competitions in the last year. Motherwell's season has started even worse though. They'll be happy with a draw and will probably play for it.
18.00 Omonia Nicosia v Manchester City, UEFA Cup 1st Round 1st Leg, Sky1 & HD Omonia knocked out AEK Athens to get here, a result which probably puts their 12 points in next year's Eurovision seriously in jeopardy. They'll put up a solid show against City... it's got 0-0 written all over this.
18.00 Portsmouth v Vitoria Guimaraes, UEFA Cup 1st Round 1st Leg, Five Vitoria's last encounter with a Premier League team was a 1-1 draw with Bolton three years ago. They've been relegated and promoted since then so you shouldn't read too much into it. Don't know why I mentioned it really. Another dour UEFA Cup first leg.
20.05 Everton v Standard Liege, UEFA Cup 1st Round 1st Leg, Five Visiting the city of Liverpool for the second time in a month, Liege will feel they still have something to prove. The importance for Everton to put on a good showing here will not be lost on David Moyes and his players.
20.10 Tottenham Hotspur v Wisla Krakow, UEFA Cup 1st Round 1st Leg, Setanta Sports 1 Knowing Tottenham, they'll probably cruise the first hour of this and take a two goal lead - only to concede one late on setting up a tricky away leg.
This week, we at Some People Are On The Pitch have been focusing heavily on the recent World Cup 2010 qualifiers. That's all well and good, but we've always prided ourselves on our ability to bring you a running buffet of stuff across the football spectrum.
To prove our point, we'd like to bring to your attention today's First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup (sponsored by E.On).
The preliminary rounds are out of the way and here begins the run-in to the First Round Proper when the League 1 and League 2 clubs join in.
Today there are a few notable ties you might want to keep an eye on. Remember Sutton United? You know, the Sutton United that knocked out Coventry City in the Third Round in 1989. Well they're at home to Cray Wanderers and are aiming to reach the First Round proper again this season. They've started well in their first few games, so a win could well be on the cards down at the Borough Sports Ground today.
There's a top-v-bottom clash at the Middlesex Stadium as Ryman League Division One North leaders East Thurrock take on Hillingdon Borough in their own back yard. Though the home side will be considered the underdogs, they'll feel they have a chance to pull off a surprise as East Thurrock have conceded five goals in their last two games.
Finally, the Police will be out in force today in East Molesey. They're not expecting any crowd trouble - they'll actually be playing. Yes, the Metropolitan Police take on Corby Town this afternoon, hoping to reach the First Round proper for only the fourth time in their 89-year history.
It's been fifteen years since they last got through the qualifiers, Crawley Town putting an end to that run. This season, they're unbeaten in six Ryman League Division One South fixtures but that form will be put to the test by Corby who are currently second in the British Gas Business Premier Division. If you're heading down to Imber Court this afternoon, expect an arresting 90 minutes of action to ensue...
Once again, ITV.com and ITVLocal.com are doing a sterling job of covering as much of the action as possible today. Here's a list of the matches they'll be covering in your part of the UK:
ITV.com Sutton United V Cray Wanderers Stewarts & Lloyds (Corby) v Croydon Athletic
Anglia Cambridge City v Lowestoft
Border: Aston United v Kendal Town (provisional/tbc)
Granada: Buxton v Bootle
West: Truro City v Yate
Central: Hednesford v Atherstone
London: Thamesmead v Great Wakering Rovers
Tyne Tees: Ashington v Durham
Yorkshire: Garforth Town v Ossett Town
Meridian: Fleet Town v Cowes
Wales: Poole Town v Merthyr Tydfil
Failing that, why not get along to your local match in person? Full details of all the fixtures can be found on the FA.com website.
You never quite know how a returning hero will be greeted in football. I remember when Ian Wright was sold from Palace to Arsenal he got a right earful from the fans. He replied by scoring the goals that got The Eagles relegated and celebrated as though he'd won the World Cup.
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