So far . . . ?

With another international break upon us and almost a third of the season gone, Blues will be taking stock of the season so far.

Probably the opinion down at Wast Hills is OK, but should have, and can do, better.

It's fair to say that in some games Blues have deserved more, in others they have learnt hard lessons and paid the price for not creating enough danger.

What cannot be questioned is the spirit and resolve, and the organisation.

Blues have not looked out of their depth, and there are encouraging signs that suggest good things to come.

Roger Johnson and Scott Dann, for example, are looking like excellent acquistions by the game. Christian Benitez has got that something about him and should improve with more experience of the Premier League.

Blues are - yes, honest - trying to become a less prosaic and a more progressive passing side.

And without question, the change in ownership has breathed new life into the club. It's no longer same old, same old, and a bit stale around the edges.

Carson Yeung, for all the legal rucks going on behind the scenes, still looks to be genuinely enjoying it. His and his group's enthusiasm remains refreshing.

Mind you, he seems to be carrying on the tradition of outlandish overcoats in the directors' box. What was that at Anfield? Had he skinned a Wookiee or something?

January and the transfer window is going to be a pivotal stage of Blues development under McLeish in the Yeung regime.

Quality, more speed and athleticism are all requirements needed to keep Blues on an upward curve in the desire to become a bona fide Premier League club.

But we can only look at the here and now, so let's see how Blues stack up compared to relevant years gone by.

Blues currently have 12 points from 12 games, and are in 15th place.

In the 2005-06 relegation season they were second from bottom with just six points from the same number of matches, and without a home win.

When Blues went down in 2007-08, they had 11 points after 12 games and were in 14th spot.

They had just lost at Everton and Steve Bruce was preparing for what would be his final game in charge, at home to Villa.

Before Alex McLeish came in, Blues form was nosediving: they lost seven out of eight matches in league and cup.

Presently Blues are on a reasonable keel, and should they get to 20 plus points by Christmas, then there is every cause for optimism.

Back to Anfield, and David Ngog. The shame for the kid is that a very dynamic performance that caused Blues no end of problems, which included a well-taken volleyed goal, will be remembered for his theatrics.

He didn't so much dive but hurdled over Lee Carsley's leg and then flung himself to the deck. Some gymnast.

Referee Peter Walton was well positioned too. I maintain he gave what he thought he should be giving, without taking into account what he actually saw.

Then we have Ngog's agent, a pillock called Bruno Satin.

He dragged up Martin Taylor's tackle on Eduardo, which anyone who isn't Arsene Wenger knows was not deliberate, nor malicious. Eduardo was too quick for Taylor, as was Ngog for Carsley, but Eduardo wasn't in the penalty area.

"He's a lad with very good education, correct and polite," said Satin. "He doesn't look for these things. He's never had a problem of this type before in his career.

"Maybe he fell down because he was worried about being injured. At times players make very hard challenges in England. They allow a lot of things to defenders in the Premier League. At times it's really on the limit.

"Sometimes there are challenges that can assassinate you. A defender could get five matches for throwing his shirt and the player who broke the leg of Eduardo only had a three-game suspension."

Throughout all of this poor old Cameron Jerome's goal of his career has been forgotten.

When Sky Sports went down to interview him at Wast Hills the next day predictably they were more interested in feeding the diving debate to fill the need for 'news' 24/7.

Maybe his celebratory dive should have been in the box.