Alex B’s Friday piece – in which he looked at those who are here on loan and those City have sent out on loan – was a useful reminder of how many potential centre-back options Johannes Hoff Thorup has (or may have) going forward.

The dreaded international break – but also an ideal time to look at where we are as a club.

Time for me to nail my colours to the mast and risk looking silly.

Just when you’ve got used to the slog of three-match weeks… Just when every game is more important than the one before for the final finishing position… Then… THUD.

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it […].