At a certain point in the coming weeks there will be a definitive conclusion for the game of Manchester City Numbers, the comparison that is not balanced as it is and serious names that are missed on these types of days if nothing gives.
None of Rodri, Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol – three players who are integral to Pep Guardiola's plans for a renewed city – were mentioned in the team at Wolves by fitness issues. All three are certainties to make every matchday team when fit, so it made you to the bank and wonder who the unfortunate few can be in the future.
And that is a very difficult question to answer, especially when Nottingham Forest target white Rico Lewis and Oscar Bobb start on the opening day, combine fabulously on the right, plus a previously too many Nico Gonzalez who received the nod as the no. 6.
The road section sang about how 'City his back' when they witnessed Tijjani Reijnders, Molineux tore up on Premier League debut, open wolves for Erling Haaland's first, setting up the second of the Norwegian and scoring in between.
There may not have been many complete first outings in this division during his four decades, Reijners who prove the claim that he is the long -term replacement for Ilkay Gundogan. These moments, driving through midfield, improvising with scooped steps, fleeing Jose Sa with precision, are the Gundogan of yesteryear.
Reijnders was at the top of the Serie A -hit lists for wearing possession in dangerous areas last season – actually so far ahead of the competition that he was in his own competition – so it is quite clear why City separated by £ 46 million to land him from AC Milan.
The Dutchman operated deeper at the Club's World Cup, but collapsed in the box late or took two markings away with powerful dribbling, as evidenced by the opener, is more his bag.
The role of Reijnders is clearly defined and the victory in an emotional part of the West Midlands, which touches the late Diogo Jota, was proof of how ubiquitous he will be within this system.
The rest, from team selection to tactics, is perhaps less in accordance with what we can expect. The spirit and zeal with which the city operated was more in line with what Guardiola, and his new assistant Pep Libnders, wanted. Smooth the ball, aiming through the third parties. Less Stodgy, certainly.
But with the absence and Rayan Cherki and Omar Marmoush, only the starting XI does not replace what it ultimately looks like. Given the rout of four goals, good luck with choosing who has to be thrown away elsewhere before the end of the window. Ederson, omitted and officially 'unwell' in the midst of interest from Galatasaray, there may be one, but they look at Gianluigi Donnarumma to replace him. As it was, James Trafford noticed as calm and completed some nice rescues.
The rest? The city did not necessarily say answers to questions. The children, Bobb and Lewis, did more than everything and there must be a way to use two technically gifted Homegrown Academy products. The Lewis-eating back for the 26th minute of Haaland was accurate, his shift to deep midfield and the creation of a solid block seamlessly.
He knows the Guardiola exercise and helps to make the city while owning some bite – control a little gamesmanship, arguing with Jorgen Strand Larsen. His contribution spoke about someone who is still fighting to prove his value and that hunger can only be a good thing.
Bobb is another case that it is disappointing if City allowed his talent to let them pass by. He had the shirt at the start of last season before he broke his leg in training. A year of his development disappeared and now there is Cherki, Foden, possibly Rodrygo as Savinho leaves, to fight with.
The goal of Cherki, eight minutes in his league bow, suggests serious talent in tight spaces. The film to start with, the ride to the far corner of Sa. A sublime passage of the game.
Muscles in those names is a tough assignment, but Bobb has sufficient power. His pouncing on the misplaced pass by Emmanuel Aggbadou halfway, switched 40 meters to feed Reijnders while the city doubled their lead, indicated the value of the Norwegian. He sometimes had wolves defenders on strings, often in their own box.
His close touch control is as enchanting as everyone in this team. Ruben Dias used a late break in the game to congratulate Bobb on his evening.
Guardiola studied all this from the edge of his touchline and only withdrew once before sitting down. It felt until the naked eye that the city had more energy than last year and the statistics that stretched. During the break, the entire midfield had completed 6 km. That must be the result of the arrival of Libnders.
He seems contagious, the old no. 2 by Jurgen Klopp, and although players played training sessions that he comes up with, it was also noticeable that when everything was said and done, the city started the campaign perfectly, Libnders was looking for every member of the back cream staff with a broad grin. The style and essence is already there, even if the material is probably taking a slightly different form.