Usually by now it’s all settled with a similar pattern. Usually everybody at Manchester City knows where they stand and routines happen that you could set your watch to.
Vincent Kompany making coaches roll their eyes by miraculously recovering from constant injuries to feature in every game before trophy lifts; previously out-of-favour Nathan Ake becoming indispensable at full back; one big-name midfielder finding himself watching from the bench during the run-in.
Not now, not this year, and Pep Guardiola bringing back not one but three players at Southampton is evidence of that.