To the delight of pretty much every Manchester City supporter, the Blues returned to action on Saturday to bring an end to international break tedium - and did so in winning fashion.
A 2-0 win at Burnley returned City to the top of the Premier League table after Liverpool had leapfrogged them earlier in the day, perfectly setting up the pair's meeting next weekend as a potential title decider.
As we all know, supporting City doesn't begin and end on the referee's whistle; during the past City-less fortnight, fans have been chatting about the club online just as much as normal.
READ MORE: 'Cheat code' - Man City fans predict Kevin de Bruyne 'three-peat' after stunning goal vs Burnley
On the Bluemoon forum, one recent topic of conversation has been 'unpopular City opinions'. Some of the claims certainly caught the eye, so I decided to give my take on the burning issues of the moment.
'We don't need to sign a left-back but we need a backup for Kyle Walker.'
This is an unpopular opinion I wholeheartedly agree with. For what feels like the past 10 years, City fans and pundits have identified a new left-back as a transfer priority, but non (or at least a competent one) have arrived.
This season Joao Cancelo has been brilliant on the left, while Oleksandr Zinchenko - who was superb last season - has shown that he can be a good backup. If Pep Guardiola wants to avoid shifting Cancelo out of his usual role whenever Kyle Walker can't play or is rested, then City could consider bringing in a backup right-back.
'We paid well over the odds for Jack Grealish and he was an unnecessary signing.'
While I agree that £100m was probably a bit steep for Jack Grealish - although that was the release clause in his contract so negotiating downwards wasn't an option - I don't think that he was an unnecessary signing.
Playing for the entire season without a striker has forced City's game to become even more about possession and control than it was last season, both things that the England star excels at. Grealish has a lot to improve upon, but I've no doubt we'll see him at his very best over the next few years.
'Chicken balti pies are c**p!'
To be fair, it depends what you're in the mood for, but such a blanket statement is frankly ludicrous. Pies are great, chicken balti curry is great - what's not to like?
The only thing missing is Cobra on draft on the concourse, but you can't have everything.
'We are a better side without Kevin De Bruyne.'
I can understand where this person is coming from, but it really depends on the type of opponent City are up against. In some of the recent games in which City have struggled against quick, counter-attacking teams - Tottenham and Everton spring to mind - De Bruyne has started in the midfield three.
That has left City a little short by way of defensive cover, as opposed to when worker bee Bernardo Silva starts. By contrast, City - and De Bruyne - were brilliant in recent wins against Manchester United and Burnley when they enjoyed the majority of possession.
De Bruyne is one of the best players to ever play for City, so to suggest that City are better without him is a bit drastic. However, there are games where his weaknesses are exposed.
'Stuart Pearce's decision to stick David James up front was spot on and, most importantly, it worked.'
One of the most bizarre and controversial moments in modern City history came in 2005 when then-City boss Stuart Pearce c hucked former England number one David James up front to try and grab a late goal.
City were playing Middlesbrough at home on the final day of the 2004/05 season, in what was effectively a play-off for UEFA Cup qualification.
With the score locked at 1-1 and City needing a win, Pearce brought James out of goal and stuck him up front, despite having striker Jon Macken on the bench. In fairness, it almost worked; James' movement in the area earned City a late penalty, but Robbie Fowler saw his kick saved by Mark Schwarzer.
'Yaya Toure is our most rose-tinted glasses player.'
Nope, nope, nope. Yes, Toure could be frustrating at times, particularly in the Champions League. City's early years in the competition were characterised by the Blues getting ripped apart in midfield, with Toure often looking slow and lazy.
But was that actually the case, or were Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini naive for playing Toure - a famously non-defensive midfielder - in two-man midfields against the best sides in Europe?
Without Toure, City would not have won the FA Cup in 2011 and quite possibly the Premier League titles of 2012 and 2014. Watching Toure power away from helpless defenders and curl worldies in from all angles were sights to behold. If my glasses are rose-tinted then so be it.
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