'Control' has been the name of the game for Manchester City in recent times, but during the opening 30 minutes of Saturday's 1-1 draw with Southampton, Pep Guardiola's side had anything but.
The current version of Guardiola's City is arguably the most complete we've seen during his time at the club, a team that, while not always in free-scoring mood, likes to smother its opponents and starve them of possession. When things are under control, the opponent has less chance to do any damage.
Yet, even to the untrained eye, there was something different about the opening stages of the game at St Mary's. Everything seemed to be happening at 100mph, with both sides trading blows as if their lives depended on it.
City recovered and were able to control proceedings from the 35th minute onwards, but by then the hosts had already scored the goal that allowed them to sit back and challenge City to find a way through.
Ilkay Gundogan sat and watched events unfold from the bench, and probably felt that he could have offered a calming and controlled presence in the first half that City clearly lacked.
The Germany international has been a key figure for City this season, although not in the goalscoring way he was last term. Rather than focusing on making late Frank Lampard-esque runs into the penalty area, the 31-year-old has acted as City's metronome, dictating the rhythm of his side's game through his perfectly timed passes and ability to keep hold of the ball.
Whether due to a shift in tactics or simply the need to fit a rejuvenated Kevin De Bruyne into his team, Guardiola has been reluctant to use Gundogan in recent times. After forming a perfectly balanced midfield trio with Rodri and Bernardo Silva, he has started just one of City's last seven Premier League games, that being the 6-3 Boxing Day win against Leicester.
On more than one occasion this season Pep has stressed the importance of keeping the ball and patient build-up, largely because he says City do not have the players to cope with transitions.
After City beat Chelsea 1-0 last weekend, Guardiola said that De Bruyne can struggle against compact defences that sit deep and, as he showed with his match-winning goal, is better in transitions.
Gundogan on the other hand is less dynamic and adventurous, a midfielder less likely to try and force the game when openings are scarce.
It is perhaps telling that Guardiola has left the German out of his side for three tricky encounters against teams that counter-attack on the transitions.
Against Arsenal, Chelsea and Southampton there were moments where City looked a little ragged, an orchestra trying to function without its composer.
Over the three games, Gundogan played a total of 32 minutes, yet City still came through with seven points. With so many incredible attackers at his disposal, it is possible that Guardiola is trying to make his team a little more aggressive going forward, even if that means sacrificing a little midfield serenity.
It may be that Pep is preparing his team for the arrival of a striker in the summer, a squad addition that would surely necessitate a more direct approach.
Whatever the reason for Gundogan's recent absences, the end-to-end opening period at Southampton will have reminded Guardiola of his importance.
City can still play very well without their midfield metronome, but their performances will likely be to a slightly different beat.
Would you like to see Gundogan come back into the side? Follow our City Is Ours writer Alex Brotherton on Twitter to get involved in the discussion and give us your thoughts in the comments section below.
