Man City opened up their Premier League campaign with a last-gasp victory at home to Bournemouth. There were many who questioned Enzo Maresca's first EPL starting XI and Marc Guehi in midfield was certainly a surprise. While Guehi was magnificent in that role, the signing of Ayyoub Bouaddi surely sees the England man slot back into the centre of defence.
In place of who, though? Ruben Dias is captain and unlikely to be dropped. Do City move Gvardiol back out to left back? What about Nico O' Reilly?
It's clear from the off that it's going to be difficult to predict who, and how, Enzo Maresca will play. In my mind, there's two players who will start every game they're fit for - goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and superstar striker Erling Haaland.
Aside from these two, it's difficult to predict who will start. At the back, City started with Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol, but the aforementioned Guehi has to surely start. Gvardiol to left back, but where does O' Reilly fit in? Potentially as part of the midfield three? Potentially as a left winger? It's tough to see where he'll fit in.
I'm going to go against the grain here. Look, I love Ruben Dias but for me City's best centre back pairing is Guehi and Gvardiol, with O' Reilly as our attacking left-back.
At right back it seems a straight choice between Matheus Nunes and Abdukodir Khusanov. Both will get plenty of game time this year. Khusanov takes it for me, but Nunes certainly has a part to play as the season progresses.
Onto midfield. City have lost a huge amount of quality and experience in that midfield area. Bernardo Silva and Rodri have left, Tijjani Reijnders has moved on and it's looking likely that Nico Gonzalez will also follow them out the door. Mateo Kovacic is an option, but going forward that midfield pair is likely to be Ayyoub Bouaddi and fellow new boy Elliot Anderson.
Out wide, Jeremy Doku on the left and Antoine Semenyo on the right are my choices. Phil Foden started on the right in City's EPL opener, but we don't see the best of Foden in that position in my opinion.
So, this is where it gets difficult. If there's two in midfield, two on either wing and Haaland up front, there's one spot left - the number 10 role. Who gets it? At this moment in time, it has to be Rayan Cherki.
City have two of the best number 10s in world soccer right now. Foden is more versatile, but just look at what Cherki can do. Grabbing two assists to win the game for the Blues after coming on as a sub against Bournemouth, his inventiveness, his creativity, Cherki could become an incredibly special player for seasons to come.
Both will have plenty of game time this season. I absolutely adore the Stockport Iniesta but if I could only choose one? It's Rayan Cherki.
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