When Robinho joined Manchester City in a €42 million switch from Real Madrid, the club's supporters were in raptures at having a top-drawer talent that could lead into the upper echelons of the Premier League.
While the Brazilian superstar has flourished, the Sky Blues remain in the bottom half of the table. Indeed, only goal difference is keeping them above the relegation zone at the moment.
But that is not to say they haven't played some scintillating football, nor does it indicate that it has been a one-man show at Eastlands this term - quite the opposite, in fact.
Shaun Wright-Phillips rejoined his former club during the summer after enduring a fairly miserable stint at Chelsea, and he has picked up where he left off three years ago.
But the England winger revealed his delight at discovering that not everything was the same as he left it, particularly where a certain erratic Irishman was concerned.
"One of the best things about coming back to Manchester City has been the change in some of the guys that I left behind," Wright-Phillips told the Daily Mail.
"And the one who stands out is Stephen Ireland. He was always a talented player but he has changed so much as a person and has grown up so much. And look at him now."
Ireland's imperious form has seen him become a fixture under Mark Hughes, and has even cast doubt over the future Brazilian playmaker Elano and the highly rated Michael Johnson.
The 22-year-old midfielder has already netted eight goals this term, and Wright-Phillips went as far as to dub him City's most impressive performer.
He said: "We have people like Robinho in our team but Stephen has probably been our best player this season."
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