Cardiff City are eight games into their Championship campaign and heading into the international break on a positive note after picking up a win in their last outing. So how have the players been performing since the season kicked off?
The Bluebirds have had a mixed start to life back in the second tier, but there are already some clear standout performers and a couple of players who have made themselves virtually impossible to leave out of the starting eleven.
In goal, the goalkeeper has been solid without being spectacular, doing the basics well and commanding his area with confidence. He gets a respectable seven out of ten for his efforts so far.
At the back, Cardiff have looked more organised than they did towards the end of last season, with the defensive unit starting to build some real understanding. One centre-back in particular has been a rock, winning headers, making crucial blocks and rarely putting a foot wrong. He is pushing hard for the undroppable tag.
In midfield, the engine room has been a real positive. The work rate has been high and the press has been effective on the better days. One midfielder has covered more ground than almost anyone else in the squad and his energy has been infectious. When Cardiff have looked good, he has usually been right in the middle of it.
But the real talking point has been one of the new summer signings. From the moment he pulled on the blue shirt, it was obvious this was a player with real quality. His technical ability stands out at Championship level and he has already contributed directly to goals. The fans have taken to him immediately and it is not hard to see why. If Cardiff are going to push for something this season, he looks like he could be the difference maker.
Out wide, the picture is a bit more mixed. There have been flashes of brilliance but also some inconsistency, which is perhaps not surprising given how demanding the Championship is week in, week out. A couple of the wide players will be looking to kick on after the break and nail down their spots.
Up front, the striker has had moments but has also been starved of service at times. When the ball has come to him in good areas he has looked dangerous, but there have been too many games where he has been isolated. Getting him more involved will be a priority going forward.
Overall, Cardiff have shown enough in these opening eight games to suggest they are a much better side than the one that struggled last season. The win before the international break was important for confidence, and the squad will be hoping to build on that momentum when the action resumes.
The manager will use the break to work on the training ground and iron out some of the issues that have crept in. There are areas that still need attention, particularly in terms of creativity and turning good spells of play into actual goals. But the foundations are there.
With a new signing already looking sensational and at least one player who has made himself undroppable, there is genuine reason for optimism among the Cardiff faithful. The Championship is a brutal division and every point matters, but right now the mood around the club feels a lot better than it has done for some time.
The international break gives everyone a chance to reset, recover from knocks and come back fresh. If Cardiff can carry that winning feeling into their next fixture, the second half of the early season run of games could look very different indeed.