The English Premier League table is taking on a familiar shape, with the big four massing at the top of the table and most of this season's other European entrants filling the next zone in the table.
Surprise package Hull are the interlopers in the upper reaches of the table, splitting the big four in third place. Otherwise, however, the top 10 is little changed from last season, with the same teams that finished sixth to 10th in 2007-08 in those positions again at the moment, albeit in a slightly different order.
Top of that second tier of teams are Aston Villa, who are sixth (the same position in which they finished last season), followed by Portsmouth, West Ham, Blackburn and Manchester City. Usually we can only start to make hard-and-fast judgments about Premier League form once the 10-game mark has been reached, but even after eight games the signs are that there is going to be little movement between the two halves of the table.
Villa certainly look at least as strong as last season, and they appeal as the best bet on this weekend's Premier League programme when they visit Wigan. Villa won the equivalent fixture 2-1 last season and it is a surprise that they aren't favourites for tomorrow's match.
Wigan are making progress under Steve Bruce, but Villa continue on an upward curve under Martin O'Neill after adding strength in depth this summer to a vibrant set-up featuring some of England's best young talent.
Few teams outside the big four can match the speed and directness of England under-21s Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young, and it was always likely that they would be a particularly potent threat on the road once O'Neill had smoothed off the rough edges.