Former Bristol City striker Tony Thorpe knows everything about building a rapport with strike partners.
Admittedly, he had a lucky escape being sent out on loan to Luton when Tony Pulis was in the Robins dugout but Thorpe knew where the back of the net was at Ashton Gate.
The 48-year-old scored 61 goals for the club in 150 matches having played alongside the likes of Ade Akinbiyi, Steve Torpey, Peter Beadle and Lee Peacock. Now he's just happy to sit back and watch Nigel Pearson's frontline continue to carve their opponents apart.
City have scored 16 goals in their opening eight matches and only Manchester City can better that record across the 92 clubs in England's top four divisions. Tommy Conway's brilliant breakthrough in the early part of the season has given City's attack another dimension but it's Nahki Wells who has stood out for Thorpe.
"It's a great return, I'm over the moon with their start," he told Bristol Live. "What's interesting is that they look like they can score goals but they've obviously conceded a few this year.
"That's something Nigel (Pearson) has to work on but going forward they look a massive threat and it's quite refreshing that Nahki Wells is starting to hit form because obviously, he was in and out of last year and barely played. He's had more faith in him this year and he's repaying him with goals.
"Strikers breed on confidence and I think Nahki has been out of the team for that long, it's nice for him to get three or four games under his belt and it's reaping rewards because he's scoring and City are winning.
"That partnership alongside Weimann and Conway is hitting off and let's hope that continues between now and the end of the season. To find that striking partnership is never easy but they seem like they're working.
"I love to see the youngsters breaking into the team and Conway's involved in that. Nigel has to find the balance between playing them."
There's no doubt optimism around BS3 is at its highest it has been for a long time, something Pearson will be sure to manage over the next couple of months with his small squad. Wells' impact with four goals in five starts and Conway's breakthrough have felt like new signings while Antoine Semenyo has instantly made up for lost time following his shin injury over pre-season.
Andi Weimann is also showing no signs of slowing down with seven goal involvements but away from their attacking quality, City's strikers are defending from the front and it's helping to create a really entertaining brand of football.
"Nigel's teams are on the front foot and they are going after their opposition. It's refreshing to see City playing two up top and getting at teams." Thorpe added. "City fans have always loved that even if they've been beaten. As long as they're having a go and being offensive and let's face it, this division this year is so tough. You couldn't call it who's going to be up there.
"Keeping Semenyo is key and it's important they keep their players now because they need a good squad to see them through to the Christmas period because they'll need to kick on again."
Thorpe, who is a member of the City Former Players Association, didn't quite hit the season tally of Weimann last season. His 19 league goals in the 2000/01 campaign, where the Robins finished ninth in Division Two, was three shy of the Austrian's career-best in a side that featured the likes of Brian Tinnion, Louis Carey and Scott Murray.
The game has evolved dramatically in those 20 years. It's rare to see the old-school big striker partnering the little forward these days but Thorpe only has fond memories of playing alongside Peacock in particular.
He added: "I started off with Ade Akinbiyi and Steve Torpey, and ended up with Lee Peacock and played with Beadle so I had a few there. I'd probably say I hit it off best with Lee.
"It was the big striker, small striker partnership. I wasn't big, strong or quick so it was that blend. Weimann has great movement and Wells has the pace to stretch teams.
"Working with Peacock in the past helped me because he could get across the grass and I could do the little runs further up the pitch but it is important to have those relationships.
."I always liked playing upfront with a big strong centre forward but the game has moved on. It's more intricate in the final third.
"When I played, it was back to front very quickly. Luckily for me, I didn't play under Tony Pulis much but I've had 25 managers in my career and I'd like to think that 80 per cent of them played the way I like to play, with great movement and threaded balls into the strikers."
City have three more games before the international break starting with a home game against Preston before two tough tests away at promotion hopefuls Norwich and Burnley. Thorpe will be in attendance at Ashton Gate on Saturday and perhaps his prediction epitomises the confidence around BS3 at the moment.
"I would fully expect us to get three points - I'd be disappointed if they didn't. City will go and hurt teams away from home with their pace but they have to go out and get as many wins as possible at home because that's where the points are.
"It's early doors so I won't get too carried away but I hope I'm not a bad omen because I was at the Sunderland game and we lost and they've been on a big run since then."
To find out more about the Former Players Association and to get involved, please contact City supporter and author Neil Palmer on n_palmer62@hotmail.co.uk or call 07913267859.
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