Is this current Manchester City side the greatest to have ever played in the Premier League?

It’s becoming increasingly difficult to argue against that particular opinion.

Not only do Pep Guardiola’s side look set to retain the title, but they’re also on course for a ridiculous 198 points over the two campaigns.

Unreal.

It certainly seems a long time ago that the same club were a Premier League club just looking to survive relegation most seasons.

But everything changed when Sheikh Mansour’s Abu Dhabi United Group completed their takeover of the club in September 2008.

Funded by United Arab Emirates money, City have spent more than £1.3 billion during Mansour’s reign.

That has seen the club be subject to an investigation from UEFA for alleged financial fair play violations.

But it’s easy to forget the club City were before the oil money.

Between 1996/97 season and the 2001/02 season, City spent just one year in the Premier League, finishing 18th and getting relegated.

But it was their 2006/07 campaign, just a matter of years before their takeover, that we’re looking at.

Twelve years ago, City finished 14th just four points above the relegation zone.

But that’s just the start.

Stuart Pearce was in charge and had a squad featuring the likes of Richard Dunne, Stephen Ireland and Darius Vassell.

They managed to score just 10 goals at home in the league - still a Premier League record low.

Incidentally, Huddersfield have scored nine goals at their John Smith's Stadium this season and face Manchester United in their final home game.

Back to City, though.

Sergio Aguero may have scored 20 goals this season in the league but City’s top domestic goalscorer that season was a certain Joey Barton with just seven.

Oh, and they were knocked out by Chesterfield in the League Cup.

It’s crazy to think about the journey the entire club have been on in the following 12 years.

If there are any young kids out there who don’t believe that there was once a time that City weren’t dominating the Premier League, just point them in the direction of the 2006/07 season when they were totally hopeless.