AS JAY Simpson, Jack Hobbs and Corry Evans have learned the hard way this summer, Steve Bruce is not the sentimental type.
The promotion-winning trio, who together racked up almost 100 appearances last season, have ruthlessly been cut adrift one by one before the dawn of City's Premier League return. Now another old favourite could be living on borrowed time.
The 3-5-2 formation used in all but five of the Tigers' 46 league games last term is ominously under threat.
Despite being favoured to start the opening five friendlies of pre-season, the wing-back shape has been conspicuous by its absence in the last week.
Reverting to a flat back four for the 1-0 win at Peterborough United seven days ago, Bruce again chose to shy away from his more trusted formula to deliver another 1-0 victory at Dynamo Dresden.
The scoreline was pleasing enough at a sweltering Glucksgas Stadion on Saturday afternoon, but it was the performance within a 4-3-3 that has have given Bruce plenty to consider.
City were excellent in the first of their two-game German tour. Where the 3-5-2 system had become safe but predictable for spells of 2013, a telling alteration is ready to inject vigour and invention back into the Tigers' attacking game.
With Sone Aluko and Robbie Brady pushed on in support of new boy Yannick Sagbo, a three-man front line was fluid and dangerous. Dresden, at times, were powerless to contain City and the only goal of the contest endorsed the new-look system admirably.
Once Aluko was allowed time to turn when collecting Robert Koren's short pass in the middle of the Dresden half, a crisp curling pass into the stride of Sagbo tore open the hosts. A deft first touch and confident finish was a delight for Bruce to behold.
Dresden, of course, are no Chelsea, but City's stylish efforts are sure to leave Bruce contemplating a tactical shift for the opening weekend.
"We're looking at one or two things," said Bruce. "It's the ideal time with pre-season to have a look at what we've got and what we can go with.
"We went with three at the back last year because we knew we had to win 25 games.
"I don't think we're going to win that many this year so we have to make sure we're the best team in the league without the ball.
"We're playing against the biggest clubs in Europe and the things you need are discipline, shape and organisation. We've got to be difficult to beat or we'll not survive.
"We predominantly played three at the back last season but there's all sorts of stuff we can play. We'll need to be adaptable."
City are certainly that. The versatility of Brady and Ahmed Elmohamady, last season's impressive wing-backs, gives Bruce options to shift from one shape to another. No one system will prevail this season but the 4-3-3 may well be the starting point at Stamford Bridge.
"I haven't got (the starting XI) in my mind really," added Bruce. "I've still got two weeks to choose from and we'll see.
"I've still got an open mind. A lot can happen in two weeks, you could pick up two injuries, so we'll keep having a good look at it."
Saturday's victory undoubtedly provided more ticks than crosses on Bruce's report card and the newest addition to his ranks led the way with the only goal after 14 minutes.
Sagbo, a burly yet mobile centre-forward, showed flashes of his potential and an immediate understanding with Aluko. It will need more to justify his price-tag but Saturday's goal will help to ease any tension that strangled the life out of Nick Proschwitz 12 months ago.
Behind the Tigers' attack a midfield triangle of David Meyler, Stephen Quinn and Koren impressed with ball retention and work off the ball. The back four, as a result, were often able to play in the middle gears.
Bruce said: "The first half we were excellent. I'm not just pleased about the result but how we played in difficult conditions against a good team. It was never going to be easy but we did well. It's not easy playing in that heat. It was important to play the right way."
City ought to have won by more. Koren twice worked the goalkeeper from the edge of the box during the first half, while substitutes Danny Graham and Proschwitz also produced sharp efforts after the break.
There was still opportunity for Allan McGregor to provide late heroics. A left wing corner was headed goalbound by Marco Hartmann but superbly tipped around the post by City's otherwise inactive keeper. A few of those would not go amiss at Stamford Bridge.
For the small pocket of travelling fans housed in the corner of the Glucksgas Stadion – already immortalised as the Dresden 38 – it was a trip to live long in the memory.
There was applause from Bruce and his side long after the final whistle after a performance the equal of any witnessed during pre-seasons past. The flights and hotels will have taken a heavy toll on the resources but admission, a programme and a pint still saw change from a 10-Euro note. Dynamo Dresden, you suspect, can suddenly call upon 38 new followers.
Yannick Sagbo: A deadly first touch and a calm finish Hull City's new signing needed less than 14 minutes to do what has proved beyond so many of his team-mates this pre-season. Hanging on the shoulder of his centre-half with intent, Yannick Sagbo curved his run to perfection to latch on to Sone Aluko's threaded pass. Then came a deadly first touch and a calm left-foot finish past the onrushing Dynamo Dresden goalkeeper Benjamin Kirsten. It was a goal as beautifully crafted as the city it graced. The debut goal was the icing on a satisfying cake for Sagbo. Playing as the central figure of three forwards in a 4-3-3 shape, the 25-year-old showcased his qualities in a clever performance. As Steve Bruce has made a habit of explaining, the striker is one who likes to "get in behind." That willingness to make defenders turn gave Dresden problems for much of the contest. Only a couple of scrambling tackles prevented further ammunition ending at his feet in the same way Aluko had managed. Sagbo also offers strength with opponents on his back. Both Robbie Brady and Aluko benefitted from his hold-up play with their own advances out wide. The first raft of substitutions saw Sagbo shifted to the right in support of Danny Graham after the break. Although less effective in that short period, it showed his game is adaptable. Sagbo's afternoon was curtailed after 62 minutes when replaced by Nick Proschwitz but he had already made his point to Bruce. Ready and able.