Arsenal
Some are calling us the "new Stoke City" because of our reliance on set pieces, but with Martin Ødegaard orchestrating our attack, we're a far cry from Tony Pulis's style. His brilliance was on full display in our 5-1 thrashing of Sporting. While there have been frustrating slip-ups in the title race, it's hard to complain when we're still competing on all fronts and playing such exciting football.
Happy with the manager? We're quickly learning to trust Mikel Arteta's judgment. David Raya's arrival has silenced the doubters, and his faith in Jesus and Martinelli, despite their struggles, seems to be paying off.
We will finish... It's tough to say with so much football left to play. Liverpool look strong, so I'll cautiously predict 2nd place.
What we need in January... Set-piece coach Nicolas Jover deserves a statue, but his success might be masking our attacking weaknesses. With Saka injured, we need Gabriel Jesus to maintain his form or sign a striker like Cunha, Vlahovic, or even Rashford.
Funniest moment of 2024... Watching Tottenham's chaotic defense under Ange Postecoglou has been a constant source of amusement.
Aston Villa
Reaching the festive period in the top six of both the Premier League and our Champions League group was a great achievement, especially considering our inconsistent form. Adapting to European football and evolving our playing style has been challenging, but the potential is there. Our victory against Bayern Munich will live long in the memory, and the entire campaign has left us wanting more. Durán has been unpredictable, Tielemans and Rogers have been excellent, and Onana shows great promise.
Happy with the manager? The fans adore Unai Emery, and the feeling seems mutual. Despite occasional setbacks, his "work harder" ethos is clearly embraced by the players.
We will finish... 5th, hopefully high enough to secure another Champions League spot.
What we need in January... I trust our recruitment team. Signing Morgan Rogers for under £20m was a masterstroke.
Funniest moment of 2024? The club's decision to charge over £90 for European games at Villa Park was a joke.
Bournemouth
Phenomenal. We're in our highest-ever league position, with more points than ever at this stage. We've beaten Arsenal, City, Tottenham, and United (away, 3-0 for the second consecutive season). We've also pulled off two incredible comebacks, beating Everton 3-2 and Ipswich 2-1 after being behind in the 86th minute. These are exciting times, and we can't wait for the rest of the season.
Happy with the manager? Absolutely. Andoni Iraola promised exciting football, and he's delivered. The team is well-drilled, fit, and fearless. We could be even higher in the table if we were more clinical in front of goal.
We will finish... I initially predicted 8th and was criticized for being too optimistic. Now, I'm aiming for 5th.
What we need in January... We need cover at left-back for Kerkez. Julio Soler, Fran García, or even Arsenal's Zinchenko would be good options.
Funniest moment in 2024? During our 3-1 win over Southampton, the announcer revealed that the 11:15 pm train back to Southampton had been canceled, leaving their fans stranded.
Brentford
This season has been a rollercoaster. We've had some thrilling, high-scoring games, and our home form has been fantastic. However, our away form is abysmal, with only two points earned on the road. The 5-3, 4-1, 3-2, and 4-3 wins have been entertaining, but it remains to be seen if we can maintain this with tough away fixtures looming.
Happy with the manager? Thomas Frank is gaining recognition for his exceptional work. He's a great motivator and tactician who has consistently improved players. I worry that a bigger club might try to poach him.
We will finish... With Thiago, Pinnock, and Ayer injured, I think 12th would be a good result.
What we need in January... We desperately need a backup left-back with Rico Henry and Aaron Hickey still out injured. We could also use cover for Christian Nørgaard in defensive midfield.
Funniest moment in 2024 At a Premier League fan event in Nashville, I saw a guy wearing a Palace shirt. An hour later, he was wearing a Brentford shirt. When I asked him about it, he ripped off his Palace shirt and stamped on it, revealing a Brentford shirt underneath.
Brighton
Perhaps we were overly optimistic after a strong start, but we're performing well despite a series of draws reminiscent of the Potter era. Friday's frustrating 0-0 draw against Brentford emphasized the absence of our injured striker, Danny Welbeck. However, witnessing Solly March's return after 14 months was a joy, and our impressive young players continue to develop. Carlos Baleba, for instance, is a powerful and dynamic 20-year-old midfielder. Thankfully, Kaoru Mitoma has recovered, and Georginio Rutter has become a fan favorite. With Welbeck's return and a resurgence of the form we displayed in our comeback against Spurs, we'll be in excellent shape.
Happy with the manager? Fabian Hürzeler undoubtedly deserves more time, and I'm confident he'll get it. His honesty, passion, willingness to acknowledge errors, and dedication to continuous learning are refreshing.
We will finish... 6th, if we can maintain our leads.
What we need in January... With Lewis Dunk's declining pace, another defender is crucial. Olivier Boscagli, whose contract with PSV expires this summer, is reportedly a target who could bolster our defense. Perhaps we should have addressed this need last summer.
Funniest moment in 2024? The ecstatic reaction of Palace fans at the Amex after their first victory against us since 2021 was rather amusing. They resembled overjoyed children on Christmas morning.
Chelsea
So far, everything's going well. We're excelling in the league—the Fulham game was a minor setback—and remain undefeated in Europe. Cucurella, Caicedo, and Enzo Fernández are finally hitting their stride, Jackson continues to progress, and Palmer is lighting up the league. There's much to celebrate. The highlight has been our comeback from a two-goal deficit to defeat Spurs; it's always satisfying to put them in their place.
Happy with the manager? Many Chelsea fans, including myself, underestimated Enzo Maresca. He's been exceptional, managing a large squad effectively and keeping everyone content. He's provided opportunities for all players to shine, demonstrates tactical awareness, and readily adapts his approach when necessary. It's still early, but he's undoubtedly the right leader for the club.
We will finish... 3rd, challenging the title contenders. A return to the Champions League would be a welcome outcome.
What we need in January... We need another center-back—I'd welcome Marc Guéhi back—and a goalkeeper. Caoimhín Kelleher would be perfect; he deserves regular first-team football, but Liverpool likely won't release him mid-season.
Funniest moment of 2024? Palmer calmly observing the confrontation between Chelsea and Forest players at the end of the match was quintessential Palmer, a man who enjoys his "chippy" chips.
Crystal Palace
Conceding five goals to Arsenal before Christmas was disappointing, but it seemed like an anomaly. We've generally improved after a shaky start. Eze and Mateta returned from the Euros and Olympics exhausted, and Wharton was injured. Our late transfer activity meant new players had to catch up with Oli Glasner's system. However, we're now heading in the right direction. Max Lacroix has been a shrewd acquisition in defense, significantly improving upon Joachim Andersen. Ismaïla Sarr is fulfilling his potential, and Will Hughes has been outstanding. Eddie Nketiah and Daichi Kamada have faced challenges, though.
Happy with the manager? Absolutely, he's among the best we've had. Some fans initially had doubts about his flexibility, but his ability to develop players is evident. He's composed, possesses a clear vision, and inspires confidence.
We will finish... 10th.
What we need in January... We urgently need reliable wing-backs to cover for Muñoz and Mitchell. A skilled attacking midfielder to replace Michael Olise is also a priority.
Funniest moment of 2024? Jefferson Lerma imitating João Pedro's goal celebration after our victory against Brighton at the Amex – footballers have long memories!
Everton
The change in ownership after years of mismanagement under Moshiri was a welcome Christmas gift. If the goal is simply to avoid relegation, Dyche is meeting expectations. However, a starting lineup with nine internationals should aspire to greater achievements. The focus on defensive solidity has neutralized our attacking threat. Pickford's consistently excellent performances, the ageless Young, and Branthwaite's return to form are positive signs. Mangala adds stability and dynamism to midfield, and Ndiaye is exceptionally talented, as demonstrated by his goal against City.
Happy with the manager? No. His style of play is dreadful, and his lack of tactical adaptability is glaring in a league that increasingly favors fast, attacking, possession-based football. Our new owners will likely make a change.
We will finish... We'll avoid relegation, but that's a low bar. Expect more low-scoring draws as we barely scrape by, finishing 15th in our final season at Goodison Park.
What we need in January... Financial constraints limit our options. A goalscorer is a priority, but considering Dyche's tactics, who would want to join us?
Funniest moment in 2024? There hasn't been much to laugh about, except for Pickford's growing frustration with Dyche's substitutions, tactics, and game management.
Fulham
We've proven our ability to compete with the best, though the lackluster performance against Southampton at home was a harsh reminder of our inconsistencies. Hard-fought draws against Arsenal and Liverpool propelled us towards the top; a straightforward win against Southampton was our Christmas wish, but we faltered (despite the emergence of our new star, 17-year-old Josh). Then we triumphed over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Some might call it typical Fulham. I prefer "absolutely marvelous."
Happy with the manager? Yes, indeed. Marco is a genius, though not without flaws.
We will finish... In the top half, if injuries and suspensions don't derail us. So, 9th or higher.
What we need in January... An attacking midfielder is needed, particularly if Andreas Pereira returns to Brazil. Perhaps Richard Ríos could join us, or even Douglas Luiz from Juventus? While prolific strikers are scarce, Jonathan David (Lille) might be tempted, and Evan Ferguson from Brighton has been mentioned.
Funniest moment of 2024? Conceding late goals is agonizing, but it's exhilarating when it happens to the opposition. Arsenal thought they'd snatched a late victory, only for VAR to overturn it after a lengthy delay. The ensuing cheers from our fans were deafening. However, the highlight was our match against Brentford. With Brentford leading 1-0 in the 90th minute, Harry Wilson scored two brilliant goals, sending us into raptures. What a comeback! And in a derby, no less. It was incredibly funny... or perhaps just delirious joy, which resurfaced at Stamford Bridge.
Ipswich
We acknowledge that this Premier League season is challenging, especially with a squad still largely comprised of our League One heroes. Our two away wins are clear highlights. We hoped Kalvin Phillips would dominate midfield, but he's started few matches, raising concerns that we've acquired the Manchester City/West Ham version of him, not the Leeds/England version. We need him playing well in the second half of the season.
Happy with the manager? Absolutely. Kieran McKenna has earned immense admiration for his achievements in such a short time. He can do no wrong.
We will finish... Our initial goal remains 17th. Realistically, we might end up slightly lower.
What we need in January... A center-forward and a right-winger. Liam Delap's unexpected form has masked our attacking deficiencies. We failed to sign a striker in August; we might revisit our interest in Middlesbrough's Emmanuel Latte Lath.
Funniest moment of 2024? The altercation after our televised home game against Manchester United between our former manager Roy Keane and an Ipswich fan with a long memory and a grudge. Words were exchanged, and a meeting was arranged for further discussion. Apparently, only one party showed up.
