Fan's eye view: club guide by those who know best

ARSENAL

Top of the class

Francesc Fabregas' distribution and composure are phenomenal for such a young player.

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Pascal Cygan is always being caught out. His pace and positioning are dreadful and many of the goals conceded have been his fault.

Matt Denver, lifelong Arsenal fan

ASTON VILLA

Top of the class

Lee Hendrie. He's maybe not the most popular player among Villa fans but he's done well on the pitch and he's scored some brilliant goals.

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No one's been terrible. With such a small squad it seems to be that everyone's plugging away.

Seth Alker, chairman, London Aston Villa Supporters' Club

BIRMINGHAM CITY

Top of the class

Two have stood out: Mario Melchiot and Julian Gray. Melchiot for his consistency, while Julian has performed well considering he was thrown straight in with little experience.

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Jesper Gronkjaer - his performance was nowhere near what the lad was capable of.

Barry Zimmerman, BCFC North-east Supporters' Club

BLACKBURN ROVERS

Top of the class

Paul Dickov. His work ethic is excellent and he never gives defenders a moment's peace.

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No one in particular, but we need to cut out mistakes which are costing us goals and finish more clinically.

Anthony Carter, Blackburn Rovers' Supporters' Association

BOLTON WANDERERS

Top of the class

Gary Speed, an inspirational signing.

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Hierro is great in midfield but too slow in the back four.

Tony Pearson, chairman, Bolton Wanderers Supporters' Association

CHARLTON ATHLETIC

Top of the class

Jerome Thomas. A £100,000 signing from Arsenal, Jerome has come into the team and guaranteed his name on the team-sheet with his attacking runs down the left.

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Mark Fish has been injured since September, and when playing was having a torrid time in the defence.

David Hall, website editor, addicksonline

CHELSEA

Top of the class

Arjen Robben and Damien Duff. As a duet they can terrorise any defence.

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What was Adrian Mutu thinking?

Rob Hobson, editor of CFCnet (www.cfcnet.co.uk)

CRYSTAL PALACE

Top of the class

Emmerson Boyce doesn't look out of place after his move from the Second Division to the Premiership.

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Sandor Torghelle. Must curb play-acting and diving into tackles.

Mark Gardiner, former chairman of Palace Independent Supporters' Association

EVERTON

Top of the class

Lee Carsley, even before the derby win. When he was suspended for three games following his League Cup sending-off against Preston, he was sorely missed.

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No one

Ian Critchley, Everton Supporters' Club - London area

FULHAM

Top of the class

Moritz Volz, with the two new boys Zesh Rehman and Liam Rosenior not far behind.

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Steed Malbranque must be disappointed by his current form, given how he usually plays, but I'm sure he will bounce back.

John Aitken, Fulham Supporters' Club press officer

LIVERPOOL

Top of the class

Jamie Carragher, without question. He might not have the armband, but he's our real captain.

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Josemi. When he's on the pitch, bad things tend to happen.

Dave Usher, editor of the Liverpool Way fanzine

MANCHESTER CITY

Top of the class

Shaun Wright-Phillips is at a much higher level than the team.

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Steve McManaman. Mysteriously picks up a vast salary with no guilt.

Mike Holden, editor of Chips and Gravy fanzine

MANCHESTER UNITED

Top of the class

Gabriel Heinze.

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Players have had off games but as a team we are underachieving.

Mark Longden, press officer for Independent Manchester United Supporters' Association

MIDDLESBROUGH

Top of the class

Stewart Downing has been most impressive.

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No one.

Stuart Bargewell, chairman of Middlesbrough Official Supporters' Club

NEWCASTLE UNITED

Top of the class

Jermaine Jenas has taken on a leading role this year.

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Titus Bramble. And Laurent Robert has showed glimpses but hasn't really provided the effort the Geordie public requires.

John Bradley, lifelong Newcastle fan

NORWICH CITY

Top of the class

Damien Francis. And Nigel Worthington has got on quietly with a difficult job when other managers in the lower half of the league have been sacked.

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Gary Holt.

Phil Harris, society secretary of Norwich City Supporters' Trust

PORTSMOUTH

Top of the class

Our captain, Arjan de Zeeuw. New manager Velimir Zajec, with Joe Jordan, will prove something to beat.

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I wouldn't like to say. But although young Gary O'Neill is playing OK he probably needs to make an improvement.

Nigel Treader, chairman of Portsmouth Supporters' Club

SOUTHAMPTON

Top of the class

Anders Svensson has had a few impressive games and Kevin Phillips has worked his socks off.

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Paul Telfer, but that hasn't changed from last season.

Andy Richards, chairman of the Northern Saints Supporters' Club

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Top of the class

Jermain Defoe. Paul Robinson not far behind.

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Up until recently, Frédéric Kanouté.

Wyart Lane, editor of My Eyes Have Seen The Glory website www.mehstg.com

WEST BROMWICH ALBION

Top of the class

Jonathan Greening has been a constant menace.

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Riccardo Scimeca. There are much better players waiting in the wings.

Neil Lee, chairman of the WBA Kent Supporters' Club