At the midpoint of the season it's time for supporters to put the boot in or hand out praise to Premier League players, managers and owners

ARSENAL – Bernard Azulay, GoonersDiary.blogspot.com

It feels like we're the pacemakers, with the genuine contenders complacently plodding alongside, knowing that we won't be able to live with the pace when they eventually put pedal to the metal.

Stars/flops? The star? Na-na, na-na, na‑na, na-na, Samir Nasri – who needs Cesc Fábregas? And Wojciech Szczesny has looked really good too. As for flops: Clichy and Cesc have under-performed, and Arshavin's increasing air of insouciance is more all for none, than one for all.

Happy with the gaffer? There's no one better: the club are safe in Le Gaffer's hands.

Who should he sign? You mean apart from the obvious – a keeper, a centre-back, a holding midfielder? Assuming AW's not about to replace the spine of his entire team, I'd settle for anyone with a bit of backbone ...

LATEST LINKS Eden Hazard (Lille, winger); Gary Cahill (Bolton, defender); Artjoms Rudnevs (Lech Poznan, striker); Luc Castaignos (Feyenoord, striker)

ASTON VILLA – Jonathan Pritchard, Observer reader

It's been terrible. O'Neill's painfully timed resignation left us under-prepared and we've never recovered. Personally I think mid-table mediocrity beckons, but worse pictures are easy to paint. Depressing.

Stars/flops? The stars: Downing has been excellent, Ashley Young may wear a snood but his work rate and vision remain exemplary and it's great to see Heskey back in form. Albrighton has done superbly too. As for flops: Carew is a joke, Ireland's appalling attitude may make him difficult to unload, and the back four have played like strangers.

Happy with the gaffer? Houllier's tenure has been extraordinary so far. He's on thin ice already and that's largely his own fault.

Who should he sign? It's a conundrum ... do you give a man the fans barely trust a big January kitty, or risk us struggling further?

LATEST LINKS Aiden McGeady (S Moscow, winger); Joey Barton (Newcastle, midfielder); Valentin Stocker (Basel, midfielder); Scott Loach (Watford, goalkeeper)

BIRMINGHAM CITY – Kym Ypres-Smith, SmallHeathAlliance.com

It's been a bit mixed so far. We've had some very good results (beating Chelsea) but also some really poor ones (losing to Wolves) and we're bobbing around above the drop zone. We're seriously lacking a cutting edge.

Stars/flops? At the back, Foster is proving a great investment and the usual quartet of Carr, Dann, Johnson and Ridgewell are solid. Ferguson and Gardner have also done well. As for flops: poor old Zigic. I really feel sorry for him – he's a decent player but needs balls to feet, which he doesn't always get.

Happy with the gaffer? In the main, very happy. His caution annoys a section of our fans but if we stay up by grinding out results, that's fine and dandy.

Who should he sign? Anyone who knows where the opposition goal is.

LATEST LINKS Robbie Keane (Spurs, striker); Edson Buddle (LA Galaxy, striker); Kenny Miller (Rangers, striker)

BLACKBURN ROVERS – Bill Boaden, Observer reader

Plenty of fans had reservations about Big Sam's style, but he was making progress here. Who knows what the owners were thinking, or why they like Steve Kean so much. At least talk of Maradona has been quashed: we don't need that sort of comedy here – that's Mike Ashley's domain.

Stars/flops? Phil Jones looked a great prospect till his injury, and Morten Gamst Pedersen is rediscovering his range from set pieces (but is still dozy in open play). Samba is as strong as ever and Robinson deserves the tag "too good for England". Only Chimbonda has really disappointed.

Happy with the gaffer? We don't know anything about him. He'll have a job on his hands keeping the chicken fraternity happy.

Who should he sign? A striker and a creative midfielder to replace Dunn.

LATEST LINKS Charlie Adam (Blackpool, midfielder); David Bentley (Spurs, winger); Kris Boyd (Middlesbrough, striker); Juraj Kucka (Sparta Prague, midfielder)

It's been unbelievable – since that very first game against Wigan, beating them 4-0 away from home, every week has just been better and better.

Stars/flops? No flops: the whole squad has performed miracles, and it seems harsh on others to single anyone out, but the two outstanding players have been Charlie Adam and David Vaughan – they've carried on from last season but improved another 20%.

Happy with the gaffer? How can you not be? He's refreshingly honest, the players love him and the style of football is exciting and entertaining even when we lose. Ollie and Blackpool are just made for each other.

Who should he sign? Luke Varney: he's been outstanding since joining on loan. We could do with adding to the squad, but I'm more worried about who could leave.

LATEST LINKS Alex Smithies (Huddersfield, goalkeeper); Luke Varney (Derby, striker); Adam Hammill (Barnsley, midfielder); Dave Nugent (Portsmouth, striker)

BOLTON WANDERERS – Shaun O'Gara, Supporters' Club

The season has been beyond all expectations so far: seventh in the league, challenging for Europe and playing great football. It's good to be a Bolton fan.

Stars/flops? Stuart Holden has been our most consistent player: a proper all-action midfielder. Elmander is like a new player this season – finally starting to show why he's our club record signing. And Knight, Muamba, Robinson and Ricketts have all also improved markedly since Owen Coyle came in. Petrov, though, has flattered to deceive at times: he's not a team player.

Happy with the gaffer? He has transformed the club in less than a year. We're playing free-flowing attacking football and winning in style. All on a budget, too. I can't praise Coyle enough. We've got our club back.

Who should he sign? Some cover in defence.

LATEST LINKS Jaime Ayoví (Emelec – Ecuador, striker); Zlatko Dedic (Vfl Bochum, striker); Charlie Adam (Blackpool, midfielder)

It's hard to say how we're doing – it's still not clear whether our "blip" has done for us or not. The squad was left too thin in the summer so injuries to key players have had a real impact. Have we got away with it? The next few weeks will tell us.

Stars/flops? Petr Cech has been superb, and Josh McEachran has shone: he looks the business. Hungry, talented, courageous, skilful – he seems to have it all. As for flops: the term "dog chasing a balloon" was once used about another Chelsea striker but I think it fits Kalou perfectly – he's easily distracted. Ramires is struggling, too.

Happy with the gaffer? Generally yes, but he's a little cautious for my liking.

Who should he sign? A keeper, a central defender and a striker are what is needed. I like the look of Andy Carroll.

LATEST LINKS Luka Modric (Spurs, midfielder); Gary Cahill (Bolton, defender); Seydou Doumbia (CSKA, striker); Davide Santon (Inter, defender)

EVERTON – Neil Steele, SoS1878.co.uk

Despite a fantastic three points at Eastlands, won with a spirited backs-to-the-wall display, it has to be said that the season so far has been a huge disappointment. We've been dumped out of the League Cup by Brentford and the Premier League performances and results have been completely unacceptable in general.

Stars/flops? Leighton Baines has been our best by a good margin, while the "effort" that Louis Saha puts in is an insult to the shirt.

Happy with the gaffer? No. The squad is imbalanced and lacks pace, and while he's keen not to be seen as selling players the decision to retain substitutes with a value of £40m while having no recognised right‑winger in the squad was extremely poor judgment. Very much a wasted season.

Who should he sign? Unless we can sell the bench-warmers, we'll have to rely on loans.

LATEST LINKS Pablo Piatti (Almería, winger); Roque Santa Cruz (Man City, striker); Diego Alves (Almería, goalkeeper); Dieumerci Mbokani (Monaco, striker)

FULHAM – David Lloyd, Toofif.co.uk

Really frustrating. After an excellent early few games combining Roy Hodgson's teamwork with Mark Hughes's attacking outlook we've been undone by injuries. We've struggled since and confidence has taken a serious battering. Last season's heroics seem like ancient history.

Stars/flops? Gera and Dembélé have been bundles of energy and talent, while Hughes and Hangeland remain a brilliant centre-back partnership. But Etuhu often looks lost, Salcido is often out of position and "Joe" Kamara often can't be bothered.

Happy with the gaffer? The jury's out – but injuries and his late appointment mean he hasn't been able to put his stamp on things.

Who should he sign? A driving midfielder and a target man. So no doubt what we'll get is another keeper and a centre-back.

LATEST LINKS Liam Sercombe (Exeter, midfielder); Stephen Ireland (Villa, midfielder); Roque Santa Cruz (Man City, striker); Robbie Keane (Spurs, striker)

LIVERPOOL – Stephanie Jones, Observer reader

A change of manager and new signings have done the opposite of what they were meant to do. Instead of the ship being steadied, it's sprung leaks all over. It's a legacy of decisions made by men in suits rather than football men, and who knows how long we'll be paying for that?

Stars/flops? Aquilani is bossing it at Juventus. Meanwhile at Anfield, Meireles is shining in his proper position, and Maxi has done well too. But the outstanding performance was Gerrard's against Napoli at Anfield. And off the pitch, the Spirit of Shankly supporters' union played a huge part in the removal of Hicks and Gillett.

Happy with the gaffer? A great manager knows when to speak up and when to shut up.

Who should he sign? A striker, a full-back and a centre‑back.

LATEST LINKS Jorge Fucile (Porto, full-back); Charles N'Zogbia (Wigan, winger); Ashley Young (Villa, winger); Josip Ilicic (Palermo, midfielder)

MANCHESTER CITY – Kevin Cummins, Observer reader

It's been frustrating. We've comfortably beaten Chelsea and Liverpool, and would have beaten United if Mancini had the courage to attack rather than contain. We also struggle against poorer sides: losing to Sunderland, Wolves and Everton.

Stars/flops? Stars: Kompany, Zabaleta, De Jong and Carlos Tevez (of course). David Silva looks a class act, as does Boateng, and Yaya Touré is like a stronger version of Patrick Vieira in his prime, which is a very good thing indeed. The squad looks pretty settled – despite what certain football writers would have you think. But Adebayor, Johnson and Lescott have struggled.

Happy with the gaffer? Entertainment isn't his priority. Still, third at Christmas isn't bad ...

Who should he sign? Messi and Iniesta. Why settle for bronze when you can afford gold?

LATEST LINKS Dani Alves (Barcelona, full-back); Edin Dzeko (Wolfsburg); Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona, midfielder); Rogelio Funes Mori (River Plate, striker)

MANCHESTER UNITED – Shaun O'Donnell, Observer reader

Performances have been poor so far – but remarkably we're still unbeaten and top of the table with a game in hand. A few weeks ago I thought Chelsea would have been out of sight as we failed to kill off teams. But usually we step up a gear in the new year – and with players returning I'm expecting us to push on and make it 19.

Stars/flops? Nani is showing new maturity and is a genuine match winner – he's forced one of the biggest turnarounds of fan opinion since Fletcher. Berbatov has been magical at times, too, but Carrick is still looking a shadow of his former self.

Happy with the gaffer? He has been described as the greatest living Scotsman – but he is much more than that.

Who should he sign? A creative spark in midfield; Modric looks a fantastic player.

LATEST LINKS Rogelio Funes Mori (River Plate, striker); Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax, goalkeeper); Nilmar (Villarreal, striker); David Beckham (LA Galaxy, midfielder)

NEWCASTLE UNITED – Richard Holmes, Observer reader

It's been another ride on the Mike Ashley rollercoaster. Chris Hughton brought pride and stability back to the club, and his shameful and bewildering sacking showed as much class as the Sports Direct sign plastered on St James' Park's roof. On the pitch, our first-choice XI have exhibited enough grit, passion and quality to keep us up – including some fantastic wins against Sunderland, Villa and Arsenal.

Stars/flops? The No9 shirt looks a great fit for Andy Carroll, Joey Barton has shown real class and Cheik Tioté looks the bargain of the season. But the step up has been too much for James Perch, and it's obvious why Wayne Routledge has been a sub at so many top-flight clubs .

Happy with the gaffer? It's early days.

Who should he sign? A striker, a creative midfielder, and defensive cover – in that order.

LATEST LINKS José Fonte (Southampton, defender); Charlie Adam (Blackpool, midfielder); Roque Santa Cruz (Manchester City, striker)

STOKE CITY – Richard Murphy, author, Stoke City on This Day

It's been a bit up and down. We've had results in spells – bad/good/bad/good. But referees have cost us at least five points – possibly more – and we do look much stronger this season: a deeper squad playing better football. With a bit more consistency and luck I think we have the makings of a decent top-10 side.

Star man and biggest underperformer? Begovic, Pennant and the frustrating but brilliant Fuller have been strong, but special mention to Ryan Shawcross and Robert Huth: a formidable pairing. Kenwyne Jones is struggling to live up to his price tag.

Happy with the gaffer? Pulis is doing a great job. We're still in the division, we're playing better football and he winds up Arsène Wenger. All plus points in my opinion.

Who should he sign? A midfield general.

LATEST LINKS Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham, midfielder); Jermaine Pennant (Real Zaragoza – permanent deal); Teal Bunbury (Kansas, striker – on trial)

SUNDERLAND – Phil Wilson, Observer reader

So far we're undefeated against all the top teams, unbeaten at home and have kept the most clean sheets in the division. The high point was the excellent win away at Chelsea, and the low point, obviously, the humiliating loss to Newcastle. But overall it's encouraging: Bruce is assembling a good young squad full of promise.

Stars/flops? The much-maligned Bramble has been strong, Henderson won an England cap and Gyan has shown what a clever, powerful striker he is. Phil McBardsley has been Mr Reliable. But Kieran Richardson continues to disappoint, and the three South Americans – Riveros, Angeleri and Da Silva – are bench-warmers.

Happy with the gaffer? Yes. He's building a strong team. We're eyeing a top-10 finish.

Who should he sign? A central defender, a creative midfielder and a left-sided forward.

LATEST LINKS Danny Welbeck (Man Utd – permanent); Juraj Kucka (Sparta Prague, midfielder); Stephen Ireland (Villa, midfielder); Charles N'Zogbia (Wigan, midfielder)

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR – Dave Mason, Observer reader

Let's praise the staggeringly good: topping the Champions League group; beating Arsenal away; the 3-1 win against Inter. But we can't ignore the low spots too: the first 30 minutes in Berne and Milan; the defeat to Wigan and shipping four at Bolton; dominating Bremen and Brum then clinging on to draws; and only one clean sheet all season. Stars/flops? Van der Vaart and Bale could have played in any great Spurs side. Gallas, Modric, Jenas and Assou-Ekotto have also impressed, but Keane, Defoe and Crouch can't score, and Gomes is increasingly flakey.

Happy with the gaffer? Indubitably. The historical Harry Hotspur boasted of reaching for the moon and daring to dive to the bottom of the deepest ocean. Our modern-day Harry likes having a go, too.

Who should he sign? A goal machine.

LATEST LINKS Scott Parker (West Ham, midfielder); Joleon Lescott (Man City, defender); Davide Santon (Inter, defender); Andy Carroll (Newcastle, striker)

WEST BROM – Terry Wills, Baggies@yahoogroups.com

We're delighted with how it's going: we were tipped to do our usual yo-yo act but if we continue to defy the critics then we should (whisper it) be spared the annual end-of-season agony.

Stars/flops? In truth the majority of the first team have exceeded expectations. But for me Mulumbu, Brunt, Olsson, Tamas, Ibáñez, Shorey, Odemwingie and Tchoyi have shone. Dorrans hasn't met his usual standards, though, but he'll turn it round. Marc-Antoine Fortuné has struggled.

Happy with the gaffer? Di Matteo exudes a quiet, comforting confidence, and has us playing really attractive football.

Who should he sign? We badly need more strike power to support Odemwingie – but it'll have to be found on a budget.

LATEST LINKS Georgios Samaras (Celtic, striker); Michael Silberbauer (Utrecht, midfielder); Shaun Wright‑Phillips (Manchester City, attacker)

Four straight defeats was the worst possible start. We've only won twice, drawn far too many, been brittle at the back and rolled over at the bigger clubs. Yes, there's been a decent Carling Cup run, but a side with a spine of Green, Upson, Parker and Cole should not be bottom.

Stars/flops? Parker should be an England regular and Jonathan Spector played like Lionel Messi against Man United. But Carlton Cole hasn't looked motivated, Obinna also needs to hit the net more, Ilunga has flopped at left-back, Barrera looks lightweight, Reid has barely made the side and big Benni McCarthy is way off the pace.

Happy with the gaffer? No. Although Piquionne and Jacobsen were decent buys.

Who should he sign? A striker, a left-back, a centre-back and a winger who can cross.

LATEST LINKS Jamie O'Hara (Spurs, midfielder); Robbie Keane (Spurs, striker); Steve Sidwell (West Ham, midfielder); Luke Varney (Derby, striker)

WIGAN ATHLETIC – Dave Whalley, Observer reader

Performances have picked up of late and the football we're trying to play is admirable, but the manager's tactics are confusing and one-dimensional. We started the season shockingly with two heavy home defeats against Blackpool and Chelsea and we've really struggled since.

Stars/flops? Antolín Alcaraz has stood out after a poor start, Charles N'Zogbia has shown why he's so valuable, and Ali al-Habsi has been great in goal. As for flops: Mauro Boselli – our record buy – has been, to say the least, a total letdown, Franco Di Santo has struggled and Maynor Figueroa isn't himself.

Happy with the gaffer? Roberto Martínez is a legend in these parts but his record is very mixed. Last season we struggled but survived, and this season we should have kicked on but are actually going backwards.

Who should he sign? A striker.

LATEST LINKS Ali Al-Habsi (Bolton, keeper, permanent deal); Bradley Johnson (Leeds, midfielder); Dave Nugent (Portsmouth, striker)

It's been a weird one. We started quite well but a run of poor results and horrible fixtures has kept us in the bottom three for most of the season. But this is the best football we've played in a while.

Stars/flops? It's a joke that Matthew Jarvis hasn't made it into the England squad. Kevin Foley has been consistent, Nenad Milijas has a bit of class and, despite limited appearances, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake has done well too. As for flops: Jelle Van Damme lasted only six games and Steven Fletcher has found it hard to get into the side.

Happy with the gaffer? Yes, he's doing a good job and he's doing it the right way.

Who should he sign? Joleon Lescott. It sounds unlikely but he hinted at a return not long ago and hasn't been playing. We could also do with a box-to-box central midfielder.

LATEST LINKS Robbie Keane (Spurs, striker); Leigh Griffiths (Dundee, striker); Liam Sercombe (Exeter, midfielder); Joleon Lescott (Man City, defender)