If you’re reading this intro or listening to this podcast, congratulations… you survived 2016.

Many of you likely made it through the chaotic final few weeks of the year by bunkering down and gorging on a seemingly endless run of Premier League fixtures. And a good thing too, seeing how the Premier League normally delivers their holiday fixture pileup in bulk. This year they did us the favor of spreading them out over six days in a seven day period, giving us all just enough to survive on until the next day’s games.

But in lieu of going through all 30 matches played over the last week, we opted to share midterm reports on all 20 English top-flight sides now that we’re at the halfway point of the season. We also look back on the top storylines of 2016, share our and your bold predictions for 2017, and award our first Winners & Wankers of the New Year.

And if you haven’t made it a New Year’s Resolution yet to subscribe to the #Pondcast and leave us a friendly review, it’s probably in your best interests.