Football moves quickly. When the Premier League transfer window slammed shut in early September - a little more than eight months ago - almost all of the campaign was still to be written.
Chelsea were feeling optimistic after new American owner Todd Boehly splashed the cash in a lavish summer spending spree.
Former Manchester United star Jesse Lingard, on a free, spearheaded the significant and ambitious Nottingham Forest recruitment drive, and Philippe Coutinho was an eye-catching permanent acquisition for Aston Villa after an impressive loan spell.
Fast forward to May and a lot of the players that had fans brimming with optimism are now the same ones that have rueful supporters shaking their head in dismay.