We still have quite a year ahead of us.
Beyond one Premier League title race that no one would be wise to try to call, there is one European championship which for me gives England the best chance of lifting a trophy in modern times.
Here are five players whose progress I'll be following over the next year…
Judas Bellingham
Real Madrid
No player impressed me more than Bellingham in the year now coming to a close. His start at Real Madrid, with one goal per game, was nothing short of sensational.
Good luck to anyone who tries to get in his way. If you try to prevent him from running into the box, he will completely trample you. When he does get into the box and you challenge him, he gains momentum too late to push you out of the way.
He has the technique, with his head and both feet, to finish the game and make it look easy, where others would struggle. That is an extremely rare combination of skills.
It is high praise indeed, but he has the potential to become another Zinedine Zidane, a giant with mercurial skills, great balance, great feet, fast and strong.
Bellingham has withstood the challenge in Madrid with ease, so if he plays in the Euros for a team that will fail because most people's favorites will have no influence on him. He looks very strong and some on stage will find him unplayable. He, along with Harry Kane, is the biggest reason why England can win the country.
Jude Bellingham has been enjoying life in Spain after his summer move to Real Madrid
Mail Sport columnist Graeme Souness highlights the players he's most excited to see in 2024
Jarrad Branthwaite
Everton
Here is a young defender, 21 years old, who has the full range of qualities: physique, pace and skill on the ball. And he looks like he can really defend in the left center position. If he shows that ability at this age, that's a good sign.
As a centre-back I always wanted experienced players because every mistake they make usually leads to an attempt on your goal – whether it's a shot or a header. But this boy already seems to have mastered the art of defense.
As a left-footed centre-back he takes the ball on his left side and opens up the pitch, which I like.
Given England's situation at the back, where they are not overwhelmed by left-wing defenders, Branthwaite could still find himself in contention six months after the Euros.
As a manager you don't know which young players will do the job for you. You can have them train with the first team and play with the reserves, but if you put them on a field in front of 50,000 people on Saturday afternoon, it may be too much for them.
Others just enjoy being in the first team and say to you: 'This is my stage. Let me go.' Branthwaite belongs to the second category. His physical attributes and ball handling suggest he might be a star.
Jarrad Branthwaite makes a late bid for selection for EURO 2024 after starring for Everton
Alejandro Garnacho
Manchester United
When I look at Garnacho, it seems like there is a real player in there. He has pace, technical ability, can finish and has a real courage and confidence to take risks, as his two goals against Aston Villa and his wonder goal at Everton proved. He is 19 and shows no fear.
What frustrates me about him is his histrionics and the hellish way he holds his hand to his head when he has a shot on target and it goes wide ten yards, as if it were some big drama. Did Ryan Giggs do that?
To Garnacho I say: 'Go and find some tapes of Giggs, the best winger we've seen in Britain in the modern era and the best since George Best wore a United shirt.' It's not just about you, son. Just continue with the game.
That theatrics are not necessary and it is not what top players do. It's annoying to watch.
If he can get rid of that nonsense, he will be a player worth keeping an eye on, although he should be in and out of the team as a teenager and not be a key player for United.
If we see less of him in 2024, it could mean United are putting their recruitment shortcomings behind them.
Alejandro Garnacho led Man United's second-half comeback against Aston Villa
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Eberechi Eze
Crystal Palace
I'm glad Eze is doing so well. In the middle of Covid we did a Zoom call with him for a broadcast interview and I remember him talking about his mother a lot!
He had a rough start in life and wanted to succeed for her. I was very struck by that.
He was a very impressive young man, who had both feet firmly on the ground and had football quality to match.
He was released from Arsenal as a child but, like many promising young players in South London, was snapped up by Palace. Roy Hodgson clearly cherishes his innate talents there.
Eberechi Eze has been hampered by injuries in recent weeks but had established himself as one of the most exciting midfielders in the division
I have also been impressed by his clubmate Michael Olise, the France Under-21 international who has been in the academies of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City.
Olise was injured for much of the first half of the season, but after returning to the first team and being appointed as a substitute at Manchester City this month, he was tasked with taking a 90-minute penalty. He clearly exuded confidence and was happy to accept it.
The fact that his teammates were happy to let him tell you how they view him.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Liverpool
I'm looking forward to seeing Alexander-Arnold on the European Championship podium ahead of Gareth Southgate, and there could be a lot more appreciation for him as a player of true international class.
Only the best players, with truly exceptional talent, perform every day of the week and there is something to enjoy in his game every time he plays.
But I fear we may not see too much of him in Germany because Gareth always wants his strongest defenders and has so much talent in midfield.
Trent may be limited to cameo appearances as a sub. But he hits a ball beautifully – better than any other player in England – and can still take charge of that stage.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has been used more and more in midfield for Liverpool this season
P.S A major solution is needed at Manchester United if Sir Jim Ratcliffe is to get the club back to where they should be in 2024.
We still don't know exactly what kind of control Sir Jim will have there, but I can't imagine he will invest £1.3 billion for a minute and then sit back to watch more of the same.
People like him don't take a back seat. He will not be a passive shareholder.
Delegation will be crucial. Much has been said about Sir Dave Brailsford, who has acted as sports expert on Sir Jim's firm Ineos' other sporting investments, including Nice Football Club. If Brailsford really had the biggest voice at Nice, which has struggled under Ineos ownership, I would suggest Sir Jim would be better off looking for the best football man around when it comes to United.
Nice's strategy of buying Aaron Ramsey, Ross Barkley and Kasper Schmeichel on a wing and a prayer did not work.
Brailsford's background is not in football, so Sir Jim needs to find a football man he can lean on heavily – very heavily – and then hope he has hired the right one. Together with Liverpool, United are one of the two most famous teams in the history of English football. But it won't be a quick fix.
Finally, I wish all my readers a healthy and prosperous 2024.