I actually feel more like we "dropped points" against Chelsea than West Brom... we lacked a cutting edge in both games, but you have to give a lot of credit to West Brom (IMO) - they played a disciplined defensive game and it worked for them. Chelsea on the other hand felt like they were totally there for the taking, but we didn't capitalise.
Overall I'm happy with the way the season is going. Yeah, it has felt like we've dropped points after a few games - but with the weird exception of Leicester, the same can be said for every team in the "race for the top four". And fact is... I do think we're in that race. According to the bookies we're not one of the favourites to finish Top 4, but we're certainly not rank outsiders.
I can't quite believe that Leicester will sustain this form for the rest of the season (though part of me would be quietly delighted if they finished as champions and proved that outsiders can still will the premier league). In reality though, I think they'll fade - and it's so tight at the top right now that it'll only take a run of 3 or 4 defeats (which I think will happen sooner rather than later) for them to slip out of the top 4.
I don't think Chelsea will recover enough. I could be wrong, but they don't look even close to finding Top 4 form... they'll spend money in January no doubt, maybe even bring in a new manager, but by the time everything clicks in February it'll be too late. 6th - 12th for them.
I think there's potential for one or both of the Manchester teams to under-perform. Still believe we dodged a bullet with Van Gaal, and that could still go wrong. They've been winning more than I expected - but it's not been good to watch and from what I can tell they haven't actually played well since mid-October. Plus Emirates Marketing Project aren't looking nearly as convincing as they have done (though that will likely change when some of their long-term injuries come back).
Liverpool look pretty fragile to me, despite Klopp's apparent abilities to walk on water and then turn the stuff into wine. I think they are definitely in the "top four" mix, but to suddenly call them title challengers seems a bit silly. Sadly that means I'm now expecting Arsenal to win the league this season. More by default than because they are especially good. I just think they'll be more consistent than the other title challengers.
If I was to bet on it, I think I'd put money on us finishing Top 4. I even think there's a better than evens chance of United imploding early in the new year, pushing up into third by the end of the year (again - more because I think they will underperform, rather than us over-achieving). Top 6 in May: Arsenal, Emirates Marketing Project, Spurs, Liverpool, Man Utd, Leicester...
Or not.