Watching the last few editions of the August Deadline Day™ on Sky Sports, one could be forgiven for thinking, well, it's just gotten a bit boring. Last season's attempt saw a few interesting moves, but nothing groundbreaking. Danny Welbeck moved from Manchester United to Arsenal in what was probably the most eyebrow-raising move, while Falcao signed on-loan for United for a year from Monaco. Both of these moves would have been far more interesting had they not featured a perpetually-disappointing England striker and crocked has-been after a big payday. In addition to this, Chelsea loaned out a few players (I know, I can't believe it either) and big-name George Boyd signed for Burnley from Hull. The rest of the day proved to be a bit of a damp squib.

Why has Deadline Day lost its lustre? Search any social media site in the run up to the big event and you'll see fans and pundits alike raring to get stuck into the action and spend 12-plus hours sitting in front of the TV so they don't miss any speculation, car-window interviews, or reporters getting harassed by sex toys. Like most things in life, like your birthday, Christmas, and sex, the anticipation can't live up to the reality.

There are a few reasons for this, which won't stop Sky pumping big money into their coverage and Jim White's tie budget, but they do go a way to explaining why you're often left feeling underwhelmed at one-am on September 1st.

Big moves these days are often broken weeks in advance, often while the season is still going on. Although many of these stories are made-up by crack Twitter accounts whose 'top sources' are always accurate, most rumours are unearthed by top journalists who actually have contacts within the game. Consequently, by the time a transfer happens, it's usually the worst kept secret in the game and when the player holds up his new club's shirt for the first time, no-one is surprised.

Taking this point further, most big transfers in recent years have been completed about a month before the season even begins. Any club that's worth their salt (or likes to think they are) has usually established their targets for the upcoming campaign and act quickly to get their men before pre-season; this gives them a chance at playing with their new teammates before the season kicks off. While not all transfers are concluded in this way, a growing trend seems to be that the big ones (the type with all the speculation and 'record transfer fee' tags attached to them) are usually done and dusted well before Jim even pulls his tie out of the wardrobe. Alexis Sanchez signed for Arsenal in July of 2014, as did Diego Costa when he signed for Chelsea. Even Angel Di Maria signed a full week before Deadline Day in the same year. Big clubs just don't like to leave their big business late anymore unless they can help it.

In fact, the last major Deadline Day signing by a big club was Mesut Ozil, who arrived in spectacular fashion into Arsenal for £42.5m in 2013. Arsenal have previous with the Day of the Deadline, having signed Andrey Arshavin in dramatic style in 2008 - proving Arsene loves a late deal (anyone remember Andre Santos?).

In conclusion, I'd tell you not to expect much from this year's Sky Sports bonanza. As always, there will be last minute deals, but will any of them be the kind to keep you glued to the TV all day? Probably not. Although...

Wenger might spring a surprise and get the Gunners an early Christmas present. Karim Benzema's on-again off-again move might materialise in the next couple of weeks - SkyBet have him at 7/4 to be an Arsenal player at the end of the window. Will it be on Deadline Day? For the sake of Jim White, Arsene, let it be so.

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