The frenetic flurry of exchanging cash is over. At least, until January 1st. The big question is, which clubs have managed to do the business in the transfer window to give them the best chance of silverware or safety?

There were quite a few deadline deals in the end, and only time will tell whether they represent a methodical sweeping of each aisle for your shopping list items, or a mad dash to grab the last can of beans from the grasp of the lady in the Le Coq Sportif tracksuit...

Stephen Ireland to Stoke City (Aston Villa, Loan)

There was once a time when Stephen Ireland was running the show in Manchester City's midfield; in his penultimate season before leaving the Citizens, he racked up nine goals in 33 league appearances (better than David Silva's efforts last term). 

Time hasn't been kind to the Irishman however, and since then he has endured three torrid seasons at Aston Villa, where he has barely been able to string a run of games together. 

At Stoke, he links up with his old City manager Mark Hughes to try and recreate that season of passion from 2008. As much as it may be romantic to believe this will work, unfortunately it just seems like Hughes is desperately trying to shoehorn in some flair players to rid the Potters of their 'thuggish' past. Given Stoke's good start, it would be a shame if this were a gamble which upsets the apple cart.

Which it might well do. Hopefully Ireland's dead/not dead/zombie grannies are nowhere near when it does.

Verdict: Panic

Stephane Sessegnon to West Brom (Sunderland, Undisclosed)

Obviously Di Canio saw something he didn't like in the talented Benin playmaker (our bet is that Sessegnon looked at him funny one morning) because he's been shipped off to the Black Country to Steve Clarke's West Brom.

Undoubtedly one of Sunderland's brightest players of recent seasons, the Baggies look like they could use a spark to sort out their poor start to this season.

If he links up well with other new signings Nicholas Anelka and Victor Anichebe, the goals could start flowing at the Hawthorns. 

Verdict: Patience

Romelu Lukaku to Everton (Chelsea, Loan)

This one really caught a lot of people by surprise. You would have thought with a strike-force consisting of Demba Ba, Fernando Torres, and a 32-year-old Samuel Eto'o, Jose Mourinho really wouldn't want to let his young, hungry, 17-goals-last-season frontman Lukaku leave on loan.

What is Jose's loss however, is Everton's gain, and the club look to have done some good business in this window, especially on deadline day with Gareth Barry and James McCarthy arriving as well.

If Lukaku performs anything like he did for West Brom last season, Martinez' first season in charge might just look a whole lot healthier.

Verdict: Patience

Marouane Fellaini to Manchester United (Everton, £27.5m)

There you are non-believers! Moyes CAN tempt players to Old Trafford!*

The arrival of Fellaini finally signifies the first bit of significant transfer business United have completed in the window. But it's not exactly like he was the player they wanted.

After missing out on Thiago Alcantara and Cesc Fabregas, both technical playmakers, Moyes has opted to go for Fellaini, an undoubtedly talented but altogether more physical midfielder capable of bullying defences.

As much as we'd like to say this was all part of the master plan, like United's 'amazing' performance against Liverpool which culminated in defeat, this one smells a bit like panic. 

*As long as they've played for him for five years beforehand and have only ever played for clubs as big as Everton.

Verdict: Panic

Mesut Ozil to Arsenal (Real Madrid, £42m)

Well, Wenger obviously wasn't joking when he said he had cash to spend. £42m is nearly three times what they paid for Andrey Arshavin, the club's previous record signing.

While Ozil may not represent the type of player Arsenal need (a striker, defensive midfielder, centre-back, and goalkeeper might have been helpful as well) he is a player of obvious quality, and a step-above many of the players in Arsenal's current squad. If he can inspire some of these players to play at a higher level than they have been for the last couple of seasons, this might be Wenger's best ever signing.

Seeing as he has failed to address some of the squad's more pressing needs and has instead bought a marquee signing on the fans' terms, the acquisition of Ozil does stray into the realms of 'Panic' on Wenger's part. Although, the fact that he has waited all summer long to actually spend some money points towards 'Patience'... 

Hedging our bets, this signing has to be (like Wenger) a mix between the good and the bad:

Verdict: Panicky Patience

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