The Athletic

Dan Bardell here with you

alongside George Ellick and Tim Spears.

We've had a full round of midweek games.

We've had a busy transfer deadline day, but the Premier League just does not rest. We go again tomorrow with another massive weekend. Now, gents, before we look at the weekend's games, let me start by asking you both that killer question. I mean, this isn't a great one who won the transfer window, because I think Villa have won a lot of the windows in recent years and then gone on to do absolutely nothing, as I've said before, but who won this transfer window? George, I'll come to you first. Yeah, isn't that the tradition? It isn't the team that wins the window has to then go on and have a poor season. That's how it works. And that's why... I mean, we're having a poor season and haven't won the windows. It's a double whammy this start. Even though I think Manchester

City and Newcastle have probably done the most impressive business in the window, I think for the

18th year in the last 20, I think Everton have to say that they've won the window because I think

you look at their signings compared to what they already had and the money spent. I think it looks very,

very smart on paper. I think the Garner and Garner sentinel field signings improved them immensely, both in terms of Adrissa Gay, who I don't think would have gone to Everton unless he had a former connection with the club. In terms of James Garner, they've got themselves a player who, I'm amazed, Manchester United to let go, given the talent that he's got, I think, in Neil Mope, they've got a striker who offers them something completely different and is a very, very good pick up for the level. And, you know, they managed to keep hold of Anthony Gordon, who since, you know, since rejecting that £60 million bid, has scored two magnificent goals in the last two two weeks and other players, you know, Dwight McNeil is another player who, in terms of potential and at homegrown talent, who's very impressive. And then two really solid centrebacks in Conner Cody and James Tarkovsky. I think there's loads to like in terms of what they've done. But crucially, when it comes to winning the window, I reckon it probably won't end too well. So they're my pick. I was not expecting you to say, Everton, to be honest. Tim, who are you plumping for? Yeah, there's a bit of recency bias there from George. I mean, he's forgetting that, I think earlier in the window, Spurs and Arsenal did great business. And I know that's kind of, it's skewed by the fact that them and Man City are the top three, but I don't think you can look beyond them for the

for the windows they've had but it's such a strange one because everybody's played five games

already and it's going to take weeks and months for us to for a lot of the players that have been

signed in the last few days to be sort of properly integrated I mean Forrest

forest may have had the best window but but absolutely nobody can say with any confidence whether they have or not.

They must have a squad of about 15 now as well, Forest.

I was thinking last night, whoever chooses the squads for those, like, do you remember those sold Panini sticker albums?

For Notting For Forest, what are you doing?

You've got about 50 to choose from, only 20 slots.

How are you going to do that?

Yeah, absolutely madness, isn't it?

Notting to Forest. You know, you thought they were done.

Was it in the end? I actually don't know.

I mean, it was it 20 something? I know that, but I'm not sure what we got up to.

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