 Ladies and gentlemen welcome back to another installment of taffy TV USA My name is James Boyman joined as always by my co-host Ryan Williams We just finished a post match following Everton's 2-1 win against Leeds United Go check that out on the pod feed if you are if you feel so inclined But what we're gonna be talking about today is the conclusion of silly season Ryan Transfer window January transfer window. It was a quiet first what 20 odd days 2526 days of the month Everyone was questioning whether or not Everton would actually do anything. We're kind of poking. What are you gonna do? What are you gonna do? What are you gonna do? Well, the answer was send a whole lot of guys out and bring in one Championship striker to bolster the ranks for the remainder of the season So we're gonna be talking all that but let's start right off the top I think the the primary news story and that is Everton have signed Josh King on a six-month contract Which will take us to the summer seems to be Reasonable as far as wages didn't have to pay Bournemouth and outlandish fee or anything like that He had wanted out of Bournemouth since they've been relegated and clearly desperate to get back to the Premiership It came down to very interestingly between us and Fulham Bournemouth supposedly agreed with both clubs on a deal and he elected to choose Carlo Ancelotti and Everton Over Scott Parker and Fulham can't really say I blame him. No, but what does he bring to the side Ryan? Let's talk a little bit about his attributes and what we can expect from Josh and an Everton shirt It's very much a buy-in-the-now move. I mean he's 29 years old. I Would tell you his height, but I swear to God we argued about it endlessly. He's anywhere from 511 to 6 foot 2 I came on today. I mean he's got he's got size. He's definitely has pace when he gets going for sure Loves the dribble. He loves to take people on He's shown it a lot against Everton He'll do some fancy stuff for sure and he's shown some ability to score in the Premier League I mean he's hit for 12 and 16 goals in separate seasons lots of minutes, of course And I personally I think he shows some good composure in the box. He has some skill. He's a good finisher He has high shots on target For me personally, I think his passing and his shooting this finishing is very underrated I think his pressing is a little overrated. Maybe that's a byproduct just playing in Bournemouth I think his dribbling is overrated to he gives the ball away too much However, one thing to consider is He was doing all of this while playing for Bournemouth and granted they play a very particular style and always had under Eddie Howe and he's had some decent attacking players around him But I don't think he's quite had the quality that we have so I think there's some reasons to be optimistic that he might be able to get back to some of these things A couple of key stats I think that we like to talk about on the American Toffee podcast So we'll bring in the Toffee TV USA as we normally do the big one for him I think or any attacking player really is in the last three years in the Premier League is His open play basically non penalty expected goals plus expected assists per 90 is point three six point three six point three nine On a poor side. Those are decent numbers. I mean that's a production And not to mention his shot created actions per 90 is better than you think about 2.55 is last year 234 and 3 So that that's not bad and again I think the big thing for him is the perception is that he can play all three elements in the forward positions that we tend to Deploy left right and center traditionally. He's been more left and center And I think the value proposition is basically is replacing a couple people in the side and he's just a better fit You know, there's no question He's got pace. There's no question. He's got size But I think there are some issues to we be weary, but it's not a massive outlay, which is I think a good thing Yeah, look, I think the main takeaway for me is one I think he immediately improves our options in the squad off the bench. I mean we saw that today He comes off early in two I think the low-risk nature of the deal is really important the six month deal no obligation to buy and I think From our perspective, that's good. It mitigates our risk and making the signing but it also I think is Important for Josh King because he now has to prove himself and make a statement because his Dramatically affect his value once the contract is up whether it's with us or with someone else He has that incentive to perform and he is a strong player. He gives us Not the same type of players cover Lewin at all I think he's maybe a little definitely attempts more dribbles and certainly tries to create things more free frequently something a little bit different and Though he hasn't played very often in the wide areas I think he could he could potentially be given a go-out wide right and Provide us with just so just something a little bit different and in depth in areas I mean, we've seen how ineffective our attacking options on the bench have been so far this season I'm just going in with it with an open mind and hoping that he Performs really well because when he was good for Bournemouth, he was really good And frankly, he was really good against Everton a lot of the time. He constantly killed us So I so I think a lot of Evertonians will have a very positive impression of him a Word of caution though. He's not a savior. I feel like some people are sure you're gonna jump in and banging in I know you don't and we don't we like to be rational adults here at Toffee TV and provide no hot-takes folks I think there's some concerns about his overall game But if there weren't we wouldn't be getting him for such a low fee My initial reaction was when I heard, you know a fee of upwards of five million pounds I know that's not insane But you know how I feel about squad building and I just don't think we should be spending or allocating a significant amount of resources Just in the now knowing there'll be no payoff on the back end in this instance though It's less than that. I think it's affordable and look we're we're trying to push for Europe And I do think the side needs some improvements. I think there are a couple questions though that need to be asked First of all, there are some questions still about the player, you know, can he hold the ball up against top defenders? We saw today against leads how we're charles and even a woby showed some ability to do that You think Josh came big strong guy. He can do that. I don't know. He's a little inconsistent that way Is he a good possession player? You know, he doesn't receive the ball all that cleanly sometimes He's only played five hundred and eighty nine minutes in the championship, but to your point He should be motivated. He has played on the right a couple times recently I think that's a very obvious area for him to step in other than subbing in and giving Recharlison and Dom a break which they probably need. So I think there's some questions about the player, but taking a step back What's the real value proposition here? I mean basically it's really we're losing toson We've already lost Walcott and he enables Gordon and Sims for sure to go on loan Is he a step up from those guys? What do you think James? I think if you're looking at someone like jank toson who's really struggled a lot this season for Everton and really sense that first kind of honeymoon Period under he who shall not be named. He has not Kicked on in the way. We need a backup striker to and he seems like a player in to in his defense He never really got a good run of games in Dominic Hoverluen was emerging and continuing to develop But Josh King I think is a dramatically different player to jank toson. Yeah much more physical much quicker Whether probably better in the air because that for never was really janks game, but not really Kings either More versatile. He can you never put jank on the wing. You can at least consider that idea with with King Yeah, and to your point. I think the real thing about it is giving Gordon that opportunity to go out on loan is just It's a bonus, but it's also one of the key value propositions in this move because he There's a lot of question marks about why he hasn't been able to get into the side under enchilada And whether you think that's fair or not the most important thing for a player of his age is to play regularly And we'll talk about Gordon shortly But I think that it has the potential if it pans out to be a really good long-term move for Everton as he continues to develop I mean and let's be honest any injection of athleticism. I think is a good thing You know and not necessarily in a theo walkout type of way I mean, I think Josh King is more of a striker and I do think he can play on the left fine And I think there's Some idea that he may be able to rise back up and play in a side that's frankly better than any side He's ever played for so I'm I'm encouraged by it I'm a little discouraged about the fact that he didn't look very fit today And I'm kind of wondering because he didn't play many minutes in the championship You know, you really need someone that's going to hit the ground running, but we'll see You know, I I'm no real problems with with the move We didn't sacrifice the future too much on it and he seems like it could be a decent fit So I'm looking forward to seeing him play but we sent a lot of guys out for sure. So You know, the first one that comes to mind in a long outstanding saga is one. Yannick Bellasi Yes, indeed at long last Yannick Bellasi has reunited with former manager Neil Warnock at Middlesbrough Uh, frankly, I mean, I think we've talked about this a little bit in the past, but Credit to Yannick. He always had a great attitude at least, you know From a fans perspective from what we're able to see on the day to day And he shared some some texts from Seamus Coleman just talking, you know, a nice exchange between the two No ill will from anyone. I don't think at the club But the fact of the matter is he has been now sitting for almost three full seasons and is sitting on 75k a week in wages So it's just not a tenable thing. His contract's almost up It's good to that. It's just a good move for both parties get him reunited in the championship where he can hopefully I mean, he's a fun player to watch on his day. And I think at that level, he'll be Useful for them if he can stay healthy So I just think it's a good move for all parties all around I think it gets him six months too. And then he gets to find kind of his permanent club, you know, and there's There'll be opportunities for him. I hope Jonas lossl and made his way back to his old club midgy lint He didn't come necessarily up in their academy. We talked about it, but he did he did make his breakthrough there Look, it saves us what 28k a week, maybe 1.5 million on an annual basis Fine for him. Ella sims. We talked about him on the last toffee tv usa episode No reason to belabor the point, but uh, he did come on against wigan in the 70th We some come on in the cup match against brighton, but you know, they didn't have the ball much He did score twice no spectacular goals But it was good to see that and we still anticipate he's going to push jerry yates for that top spot in their 442 Blackpool's an exciting side. They've got some good guys in there. Uh, him slotting next to mary gary medine I think will be pretty interesting as their their second center forward Um, and then probably the big one james is jank toast and out to uh, to basitas Yeah, this one was uh Where will chenca go where in the world will chenca be heading was a question a lot of people were asking Would he stay in england salt of ego was supposedly interested in him? Uh, he who shall not be named yet again coming up on this show unfortunately But linked with west brahm potentially giving them, uh another attacking option as they Fight uh so far very unsuccessfully against relegation under they're going down Yeah, I think there are two like a stone Uh drop and real quick, but ultimately back to uh back to the turkey for him Smart move uh again a player who uh as our sole strike option off the bench just was never quite good enough and uh He'll I think tear it up in the turkish league because he's not a bad player But I just asked to to do a little bit too much uh at everton and maybe a slightly above his level And no real problems with jank. I mean he put forth the effort It's just not the perfect fit for the premier league He's probably a little better than maybe some people are giving credit for but yes from an everton standpoint It's a shame that he didn't stay healthy and palace didn't get him for 20 mil. That would have been a nice deal for us Yeah, that's kind of however tinspin, you know, uh john joe kenny got a loan to Celtic I think that's a really interesting loan Uh, we saw jeremy fringham went to by our lever cuisin for 10 million pounds and he's an exciting player They needed a right back. I feel like a jair was playing Right back for him. That's a six foot five center back playing over there It looks like he's already started off. I think this is a good fit for him. Don't you think? Yeah, you know, it's looking less and less likely frankly very unlikely that his future is at everton Big step down from the primary league to the start is primarily no disrespect To that league but just the lack of parity. He'll do very well there. I think he'll dominate. I think It'll be a good move and You know when his contract's up I still think he he has a place and perhaps the top five european league somewhere, but I don't think it will be foreverton. It was interesting. I almost expected shondice to make a move for him for burley I think he probably could have helped them defensively At least provide some additional depth, but ultimately over to scotland And I wish him all the best because he's a he's a boyhood blue And uh, we always want our own to do to do for it really well Yeah, I can't imagine how go there permanently even though if it might be a good fit You know, Celtic have not paid massive fees for players. I mean, they've only been over five million a couple times But you never know. I mean he may really like it may enjoy it may work out. Who knows I think the big one though for us the one that we are very concerned about is what's going to happen with anthony gordon I think many people felt like he could contribute in a way And we'll get to bernard in a second who did not go and I think that was probably the pivotal factor Here why you're not as concerned maybe as an everton fan that we're losing people on the wings Um, he went to press the north end now press the north ends interesting They said 11th in the championship not really relegation threatened, you know, I feel like they're like 13 points clear They should be fine But they're only six points off six place born with who who just weakened by taking josh k There's interesting, right? Um, look, uh, Preston is showing a terrible defense. I mean, there's no way around it They're like 19th and goals conceded 18th and expected goals 22nd out of 24 and shots against but they've got an interesting attack. I mean, yeah Those are not pretty numbers, you know 10th and goals for 9th and xg Those are good things finishing hasn't been great. They've got lots of they've given up lots of goals. Like I said Um, but their possession's okay But the big thing for them is they are last in 1v1 take-ons And what does anthony gordon provide you? He can dribble and run at you and they play a high pace. I mean they've got good intensity numbers a lot of Long balls and stuff, but they play direct they play fast But the real question is is he gonna play right and we don't want another lewis gibson situation Where you brought in a guy that play behind one of their best players as a left center back So I think Look, there's some guys in there, you know scott's and claire's leading them in goals with 80 plays on the left a lot As long brad potz does as well and he's an a decent player Sean maguire's been playing some center forward. He's a 26 year old guy. He's all right Um bar wheezing. That's right 27 year old. Uh, he's been up there too I don't know too much about him frankly, but it does seem like gordon Will give them something else. So I thought was very interesting too is some of the quotes Hommes by by alex neal who's a scottish guy Never a big-time player, but he managed norwich before preston. He's got some experience I thought this one was very interesting and i'm gonna go through it We needed to make sure we brought another attacking option in and I think anthony has huge potential And he is different keyword to the other types of lads. We have anthony wants to take the ball He wants to get at people he wants to try and take them on and be creative in the final third That type of player is what we have needed That sounds pretty good. I thought anthony's comments to this were very interesting as well Yeah, so he said I I really want to start games and be involved in men's football consistently I think this is the perfect place for me at this moment with this manager this team and hopefully we can get to the playoffs Now look, he's obviously going to say good things. He just got a lone move there But to your point ryan the stats do indicate that he does provide a little bit of a missing puzzle piece for them It'll be interesting to see what areas of the pitch he ends up getting used in because He's obviously primarily been used on the left hand side for everton, but I know he does he's on record of saying He likes to play a little bit centrally sometimes Um, and he is a player who is on his day can beat people with the ball I think this is for a player who Has shown some really solid and good performances at a premier league level I think at this level in the championship Is perfect for this point in his life. He's what 1920 years old Perfect if he gets playing time this seems like a really good fit at phase value Yeah, the style works But again just like anything else man, if you're going to be successful in the sport You got to be people out and and he's going to have a chance to do that I think I like what the manager was saying But it's going to be up to him. So yes, it's an opportunity, but they're not handing him anything You can tell I mean, this is a decent enough team They also made some acquisitions to it the loan at the deadline To get some guys in to shore up the defense too. So they're gonna make a push and it could be interesting I hope it works out for him. It's it's certainly stylistically a good fit for him for sure Yeah, most definitely. Um, so all the best to anthony gordon again I think he's Really important potential player for our future and where we want to go And just just to see him continue that development and maybe return to the first team next year A more improved and mature player, which I hope to see and then I think the last one Out which is almost like a forgotten player is benny benning. Yeah Patty Boyland broke this one too. It's mentioning. It was attracting loan interest derby county Obviously the wane rooney connection. He did play with wane. It's funny to remember him breaking I know like ages ago, ryan Yeah, I mean, I think will he play is again the real question I mean, they play some four two three one with two defensive mids Some three four three some back three stuff They did move george evans out in january two Uh, so my guess is he'll take some of his minutes. He didn't have massive minutes Um, christian billick is kind of their big guy's 23 year old guy who plays often in the deepest defensive position He's probably not going to displace him on the left Um, but on the right side, you've got max bird. He's 20 and uh, grand shinny and I I don't think either of those guys are amazing players And maybe he'll give him a run. I don't know, you know, it's going to be up to benny If he wants to step up and make a difference. We've seen some quality for him But to me, I just can't imagine his futures with everton. Let's hope it works out. No Yeah, I just don't see it. It's weird because a player who Made his debut under ronald kuhman and just never really got another Decent shot at the first team plenty of managers saw what he could do when weren't convinced Uh, I still think there's a player in there because even in those limited appearances. He looked all right And we'll see what he does under wane rooney under the tutelage of uh wane I'm interested. I'll follow his career and and I hope again It must have been a really frustrating several years for him. Just kind of floating in uh, no man's land so to speak Uh at everton. So at least now he can kind of take the next steps in his career and doesn't have to keep Wondering what's next for him. I hope he's healthy too. I mean that's been kind of his biggest issue Yeah, he's been injured a lot. So let's talk about the guys that didn't move bernard is the fascinating one Our man fabrizio broke that al nasser Was going to take him on it looked like that was a done deal They had moved out a player brandy kuh us as we talked about on the last toffee tv usa Didn't happen fell through. Um, I mean they did buy, uh, mandy ebbedeat from nonce So I I don't know if that was the issue I mean you can only allow four foreign players on the pitch. There's no registration thing issues with it I don't think that's it though because they moved a wide player out. I think it would have worked fine Who knows? Maybe they'll come back for him in the summer I also feel like bernard gets a lot of stick from our fans because he's on high salary But if you if you ignore the fees really not a massive outlay for us I think bernard's a better player than people would get in credit for and I I don't mind that he's here until the summer personally I don't know how you feel. I I agree. Look, I I like bernard. He's a bit of like a Almost like a novelty type player just because he's so small for the premier league um, but I mean his his sca shots created actions per 90 is like the highest on the team You know, you can take the sample size into account when you when you say that but On his day, he's a good player and he hasn't really gotten a consistent run in the team Like you can say for so many of these other guys you're coming in stop start stop start stop start You can't really build up any kind of momentum or uh level of comfort with the players you're playing around He's a tricky little guy on his day and he can Do some nice things in the final third for us and and you know create for Others and create space for himself. He's quick. He's agile and look if we had let him go Even with king coming in we would have looked very thin as far as offensive options At least he provides something and carlo himself said he he hopes he likes bernard He hopes to play him more give him more minutes in the near future and frankly I hope so too now it's going to be tricky task for him with uh, With rich arleson in front of him and now josh king to compete with to add that legit competition on the wings But that's what you need to have a successful squad and if nothing else Hope they'll provide a certain level of competition and keep the other players sharp Yeah, and look, I mean, you never know if the injury bug can hit you knock on wood But uh, yeah, I think he's a very serviceable player I think he's better than people giving him a credit for and sliding him for his size Which I've heard some recently like it's some bad fit in the Premier League I don't know if I buy that I mean he has been creative He has made an impact as much as people want to deny that he has Any any at times has shown a good partnership with lucas and he Yeah, and now honestly his defense of contributions like he's not kind of body anymore But he he's a little disruptive and he can intercept some passes and do some nice things I mean when when I was doing a direct comparison With he and josh king yesterday just to see kind of what their stats look like side by side They're not dramatically different on either side of the ball And if anything bernard actually is better in most categories than king Take that for what it's worth obviously the the team that he's in makes a big difference But people saying like bernard is finished that he's not good enough I mean look he can contribute something And we've with the fixtures coming fast and again, you never know when the injury bug is going to bite knock on wood So I'm glad he stayed just because it would have been kind of scary to think what would happen if he left and then One of our starters went down. Yeah, look, he's probably off in the summer I know he's on a big wage, but he does offer a little something different If used in the right way, especially when we're playing against a team that's big and bunkered up Some of his quickness and his intelligence can help unlock the final third and we've struggled to create from open play recently He's a guy that can do it. So last but not least Moe Bessek I don't know what to say. I'm shocked that he hasn't moved. I know he's not the best decision maker at times But he is capable of playing absolute worldy matches I still love his profile as a player I know he's never going to be the player that we want. He's been banged up But I mean this is a player that was with Sheffield on loan that I thought they were going to keep They started to play and if they didn't get sand or birch I think he might have played with them. It can know. I mean, he's not on massive wage I am shocked that no championship team wants this guy That's the thing that shocks me is like of all you're able to move a guy like yannick belacian 75k a week and you can't move moe who's on less than 40 probably as far as we know and a player who's Recently, you know got some minutes for a Premier League side and there's no one in English football Or anywhere else on the continent that's interested Maybe it's just maybe there was interest and maybe he he's content to to sit on his wages Who knows I guess we'll probably never know the full story but a weird a weird saga with moe Bessek at at Everton because He was signed and you know, he looked like at least a physical player kind of a disruptor in defensive midfield It's just net again another player never worked out now if all the players on this list He would at face value seem like the type of guy who'd you be able to move fairly easily? So the fact that he's one of the last men standing is just baffling to me. Yeah, there's got to be something there You know, it's got it just seems very strange to me But anyway, that'll do it for us folks. How about final thoughts hamez? We've gone through everyone lots of outgoings one in Cummings What kind of grade were we give mr. Marcel brands on the january window? What are your thoughts? I mean look first things first though people got to recognize We didn't have a ton of money to play with by almost all accounts. So you've got to be reasonable I mean as much as I wanted to bring in a Pay 60 million pounds for leon bailey and force levercues in his hand It's not going to happen. So within realistic elements I don't know. I think he got some things accomplished Yeah, I mean look we did that a mega episode at the start of the month looking at all the potential names and Josh king was mentioned In in that list now if you told me then that at the end of the month, we'd only get josh king I would have been like Okay, but now you know once it comes through and I just think the nature of the deal is pretty shrewd Again, it basically we have very very little risk And the most important thing for me and more so than josh king Is the outgoings marcel brands able to ship all of these guys out in january and get them off the books At least some of them in a temporary capacity some for developmental purposes some who will never see again I just think Again continuing that kind of trimming of the squad Which is it's hard enough in this market to find takers The fact that he was able to find takers for so many guys that we have Struggled to move for years now. I think he deserves a lot of credit Uh, I would have liked to see maybe one more incoming player Perhaps someone on the right side specifically, but king does offer that So i'm going to go with a uh, i'm going to go the solid b for marcel in the window I think that the outgoings are huge and uh, I think he's done a great job now the question I guess after you give your grade for marcel is the next contract. That's the biggest design is marcel's himself I want to say b minus and let me tell you why I think he deserves a lot of credit for finding the right loan moves for players Jared brantwith is one that we had mentioned previously does you know, wasn't a january thing necessary? I mean it was but it happened before when we did the episode that was a great move I think sins make sense. I'm excited about anthony gordon's You know possible and I think benny might even be able to play I think john joe's going to kill it at celtic and I think that jank will do I mean, he's certainly not going to lower his value playing at the cctis for for six months Got some wages off the books. I agree. I feel like maybe we could use someone else Um, we said in our episode on january 1st. We wanted to see a defensive mid I think the lack of one really forced us to play a certain way But it has worked out And ultimately marcel brands and carlo enchilotti know The level of health of of bemina and fabian delf who are two guys that can play central and defensive mid And bemina in particular can be a sitting six and so could a lawn So if those guys are coming back, I understand it. Uh, we don't know exactly how far under financial fair play They are maybe it's more than we think But he you know, josh king, I don't think incredibly highly of personally But but I do think he has versatility and gives us a little different profile to carlo's point Then we had before and I'd probably if you asked me I'd probably rather have him than any of the guys that we sent out So in that way it is a somewhat of an upgrade and the outlay wasn't too big So that's my grade. That's the basis for it Um And look, I mean another crazy silly season window We're happy to wrap it up. Um, if you have any questions any feedback, we'd very much appreciate it Feel free to check out boom the american toffee podcast as well where we go into all sorts of this stuff and more Um, and again, please click subscribe to toffee tv because if you're not What are you doing, man? And we'll keep right and we'll keep bringing the content as we continue to and as we have in the past We will indeed. Uh, yeah, so just check the the description of the video They'll have all the links included down there link tr dot e slash usa toffee pod will help you find all our stuff subscribe to toffee tv Lot of fun as always ryan until next time up the toffees