Joe Thomas gives his on-the-whistle verdict after Ellis Simms came back to haunt Everton in Tuesday’s friendly at Coventry City
Ellis Simms has sparked more intrigue among Everton supporters in the year since he left than during his rise through the upper age groups of the club’s academy. The debate over his departure will rage on after his performance against the Blues on Tuesday night.
The reality is that his transfer to the Midlands 12 months ago was a good deal for everyone.
It provided with a useful multi-million pound fee for a squad player, the player with the opportunities he needed to continue his development, and Coventry with a striker whose goals would go on to power the Championship side to a play-off push that only dissipated when attention turned to the FA Cup, in which the club was a penalty shootout from the final.
Simms did have chances in his final months with the Blues – starting at Anfield and Old Trafford and leaving with that wonderful shared memory of his goal at Stamford Bridge. But his departure was a decision that made sense to all parties and which still does.
His development since then has been significant, however, and as Everton struggled for goals at times last season his performances in Sky Blue provided plenty of inspiration for those at Goodison willing to wonder ‘what if’ last season.
Everton were handed another glimpse of that ‘what if’ Simms scored the goal that gave Coventry a deserved lead midway through the half, providing a poacher’s finish as the ball dropped to him when a corner led to a scramble in the away side’s box. It was a goal that had been coming, from a player who was too much for his former team’s defence.
He brought a free-kick from Mason Holgate, left the centre back on the floor as he cut inside only to see his shot blocked by a team-mate and was a menace throughout. Simms also almost sent through Tatsuhiro Sakamoto in the second half only for an excellent Holgate challenge to halt him.
His performance – albeit against a back-up defence and a side more concerned about fitness than results – stood out so powerfully because of the continued struggle at the other end. This was another match in which had opportunities – some fashioned by himself – but failed to seriously trouble the opposite number one.
A lot will happen before Everton kick-off their Premier League campaign against Brighton & Hove Albion in just over a fortnight. Players will return from injury, new relationships will grow and confidence will return. But the sooner the Blues’ forward line can find some potency, the better.
Be the first to comment