Hindsight is a wonderful thing, especially in football. But should Sunderland have opted to sign Simms in the summer? I’m starting to think so. The former Sunderland loanee has been a pivotal part to Coventry’s season and Sunderland had the opportunity to turn his loan into a permanent but opted against paying the fee. Sunderland’s lack of a focal point up top has been detrimental to our season. Anyone could tell you that. Countless times we have been able to craft out an opportunity in front of goal that anyone with a striker’s instinct would be able to finish. The difference? We don’t have anyone that fits that criteria.
Admittedly I wasn’t his biggest fan during his loan spell here, but he has been on fire this season for Coventry with 14 goal contributions. Many which have come since the turn of the year. There was a huge understanding that Coventry overpaid for Simms. A fee of £8m was being thrown around and at that price, Sunderland would probably have been right not to retain his services.
But Coventry haven’t even paid half of that. His initial fee was around £3.5M that may rise should Coventry achieve promotion. Hardly a bad trade off even if it pays off.
Sunderland’s striking options of Rusyn, Burrow, Hemir and Mayenda have scored three goals between them this season and it can only be imagined where the club could be if we had someone you could rely on to put the ball in the back of the net. I.e. Ellis Simms. Our striking woes started when Everton made the decision to recall Simms last season to cover their lack of attacking depth. That added with the fact Ross Stewart spent this period out injured should have raised major alarm bells for Speakman and co. Evidently it didn’t. This was the beginning of our downfall and ultimately a big reason as to why this season has been a write off.
Kieffer Moore, Al-Hamadi amongst others were linked in January. None of which ever materialised with both of those mentioned joining Ipswich who look all but set for promotion. In his 13 appearances since joining Ipswich on loan, Moore has found the net six times. For context that is double what our striking options have managed throughout the season combined.
Ambition is the word that gets thrown around. Sunderland needed to show ambition and fill the gaping hole in the squad that someone like Ellis Simms could have filled. Maybe he cost slightly more than the club were wanting to pay, but for a Championship goalscorer you need to be able to stump up the cash when required. We didn’t and here we sit languishing in mid table with nothing to play for.
Whatever happens in the summer, a striker is a must for Sunderland. Not an untested, 18-year-old with potential to influence the team in the coming years. But someone with experience of playing senior, first team football and someone that is capable of finding the net on a regular basis. Whoever that is, it may cost Kyril and Speakman more than they’d like but this is the time for them to truly showcase what their actual ambitions are for the club going forward.
