Kees Sims (GAIS | Sweden)

It would be great if we could squeeze another AWs match in before the end of the season, for those fringe players like Sims vs Gray, OPP, etc against another nations fringe players (like NZ B v Scotland B)

Won't happen, mind you.

Highlights. GAIS in the green and black stripes.

Sims easier the busier of the two keepers, including a sharp double save in the 2nd half.

Nice stadium that looked packed in the sunny Swedish spring weather.

Note last year's (and long standing) first choice GAIS GK Krasniqi is still listed as injured.

https://twitter.com/thenichecache/status/2041715954804257037

Kees Sims wants that World Cup selection, folks #FlyingKiwis pic.twitter.com/CrHnposk6W

— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) April 8, 2026

Niche Cache.

GAIS.se: “Mergim Krasniqi is in the final stages of rehabilitation after his shoulder surgery”

Good, sweet, rest up Mergy and take your time. The longer Krasniqi takes to recover from his dislocated shoulder – the same one that gave Kees Sims the chance to finish last season as GAIS’s starting goalie – the more Kees Sims we’ll get to begin this season. GAIS made a point of getting minutes for both Sims and their newly-signed third choice keeper Andreas Hermansen during the Swedish Cup stuff in preseason when there had been chat that Krasniqi was ahead of schedule and might be ready for game one of the Allsvenskan stuff. But as you can see, he was not. And you know what that meant.

Kees Sims as the week one starter, go on son. GAIS lost 1-0 against Djurgården. Somehow failed to score from two massive early chances, also hitting the post in the second half, and eventually going down to a 65th minute effort from Patric Alsund. 

GAIS travel to Malmo FF

https://us.soccerway.com/game/gais-bJewAOTf/malmo-ff-tYNTdpar/?mid=2HQESKHF

By all accounts he played well last week despite the 1-0 loss. 

Unfortunately he chalks up a costly mistake this morning in a 3-1 loss to Malmö.

https://twitter.com/i/status/2043346238762828150

Nyförvärvet Oscar Sjöstrand gör sitt första mål för Malmö FF - efter en rejäl bjudning från Kees Sims😬

Se alla höjdpunkter, mål och klipp från Allsvenskan på Fotbollskanalen! pic.twitter.com/9FIRXZwfzV

— Fotbollskanalen (@fotbollskanal) April 12, 2026

😬😬😬

Ouch (2nd goal). That could definitely hurt Sims's WC chances and he will know it.
I still think he edges Gray and Woud for now. Looked like Woud was on the pine for AFC against the VUC, so he might be close to a return?

Gray hasn't been quite so good of late for Harrogate who look likely to be relegated from L2 now.

To be fair to Sims from the brief highlights it looks like GAIS were under the pump for alot of this 3-1 loss.
With the 3rd goal maybe he could you tried flip the ball over the bar rather than palm back into the pen box, and then he goes to ground when if he had stayed on his feet he likely makes the save.

Highlights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_604VPVx3VE 

Usual no 1 GK  Krasniqi was not on the pine. Sims WC chances could hinge on when  Krasniqi returns from injury, and does he consign Sims immediately to the pine when he does return. Baze likes his keepers playing.

Niche Cache

Ah well these things happen. Henry Gray gave away a penalty last week. Alex Paulsen’s dove over a few this season. Max Crocombe doesn’t miss much but there was that error against Sheffield Wednesday immediately before Millwall made their keeping switch. It comes with the territory of being a goalie. The timing sucks because this contributed to a 3-1 defeat, consigning GAIS to consecutive defeats to begin the year (same as Mjällby, to be fair). And with Krasniqi close to being in contention again (hopefully they give it a couple weeks to build him up) this wasn’t exactly a display to put the long-time GAIS number one under pressure.

But it’s also nothing to overreact to. It’s not that likely that Sims overtakes Krasniqi anyway and the response from Sims to that error was very good, picking himself up and not dwelling on the past. His post-game comments reflected that awareness, taking responsibility without losing context...

Kees Sims: “As a goalkeeper, you play on the borderline, and you have to find a balance between being too activated and not being activated. On the first goal, I was calm, sometimes I'm much too activated. It's not good enough, I can’t make mistakes like that.”

He was also asked about the response of his teammates, who were quick to get around him after the error...

“That means everything. It shows what kind of team we are, even now after we've had a tough start to the season, have had a tough match. These are my friends. They're close to me, I'm far from home. It means everything that they’re there to tell me to let it go.”

The first goal was beyond his control, a brilliant Pontus Jansson header (21’) that went in off the framework. Jansson was a former teammate of Chris Wood’s at Leeds United back in the day. The third goal was a messy one though (41’), Sims initially slapping away a dipping cross but not putting enough distance on it. His defence then failed to clear the ball despite multiple touches and somehow it was squeezed in past Sims whose vision was obstructed. It was 3-0 at half-time. GAIS only got their goal back with four minutes to go. So... mixed fortunes for the kiwis in Sweden.

GAIS travel to Hacken

https://us.soccerway.com/game/gais-bJewAOTf/hacken-W6u0d7B3/?mid=xCxqWgO7 

Sims dropped to the bench for their game at Häcken.

The problem for Sims is that it wasn't the long time GAIS no 1 Krasniqi who replaced him, but Hermansen the designated no 3 at season start.

Shades of the GK merry go round at the Nix this season, trying to work out who was best in goal??

Anyway GAIS lost 2-1, and Hermansen got a low Soccerway 5.8 rating. GAIS have lost all 3 league games to date after finishing a lofty 3rd last season, and getting a spot in Europe. So maybe the gaffer is searching for some quick fix solutions.

Struggling GAIS host last year's champs Mjallby.

https://us.soccerway.com/game/gais-bJewAOTf/mjallby-S0XtXM1E/?mid=2DUUklFt

0-0 draw. GAIS's first point of the new season after 4 games.

Unfortunately Sims is on the bench again, with Hermansen starting. So when long time no 1  Krasniqi returns, Sims might be down as the no 3 keeper at GAIS. 

With Gray also potentially not starting at Harrogate (missed their last game a win) - Woud is looking like being the no 3 World Cup pick.

GAIS travel to Goteborg

2-2 draw. Sims on the pine.

Sims & Gray both inactive the last few weeks. Advantage Woud.

Niche Cache

.........That’s a whole lot better than how the season’s tracking for Kees Sims after five rounds. He started game one and GAIS went alright in a narrow loss. He made a big blunder in the second game as they were defeated again. Then he got dropped and previous third-choice Andreas Hermansen (a new signing this year) has surpassed him with the last three starts. Despite having qualified for Europe last year, GAIS are yet to win a game... but they have at least managed a couple of draws in Hermansen’s outings and it won’t be long until regular number one Mergim Krasniqi reclaims his throne having already played an U21s game.

This time last year there was a rumour linking Sims to English Championship club Coventry... well, Coventry just got promoted to the Premier League and Sims might be about to fall to third-choice goalkeeper at GAIS so the ol’ agent might want to put in a few calls. Adversity is often beneficial to young footballers in the long run.