You could see he had something when he was playing for Western Suburbs. If I'm Bazeley that line is already drawn based on Glory's performances to date - one saving grace is the games are in NZ so it doesn't make a lot of sense for a 3rd choice GK who won't play to make the trek.
You could see he had something when he was playing for Western Suburbs. If I'm Bazeley that line is already drawn based on Glory's performances to date - one saving grace is the games are in NZ so it doesn't make a lot of sense for a 3rd choice GK who won't play to make the trek.
Yes but the season in Sweden has finished, if only just. Presumably Sims is soon coming down to NZ anyway for a summer break/Xmas.
But yeah it's hardly a big deal, a debate over who should be the no 3 GK. Pressure on Sail to perform between now and March, when luckily for him the new Swedish season will be about to begin, so likely makes even less sense to bring Sims all the way downunder.
Might have to wait from June next year onwards to see any changes in the keeping picks. Who knows Henry Gray might get a L1/L2 loan deal in January. Or be a Championship match day squad keeper season 25/26 if Ipswich are relegated next May.
Sails's spot definitely under threat for the 2026 WC. Bazeley and Paul Gothard would have seen Sims up close for a few weeks at the Olympics, they will have a good idea of how he compares currently to Oli.
Niche Cache. If he did become the starting keeper this year at GAIS, he's likely force himself into the AWs squad, ahead of Sail.
Paulsen, Sims, Henry Gray & AKH. Scott Morris at Stoke City as well. The older blokes Crocombe & Sail will have to stay in form.
Magnus Sköldmark, GAIS technical director:“We are very pleased that Kees will extend his agreement with GAIS until 2028. He has a very good physique as well as other good qualities that combine to make him an exciting goalkeeper. The position as a goalkeeper is very much about routine and what is gratifying is that he has already shown in 2024 that he is good enough for the Allsvensk level.”
Already good enough for the Allsvensk level and only going to get better. Sims turns 22 in March, making him ten years younger than Krasniqi (no 1 keeper at GAIS) – whose own contract expires in 2026 after signing an extension midway through last season. You’ve heard it before but no current All Whites goalie is playing at a higher standard than what Sims is doing. The Allsvenskan (easily) clears the A-League or England’s League One. Great areas from GAIS to keep him on the bus.
Kees Sims: “I am very happy about this, I think last year we performed strongly as a team and I think this year will be a continuation of it. I always look forward to trainings, meeting my teammates and competing against them. I feel that I have learned, improved, and developed as a player every day since I arrived last year and the coaching staff here has been an important part of it, so I am happy to continue working with them. I can't wait for us to be back in front of the fans as well, they are always fantastic and make playing for this club a special experience.”
GAIS's no 1 keeper last season, 32 yr old Krasniqi not in match day squad. From memory 12 mths ago, him and Sims rotated games through the preseason Svenska Cupen
With Tzanev now back on the bench in League One (which plays through FIFA windows), and Sims perhaps for now better to concentrate on the new Swedish season, can see Sail keeping his squad place for AWs this month.
As you’d expect, this was much more challenging game for Kees Sims than the last couple. He made a diving save within a few minutes of kickoff. He saw his left post rattled within eleven minutes. GAIS did have some bright moments on attack while it was still 0-0 but then they conceded on 38’ when a close-range finish was swept past Sims and the second half only ramped the pressure up further. Looked like he had some tough ones trying to deal with the aerials, punching a couple away unconvincingly, but it was only in the last ten minutes that the game got away from them. In fact, GAIS had a couple of set pieces which they easily could have scored an equaliser from. Then Sims got beaten by a pair of 1v1s on 83’ and 88’ and that was that.
The real season kicks off in a few weeks and when it does Sims will probably settle back onto the bench. These pre-season cup games were a good way to get him some minutes, keep him active, keep the development going, and now Mergin Krasniqi will return at the top of the depth chart. Injuries and suspensions do happen though and KS managed to make eight Allsvenskan appearances during 2024 so we’ll see how he tracks in 2025... might even have graduated into the occasional rotation start without having to wait for Krasniqi to be unavailable, who knows.
The third keeper spot has very little to do with who is third best. Reina was picked for years for Spain for cultural reasons. No need to throw a wildcard in the works and potentially unsettle the environment a little for a crucial semi and final, particularly if the 3rd keeper is never going to play anyway. Not to mention the expense of flights from Europe.
Another cup friendly start for sims in a 3-0 victory yesterday, even if it doesn’t transfer over to proper season games, he’s still getting lots of good game time…….. must be pretty encouraging for him
This is from the last game sims played in (think he has missed a game since) anyone know what the mv next to his name means? The only thing I found was market value….. IMG_7811.jpeg863.14 KB
This is from the last game sims played in (think he has missed a game since) anyone know what the mv next to his name means? The only thing I found was market value….. IMG_7811.jpeg863.14 KB
Ibrahim
Not eligible: Joackim Åberg continues his rehab training after his hip surgery. Kees Sims was hit in the head by a ball in training on Friday and is resting as a precaution. Robin Wendin Thomasson is recovering from illness. Chisom Chika Chidi is ill
Via Niche Cache. There’s also another angle regarding Kees Sims: according to Fotboll Direkt, he’s attracting significant interest from the English Championship with Coventry City being specifically mentioned. Sims signed a new contract with GAIS in January that’ll last until 2028 so he won’t come cheap if that’s the case. But Coventry have clearly been paying close attention to the GK stocks in Sweden because they already signed goalkeeper Oliver Dovin from Hammarby in July 2024... however, Dovin just tore his ACL and will miss not only the rest of this season but probably half of the next one too. Thus they’re considering going back to the old well.
Remember that Coventry is also the club that were on the brink of signing Marko Stamenic before Nottingham Forest swept in and took him away. They’re currently coached by Frank Lampard. Also, Sims has a British passport so no issues there... in fact, before he signed with GAIS he went on a training/trial tour of England where he sampled the experiences at Leicester City, Nottingham Forest, and... Coventry City (as well as Lilleström in Norway... and the following offseason he trained with GAIS in Sweden, Hobro IK in Norway, and Örgryte in Sweden before ultimately signing with GAIS).
Of course, the report specifically states that there are “several” Championship clubs having a peek. Nothing can happen until mid-year when the English transfer window opens again, and nothing may happen at all (he’s in a good spot where he is, no stress). But it sure sounds like he might have some English scouts in the stands when he next plays.
Not eligible: Joackim Åberg continues his rehab training after his hip surgery. Kees Sims got hit in the head by a ball last week and should be in match form next week. Robin Wendin Thomasson is recovering from illness.
