Position: Striker
Age: 24 *
At Club Since: Summer 2023
Total Club League Appearances (Goals): 107(26) *
If last season killed the notion that Ellis Simms was capable of being Coventry City’s first-choice centre-forward, this year has suggested he might at least be capable of contributing in a smaller role. With just one start under his belt this campaign – an impressive one, in grabbing two assists in a win away at Portsmouth – the caveat is that there is a small body of evidence behind this version of Simms but it has been highly promising to see someone who has previously needed a run of games to get himself into form start to show that he can come into the team cold and make an impact. The test now is whether he can do so when the Sky Blues really need him to change a game.
This encouraging series of cameos aside, just what Ellis Simms’ skill-set and the best way of using him remains elusive. Arriving at the club as someone who was, more or less, a pure poacher who wanted to play on the last shoulder of the opposing defence, Simms has been tasked with utilising his physicality and contributing outside the penalty area for much of his 100 appearances in Sky Blue. Confidence seems a significant factor in Simms’ game. When he’s feeling it, he can bluster past opponents, win headers and finish without hesitation. When he’s not, the ball bounces off his foot like it’s a pinball, opponents ease to win every challenge and he’ll take extra touches until chances to shoot have passed him by.
At 24 years old, Ellis Simms has time enough on his side to develop into the kind of leading man centre-forward at Championship level he’s threatened to become during some of his best runs of form for Coventry City. What’s prevented him doing so is the level of maintenance he requires to even get close to that, something a team chasing end of season achievements can ill-afford. While it seems that Simms’ chance to be the main man for Coventry has already passed him by, he looks motivated to at least make an impact with a smaller role in the team and perhaps learn what it will take to fulfil his potential longer term.
*As of 13/12/2025
Previous Profiles: New Signing, 10 Games In, 25 Games In. 50 Games In, 75 Games In
Sideways Sammy 