With news coming through earlier this week about young Southampton winger Josh Sims making the switch out to Reading on a loan spell, it’s fair to say I personally tried to look at the positives of what he could learn under Paul Clement.
Now a manager in his own right, he’s worked with a number of considered ‘stars’ previously earning his spurs as an assistant at Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich to name four.
Whilst his managerial career arguably hasn’t yet gone to plan, there are mitigating circumstances in his favour in my humble opinion.
So Josh Sims could certainly benefit from 12 months under his charge and there are fans, as covered previously, who accept and welcome that if he’s not immediately in Mark Hughes plans.
My previous article looked at the positives.
This Should Be A Good Move For Talented Young Southampton Winger
For reasons of balance, and the thought occurred so I thought I’d babble about it, there are plenty of negatives that maybe need a greater piece of airtime themselves and a number of fans feel this is a major error by Hughes.
ok probably good for him. Nevertheless I’m gutted that Josh doesn’t get a chance in our squad this season! I personally think he’s totally underrated and has a lot to offer with his pace/technique and his overall tactical understanding! Good luck, you will succeed! ????????#saintsfc pic.twitter.com/yCNnX2t2QC
— Swiss Saints (@Gion_Brasser) August 20, 2018
Just loaned out some of the only pace we have in our side. Sound, cheers lads. Show them why they should've kept you Josh!
— Jack (@LesReedOut) August 20, 2018
Why??? He was an impressive impact player and always played his heart out?! Wasting well needed talent for our season
— Dominic M-J (@DominicMorganJ2) August 20, 2018
Josh Sims is good enough for our first team Saint by a long way!!!!
— Adrian (@APMSaint) August 20, 2018
Sad day. Should be given a chance to play. He's quick, Intelligent and creative – something the first XI lacks badly
— Gary (@FreddieNonsense) August 20, 2018
Hughes has placed his faith in our current wideboys and everybody has expectations about Mohamed Elyounoussi in particular, so hopefully, he will step up as will a resurgent Nathan Redmond and Sims can take everything he possibly can from the option of having greater game time.
If not, in my mind it could potentially be the second thing fans will hang around Hughes’ neck if things go wrong as there are those who still see the Tadic departure as his first mistake.