Josh Sims Joins an Illustrious Group of Impressive Debutants; and Some Less so

At 4:31 on Sunday afternoon, Josh Sims’ first-team record for Southampton stood at one assist every 41 seconds of play and, but for a scuffed effort from three yards out that by his own post-match admission was an effort on goal, might have read even more illustriously.

That awkward scoop of the ball inside the six-yard box dropped to Charlie Austin, who greedily tapped in what turned out to be the winner in Southampton’s 1-0 victory against Everton. But 19-year-old Sims’ Saints debut will not be remembered for the scratchy goal to which he contributed inside the first minute of his Premier League career.

The academy graduate, whose afternoon lasted a breathless 84 minutes before being hooked for his under-23 team-mate Sam McQueen, played with all the spirit and adventure of a young colt cut from the leash for the first time, but that was a long way from being the full story.

This was a performance marked by a maturity and efficiency of application that defied his young years, and on this evidence, there is every reason to believe that another diamond has been chipped out of the rough down on the south coast. For all that his performance was electrifying, Sims’ career will doubtlessly go on to eclipse the memories he gave Saints fans on this opening afternoon at St Mary’s.

Over the moon! Unbelievable experience, delighted to get MOTM on my debut and to get 3 points…dreams come true!

— Josh Sims (@simsjosh12) November 27, 2016

The debut is a phenomenon all on its own in football. Often the bearers of false promise and omens that never pay off, we as spectators have a habit of overinvesting in the snapshot event that is a player’s first game.

Some new arrivals raise the levels of anticipation to near-climax before going on to have plodding careers that peter out into a forgettable haze. Likewise, great debuts that raise the curtain on great careers tend to be quickly forgotten, too, forced down the page and into the footnotes of legacies and legends. Sometimes remarkable careers begin with barely a whimper, just as some whimpers begin with a bang.

Thierry Henry made his debut in English football on August 7, 1999, against Leicester City at Highbury, but the man with the World Cup winners’ medal who within six years would go on to break the club’s goalscoring record had not brought his shooting boots with him from Juventus.

Henry lacked any sort of composure on his Arsenal bow, lashing three more-than-decent chances off target as the Gunners laboured to a 2-1 win courtesy of a last-minute Frank Sinclair own-goal.

It was Henry’s header across goal from an Emmanuel Petit corner that led to Sinclair planting past his goalkeeper Tim Flowers under seemingly little pressure, but it wasn’t to be until the eighth week of the season …

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