In any team there are players that grab the headlines and those that go under the radar. At Newcastle the likes of Joey Barton, Cheik Tiote, Jose Enrique and co. receive much of the praise handed out in the media, but one player in particular doesn’t ever seem to get any column inches; that man is Danny Simpson. An uncomplicated player, Simpson was pretty much an ever-present for Newcastle after missing the very start of the season, yet few plaudits head his way. Does this make Newcastle’s right back one of the most underrated players in the Premier League?
At 24 years of age, Danny Simpson is still learning his game, as many defenders don’t tend to hit their peak until their early thirties. The art of defending is one that has to be learned, and the experience that comes with years of playing is invaluable. In that sense, the former Manchester United trainee is still in the early part of his career and Newcastle is just Simpson’s second permanent club. After years of being sent out on loan, Danny has finally found a place called home and Newcastle fans are glad to have him.
Despite not being the tallest, he’s just 5ft 8in, Simpson has made the right back spot his own. A gauge of how well Danny played last season is that I haven’t seen one right back linked with Newcastle. That’s probably because in Simpson Newcastle have a highly competent right back and therefore if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. He might not be the most eye-catching of players and he doesn’t often appear to be that comfortable going forward, but Danny Simpson goes about his job with minimal fuss, just like all quality defenders. He’s not flash, but he’s certainly effective.
As Simpson heads into his third season, you might have thought that the player who Newcastle picked up for just £750,000 might see his reputation go through the roof, but you’d be wrong. While I’m not asking for international recognition, I think his achievements should be recognised by those outside of Alan Pardew and his staff. The fact that QPR were linked with a £1.5 million bid for Simpson last month shows just how lowly many people value him.
What really takes the biscuit is his Fantasy Football ranking. Not the most accurate of ratings I’ll admit, but it does to some extent illustrate his status in English football. He costs you just £4m to buy – the same price as James Perch and, perhaps even more ludicrously, QPR and ex-Newcastle defender Peter Ramage! He’s among the cheapest defenders of the lot, which is hardly representative of the form he’s showed for Newcastle over the last two years, but does give you an idea of how underrated he is.
Danny Simpson was one of Newcastle’s most consistent performers last season and yes he’ll never set the world alight, but he’ll never let you down either. I’d challenge you to find a more underrated player in the Premier League than Newcastle’s number 12 and for that reason he’s going straight into my fantasy football team!
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“It just highlights the lack of depth in the squad…”
Christ, to go even further, it highlights the lack of depth in English football when Simmo is tipped for an England cap. Not surprising though, as the guy in front of him is Glen Johnson! I’d prefer Simmo any day!
I would love to see you lot do better than simpson, u all talk a good game but clearly cant play it, otherwise we would b the best team in the world. Arm chair supporters.
What a ridiculous comment. So you have to be better at football than a professional player to voice an opinion on them? Hahahaha
I cant believe someone mentioned ameobi and guthrie as underated players, there is a reason for that and its because they are absolutely turgid footballers.
Whilst being unspectacular simpson does a good job at the back (although the backing off needs to stop) and nearer the end of the season you could see simpson gaining confidence by getting himself up field with barton on the wing and put in some fine crosses which is more than can be said for our natural left winger gutierrez who doesnt understand the concept of crossing yet.
In all i just think people are getting ahead of themselves. Theres at least 6 or 7 players in that squad that need sorting out before simpson even comes to mind. We are newcastle who finished 12th in the league, we dont have amazing players in ever pozition, shock! danny is worth perservering with for the time being.
Ameobi would be one my underrated players at Toon and its his own fault … he has a genius in his game an there has been plenty of times i seen him play an was like this is the Ameobi we saw potential in an then the following week he is liturgic an lazy, if he got a bit of constancy he can be a 15goal striker easy … i think Best is some what underrate while Loven is over rated , granted i like all our players ill back the toon to the bitter end
Eh? Have you ever actually watched him play? He is the possibly the worst defender in the history of the premiership. I’d love to see his game stats because i cant actually recall him committing to a tackle all season. He backs off thats all he ever does. Even i can do that! Perch was bad but at least he made attempts to win the ball. This article is ridiculous.
defending is not just about tackling, he does back off too often, but you’re taught as a defender to jockey players and hold them up rather than diving in
That would be fine if he did hold them up but he doesn’t. He gives them enough space and time to do whatever they please.
You jockey rather than dive in and be left flat footed or on your backside but you dont continuously jockey until the attacker is inside the box and able to freely shoot or cross! He has been consistently bad at newcastle his defending is non existent and he has no confidence on the ball going forward. It goes without saying that to play someone else at rightback this season is to immediately improve on last season.
^^^ so you think highly of titus shambles??? No need to over exaggerate mate everyone knows simpsons not amazing
No need to over exaggerate? And the title and premise of this article is what exactly?
that he’s underrated, as I think the comments have proved! 😮
He’s not underrated, rather he’s not rated at all.
Danny Simpson is THE worst right back we’ve had at newcastle in fifteen years…barring Perch of course. If any of you saw him at liverpool at the end of last season you will understand what I mean…Dalglish certainly saw how bad he was and everything liverpool did in the second half came down the left.
His positional sense is worse the John Beresfords, his arial ability is non existent and he’s all too often leaves a massive hole in behind himself.
I don’t think a right back has been mentioned because we’ve got two people that can cover the position already…Stevie T and Ryan Taylor….it’s certainly not because he’s any good!
He’s average on a good day. Poor the rest. What a discusting article. People like you keep him playing first team football for NUFC. Try and attend more matches next year!
Harsh, I think we’ll agree to disagree!
This article is plain whimsy.
He would cost 2M in today’s market I think. As you said he doesn’t set the world alight but does quietly go about his business and makes some fantastic interceptions at times that saved us from embarrassment a few times last season.
On the other hand he does back off attackers too much for my liking and does not help much when going forward even though he does posses good crossing ability. He is average at best just like Guthrie.
Playing consistently with us might make him learn quicker and improve his faults but I don’t think he should be our first choice RB and that position needs addressing in the future. Honestly I see Travenier or Saylor being much more effective at RB. Simpson should be one of our good and dependable back-up players.