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!
Join the NothingButNewcastle.com Fantasy Football League by going to http://fantasy.premierleague.com – clicking Leagues, Join a Private League and entering the code: 51196-46991
He is a below average right back, certainly shouldnt be first choice if youve any ambition.
good article – when I first started watching the Toon back in the early 1960s, the RB was a certain unassuming David Craig & look how he built up his loyal service record, by just keeping mum & producing the goods consistently, week after week, season after season – well done, Danny Simpson & long may ye continue to play for NUFC
He’s terrible and I’m an avid toon fan!
For a defender, his tackling is atrocious
He’s decidedly average. Backs off far too much, very frustrating to watch. He’s not terrible though, good crosser and tidy passer
He does back off a bit too much for my liking, but would say he’s better than decidedly average
should read:
The most overrated player in the Prem, let alone at Newcastle
Probably our worst first-team player last season. He was to blame for at least a third of the goals we conceded last season due to his poor tackling and marking abilities. Constantly allowed left wingers cut inside him for an easy sight of goal. Add to that the fact he has almost no crossing ability and you have an extremely poor right back.
‘to blame for at least a third of the goals we conceded’ – no way
If we review all goals conceded i would wager MORE than one third were down to Simpson. He appears to have all of the physical attributes but plays like a cross between a headless chicken and a rabbit caught in the headlights. Makes very poor decisions. Possibly young enough to improve but I despair of the coaching at Newcastle.
Couldn’t agree more
Danny Is a excellent player . Some people forget this is his first season in the pl and he missed the start of it.
Like
Why are you all slating him what’s he done wrong this season like? could someone tell me as I go to every game and he rarely makes mistakes
Danny Simpson the most underrated player in the Premier League??
Haha, pull the other one FFS!
Don’t you have to be rated to be underrated?
Wouldn’t say he’s terrible but he is consistently one of the worst three players in the starting 11
have to agree with the majority , he is truelly awful as a defender. very uncomptable on the ball and when in possesion does not have a clue what to do with it. brings nothing to the team! he is the type of player that makes you think i could of been pro!
@nufc absolutely no way do you go to every game..maybe he hasn’t made any mistakes in the 4 times you have watched the highlights on motd.
Well reading some of the above negative remarks about Simpson, just goes to show how many fans just dont have a clue about the game.
Simpson is a player who is consistently improving his game, is now more attack minded and who is unspectacular, due to an ability to read the game.
Guy stays on his feet and though short, is not that bad in the air.
Unlike a certain CD (Williamson), who is praised constantly for ball watching , cant read the game and for a tall guy is hopeless in the air, not to mention spends half the game on his ass.
But as i mentioned, most fans dont know diddly squat about the game.
You must know everything about the game, I put you forward as our next manager
Agreed. Chuck for Prime Minister.
He talks some sense
Actually they’re both garbage – Simpson and Williamson both! Upgrades needed urgently please…..
CB – Maybe get Bassong back? or Onohua?
RB – is Tavernier ready? how about Clyne from Palace?
He is generally poor and average at best. I don’t rate Ryan Taylor but I honestly think he is better than Simpson, like someone said above, a club with ambition should replace him. Fingers crossed he improves because like you say he is a young lad but I can’t see it happening. Shame habib beye left to not even get on a bench!
I’d add one more to the positive minority, it really bugs me that Jose can be at fault for a goal or pass the ball directly to the oppositions & fans let him off – Simmo makes 1 mistake & he gets hammered. Yes he was at fault for the Lennon goal so what, Tiote was a fault for a Wigan goal (or was it Blackburn) but he’s still a great player.
I’d rather Simpson over Warren Barton or Stephen Carr any day & for those thar say he can’t cross…you’re kidding right?!? Jose/Jonas faff around with the ball rather than getting it in the box Simpson crosses quickly & creates chances. Definitely underrated & underapreciated by Toon fans, which is a shames cos think he might be one that actually sticks around a & commits to the club.
I feel that at 24 years old he should be more accomplished than he is.
I play right back and have done since a young age and it didn’t take me long to learn to stop backing off the winger. I ain’t even sunday league standard yet I still understand the fundamentals and put them into practice.
Danny fails to grasp the very basics in the art of defending when it really matters.
Well said. This ‘he’s only young’ excuse that his fans peddle is pathetic.
I play right back as well, an while i dont think Danny is awful i do think he is prone to a mistake, a bit like Bramble but its less of a calamity an right full, hopefully he grows out of it, Im a Ryan Taylor fan myself, kinda play like him too even been labeled a utility player, wish i could shoot like him haha 😛
Bit past his sell by date now, just let go by Stoke and yes he was a decent player for us, talking bout Beye.
And Rob,
you just proved my point by claiming Raylor was better than Simpson.
Habib Beye just let go by Stoke? The same Habib Beye that is still on the books of Aston Villa? And YOU claim that other fans don’t know ‘diddly squat’ about football?
sorry Villa wear claret and blue haha !!
What was your point and how have I proved it?
Agree wholeheartedly… with most of the comments. Simpson is a below average Premier League defender. Up against a winger with any semblance of pace and/or trickery he gives them the freedom of St James’ Park or wherever we are playing away from home. At fault for a vast amount of goals that Newcastle concede by backing off all the way to the six-yard-box at an alarming distance, allowing his opponent to cut inside and pick a pass or shoot. Examples include Lennon’s goal (spurs) at home and Matt Jarvis’ assist at home vs Wolves. I agree that Ryan Taylor may be a better option but I do feel hat if Newcastle want to progress this season they should be after a better right back. Possibly the only defender in the Premier League that actually shows his opponent INSIDE. Woeful.
I would also add that I feel there are at least three players at Newcastle more worthy of the ‘most underrated’ tag ahead of Simpson: Ameobi, Williamson and Guthrie. In my mind, too many people bizarrely share the opinion of the author of this article, making Simpson actually ‘overrated’, not underrated as stated.
Ameobi….. are you serious? He’s shit, and that’s kind.
Ameobi is a better striker than Simpson is a right back. Granted, Simpson is more consistent: Consistently shit.
A trio of poor players you’ve mentioned there
It just highlights the lack of depth in the squad when you have Simpson, Raylor and Perch vying for full back. Sell 2 of them, keep 1 as backup and replace with someone good.
Spurs can’t play both Hutton and Walker at the same time, snap one of them up, both better than any of our 3.
Exactly. I’d take Hutton and Simpson would be good backup.
Even worst case scenario, Gosling can play there.
Walker has been snapped up on loan already as far as I no was one the new PL teams got him.. i may be mistaken tho so dont quote me
You’re thinking of Naughton, but Hutton is a decent shout