Arguably the most pleasing aspect of Newcastle’s start to the 2011/12 Premier League season, is that Alan Pardew’s men have recorded back-to-back clean sheets. That is something of a rarity, and although Tim Krul has been solid, you wouldn’t have said that he’s had to make a string of stunning saves over the course of the two matches against Arsenal and Sunderland. That means that Newcastle’s back four must be doing a great job and an important part of that is the much maligned Danny Simpson.
Last month I wrote an article saying that Simpson is the most underrated player at Newcastle and possibly even in the Premier League. The comments that you gave me kind of supported that view, saying that he’s ‘below average’, ‘his tackling is atrocious’, ‘backs off far too much’ and ‘probably our worst first-team player last season’. Those thoughts seemed to be the general consensus and that my view was going against the grain. However, it seems that Stan Collymore has a similar way of thinking.
While on the whole I wouldn’t usually agree with what Collymore has to say, on the issue of Danny Simpson it seems that we share similar thoughts. Simpson was on talkSPORT last night, talking about Newcastle’s win over Sunderland and Stan was very complimentary about Newcastle’s right back. Maybe he was just sucking up to Danny because he was on the show, but Collymore said “Danny Simpson will be an England international”.
Now, I know many of you will tell me that Collymore is talking out of his backside, but it’s nice to see that Simpson is getting praised by the sporting media, even if it is by the marmite figure of Stan Collymore. I actually have to admit that I don’t think Simpson had his best game against Sunderland, with Jack Colback getting in down the left a number of times in the first half. However, he covered very well round the back, preventing Stephane Sessegnon from converting a simple header, in a similar way that he stopped Gervinho pulling the trigger last weekend.
Simpson clearly is a pretty confident player as well and himself has international ambitions. This morning he Tweeted Chris Kamara saying “any chance of him (Fabio Capello) comin up to the north east n watching a game for once”. While right back isn’t England’s strongest position, I would say that Micah Richards, Kyle Walker and Glen Johnson are ahead of him of Danny Simpson in the pecking order, purely for their attacking abilities.
Danny Simpson is never going to be a right back that bombs up and down the flank, but at 24 he has time to work on his game and has a strong level of defending as a solid basis to work from. I’m not sure he will become an England international like Stan Collymore thinks, but he will continue to be part of a solid back four at Newcastle; I only wish the rest of the Toon Army would give him a break.
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he is a sound bloke and a good footballer doing the job for us. i think he is under rated too. all the best to him and here’s to hoping he has a long and happy time at the club
hear hear
It will never happen whilst Fabio is in charge as he never watches Newcastle especially at St James!
I rate him highly don’t know why he gets a hard time from certain fans.
He should have a good season
Simpson at best is average, his problem is lack of pace and he gets skinned virtually every game. We have been lucky so far this season as when people have gone past him the chances created have not been converted.
I think it is a bit harsh to say he gets skinned, for me he puts in a solid performance and because he does not shout his mouth off or score blistering goals it is said that he is average. I would prefer a player who knows his job does the basics well and is improving in his craft, that is Simpson for me. I think as usual we are too keen on talking players down many think everyone should be the completed piece of work I think I would be glad to have Simpson behind me if I were a midfielder caught out of position. Yes attackers do somethimes get past him but isn’t that their job he cannot stop everyone Enrique did not stop every one going past him nor did Berresford or Barton (not Joey) or the great Frank Clarke or David Craig get real and get supporting instead of criticising.
He’s the weakest link in the Newcastle defense. Never gonna play for England
“because he does not shout his mouth off or score blistering goals it is said that he is average.”
Nonsense. Where does this view come from that people who don’t rate Simpson do so because he’s not a loud character or a goalscorer. People don’t rate him for exactly the opposite reason you state:
“knows his job does the basics well”
No. He doesn’t. He backs off too far and allows players to come inside too easily. Those are basics of defending.
Very consistent and made only one bad error last season against spuds.
The problem with Simpson is that he back off all the time. It’s like he is being charged at by someone with a knife…
And since when has Collymore’s opinion counted for anything? This woman beating sexual deviant is a complete tit, but hey as long as it backs up your view then it’s all good hey?
Can see your first point and agree with you on the latter, but was pleased to see someone else not giving Simmo a hard time
Simpson gives the ball away to much and cant cross… lack positioning pace is decent.. New fullbacks, cover in mid defence and a striker ofc
Ive seen Danny put in a couple of good crosses in the last 2 games..
However in the game against the scum, he was caught out of position a few times..
Personally I think it is Collo and S.Taylor that have been the stars of our defence recently. S.Taylor has the odd moment where he tries to dribble the ball out of defence and gets caught but that is because he is trying to drive our team forward. Collo has been a rock at the back easily the best defender we have. Simpson does get skinned by anyone with pace because he backs off too much he does need some more assistance from whoever is going to be playing right wing Obertan probably and R.Taylor is not a defender but great goal against the Mackems.
Can you back off too much and get skinned by anyone with pace? Surely backing off is to prevent wingers from getting past you…
Agree with a lot of the comments,especialy about the backing off-and especialy the way he invites opponents into the box by backing off and putting the chalange in too late-,my seat is behind the goal and these problems were very evident last season-BUT I feel he is getting better and his comitement is there to be seen. Hope he comes good and has a cracking season.C`mon the toon.
Pinch yourselves – he’s nowhere near good enough for england, he’s barely premiership standard
i think he is a class right back and dont see a reason why he shouldnt get a chance in the england squad.
for me raylor would be our right back, i think he is more solid, maybe not as mobile as simpson, but has better use of the ball,,
for me our worst players at the club right now are perch followed by simpson, both right backs :(,,
the number of times teams attacked us and created chances down the left with one of those 2 there, im suprised pardew hasnst tried to strenghten there,
i believe fergerson will come good at left back , i mean he is a kid, but imo , he is already better than simpson and perch
Collymore was kissing ass, and will never be a football pundit while i have a hole in mine! your all mad, simpson is neither England class nor is he shite, he is Joe average who is always committed and gives 100%, we should support players who work hard for the team but not build them up unrealistically
Danny does a good job for the Toon and has never let us down. Jose was considered to be one of the best but scored none and created none either so wheres the difference. Iwould prefer 11 Danny Simpson’s to some of the prima donnas who have took the pi@@ out of our club over the years. Support the players they give their all for us at the moment and deserve a bit more respect than has been spoken about in some of these comments.I’m sure with the right transfer fee we could get Stephen Carr back eh?
Nicely put Stevey C
Tom Jones Says:
August 21st, 2011 at 4:52 pm
Can you back off too much and get skinned by anyone with pace? Surely backing off is to prevent wingers from getting past you…
Not really if you teamed up with your right winger surely closing the space that they are able to play in and not allowing them to accelerate is a preferable option. You also stop the cross from getting in the box. By backing off he is allowing the winger to A) get into the box where he can give away a pen and B) Allowing time to pick out his pass and for oncoming strikers to arrive in the box.
C) allowing time for other defenders to get back and cover?
Yeah if your a centre back that is true. If your a right back you should be using the bylines to your advantage and try to stop the cross getting into the box. It’s like in boxing a slower boxer will cut off the ring for the faster boxer so he has nowhere to move. Look at any team with a great defence and you won’t find their wing backs backing into the penalty area it is asking for trouble.
How often is it Simpson is back by himself Tom ??
Agree is not ideal, but you’re picking on one of his weaknesses which is fair enough, but I’d rather look at his strengths.
I’m glad someone has finally praised simmo, I think he is a good player completely devoted to the cause. I admit he has his flaws if he was amazing united (excuse the French) wouldn’t have let him go. I believe he has consistently improved his game over the last two seasons.
getting better – that’s all you can ask