One area of the team that we think Chris will strengthen in the summer is right back.
Danny Simpson – likable lad – will fight for his place
Danny Simpson currently operates in that position this season, but he is still unproven in the Premiership.
Of course that doesn’t say that Danny will not come good next season, and we hope he does, but we do expect Newcastle to go after a top full back this summer, preferably who can play on either flank.
And Danny is well aware new players will arrive on Tyneside during the summer, who will all press to get a starting position at Newcastle.
Danny said today:
“I think it is going to happen for everyone in the team. We’re going to be linked with a lot of players because we’re a Premier League club now and we probably do need to add a few,”
“But I’m hungry and determined and whoever is brought in, the most important thing is I keep myself in good shape because I don’t want to lose my place.”
“We’ve got some guys who’ve established themselves in that league and played hundreds of games there but I know that at the moment, I’m not a Premier League player.”
“I don’t think I have had enough games in the Premier League to call myself a Premier League player and that is the reason I came to Newcastle United, to prove myself at a big club where I’d be playing games and give myself that chance.”
“That’s what I want to do next season now.” “I have got a point to prove to myself and to a few other people. I know how difficult it is – the Premier League is a whole different ball game – but I don’t want to play just one season and give up my place.”
“It won’t be easy next season, I know that. But I’m learning all the time and no one is going to work harder to keep their place in the team than me.”
Danny has started 38 games this season for Newcastle, and has one goal, but most of his career has been spent at clubs on loan in the Championship such as Newcastle, Ipswich and Sunderland.
He was at Blackburn on loan at the end of last season,where he played 12 games, but as he says, he’s still to prove himself in England’s top flight.
The Salford-born 23 year-old has 118 first-class games so far in his career with two goals.
We are hoping Danny will be able to step up to the higher level in the Premiership next season – we think he’ll do just that.
Comments welcome.
6 comments so far
nden85
Apr 19, 2010 at 10:52 AM
Comment #1speaking purely from a football manager perspective, vanden borre who is currently playing at pompy is a great player, not really seen much of him this season though.
Ericles
Apr 19, 2010 at 11:06 AM
Comment #2It goes without saying that we need another RB as cover at least. Danny is still young and has a future with us in the Premiership I am sure.
macn0ble (Finland)
Apr 19, 2010 at 11:14 AM
Comment #3Okay 1st of all, without having seen many games this season (CCC isn’t available in Finland in any of the pay tv sets, unfortunately), so I might be bit harsh in here, but my first thought of the guy is that he is not actually world-beater. Okay he’s agile and fast but the same time loses a lot of 1 on 1s and is often caught rushing away from his position. Correct if I’m wrong, but unless he can develop his positional play and and get some extra weight on he’s not starting EPL full back..?
G
Apr 19, 2010 at 12:00 PM
Comment #4To be fair to Simmo, I don’t think he’s anywhere near as bad is he is often vilified to be. I am certain each and every player on our books will have a harder time whilst playing against Rooney, Van Persie et al. The lad is only 23 though, so he has age on his side. We do need cover for either full back position so regardless of his availability for 1st choice / back up RB next season he has been a key member of the squad that has got us back to the Prem, so go easy on the boy eh? After all, we seem to have a habbit of destroying the confidence of defenders here, and it would be nice to have the opposite effect for once.
Ericles
Apr 19, 2010 at 12:45 PM
Comment #5Well put G.
Bucks mag
Apr 19, 2010 at 3:56 PM
Comment #6He’s pretty honest with himself, recognising he needs to improve.