Danny Simpson has been one of the surprise successes this season in a defense that has so far been unchanged in all the Premier League games.
Danny Simpson – players will not be affected by controversy
Danny has continued to improve this season, as he did last season, and has helped to create at Newcastle, what is currently the best defense in the football league, with the least goals conceded.
Newcastle have conceded only 8 goals in their 11 league games so far, although big tests await in the next three games at the two Manchester clubs and at home to Chelsea.
It’s not surprising that Danny has talked obliquely about the St. James’ Park renaming rights controversy going on at the moment on Tyneside, but he says it will not affect the Newcastle players:
“Whatever has gone on in the last week, the team will not be affected by it.” “It is not our responsibility – winning games is. We are still on the training pitch working as hard as ever.”
“We are still working on what we are going to do at Manchester City at the weekend and we are still preparing for the games in the same way we normally would.”
“We have really appreciated the way the supporters have helped us and responded to us this season.” “I am pretty sure come 3pm on Saturday they will be behind us all the way and supporting the team.”
“We have no fear of playing anyone at the moment.” “We have put ourselves in a fantastic position. Of course it is going to be tough because they are a good team, but we are concentrating on what we can do.”
“We know if we stick to a plan and we play the way we know we can and fight the way we have so far this season we are a very good team. That is why we are third in the league.”
“We are not there by fluke, we are there because we have proved when we stick to our plan and work hard we are a very good team.”
Good words from Danny boy, and of course the last thing we want to see is demonstrations and the like before these games, as that will hardly help the players or Alan Pardew and his coaching staff.
But if Newcastle fans can just support Alan, the coaching staff and the players through this season, and not think too much about Ashley or LLambias, it can work out very well, as it did famously during the promotion season.
It’s a good question as to how many points Newcastle can get from their next three games, but even in the very worst case, if they lose all three games, Newcastle should still be well positioned in the league and should be able to push on from there.
Certainly it looks very possible to achieve the goal of finishing in the top ten in the Premier League this season, and even doing a lot better than that.
Howay The Lads!!
14 comments so far
SwedishMagpie
Nov 16, 2011 at 9:55 AM
Comment #1There are no comments yet … please kick things off by filling out the form below.
SwedishMagpie
Nov 16, 2011 at 9:58 AM
Comment #2England were so lucky yesterday… Sweden were by far the better team ! 😉
ross armstrong
Nov 16, 2011 at 10:20 AM
Comment #3Swedish magpie!!??? Its the worst ive ever seen sweden play in my life and they were playn england b team hmmmmmmm , and yous stil got beat lol , work that one out swede boy
PHOENIXNIGHTS
Nov 16, 2011 at 10:21 AM
Comment #4No way should players be concerned about what name the stadium is,that will not effect their performance at all (unless it was renamed Stadium of Light part 2 ). As I mentioned in a previous thread Ashley and Lamearse have the uncanny knack of upsetting a settled ship. Everyone should be enjoying the fantastic start we have had- not worrying about the stadium name. As has been mentione time and time again call it what you like – its still SJP.
keep the faith
ross armstrong
Nov 16, 2011 at 10:22 AM
Comment #5I soooooo hope tiote n cab start on saturday !! If we can dig out a draw from the 2 mancs and beat chelski i will run around eldon square naked
bambams
Nov 16, 2011 at 10:28 AM
Comment #6any points over the next two games will be excellent………………
just so pleased we are still above liverfool and that bloody dogleash, oh how i would love to beat them to europe!!!!!!
geoff777
Nov 16, 2011 at 10:32 AM
Comment #7When Hughton was sacked and Andy Carroll was sold I was an adrenalin fuelled, emotionally retarded, keyboard warrior for a couple of weeks.
No more.
I was so wound up it was unhealthy.
Now if it’s out of my control, in other words … most things to do with the running of the club, I don’t let it get to me.
I guess players have always had that mentality.
As for the naming, it’ll always be SJP to me.
I’d just like to see Sports Direct pay the club some money.
It is on paper a separate company only 70% owned by Ashley.
The other 30% are getting a sweet deal with all the free advertising. It isn’t right.
PHOENIXNIGHTS
Nov 16, 2011 at 10:39 AM
Comment #8Apparently Ashley and Lamarse want to attract more women to our games- our new stadium name is apparantly Ann Summers Rampant Rabbit Arena (girls come to the game and be guranteed 90 mins of absolute pleasure)
geoff777
Nov 16, 2011 at 10:46 AM
Comment #9@PHOENIXNIGHTS
There’s no shortage of dicks in the director’s box.
PHOENIXNIGHTS
Nov 16, 2011 at 10:48 AM
Comment #10an apt name considering the ins and outs we have at this club !!!!!!!
markmac
Nov 16, 2011 at 12:14 PM
Comment #11I think as hard as it might be we should just forget all about this naming rights buisness and let the money pour in [when we find a buyer!] and keep the st james name alive between us! p.s has the st james’ park sign been removed or changed outside?
markmac
Nov 16, 2011 at 12:16 PM
Comment #12yet
liam85
Nov 16, 2011 at 12:19 PM
Comment #13@bambams – AGREED!! 😀
cupiddstunt
Nov 16, 2011 at 12:50 PM
Comment #14Geoff777 @ # 7
I think that’s about nail on the head, we see things with our hearts but the players see it as job so see it with their heads.
The renaming will have no effect on the players as it is of no concern to them, they will be on the same training pitches walk out into the same stadium play on the same grass, why should the name on the top of the ground have an effect on their play.
I have followed the club for over 50 years so of course the name means something to me but it is not the end of the world, only losses on game days feel like the end of the world although an hour or two later perspective regains control.
As for the free advertising I really do not think MA will be taking free advertising as it makes no sense to me. Let’s say just for a figure 10 mil for the naming rights, if SD put something like that into the club then that would be advertising and they would scratch that against tax so have 10 mil less gross profit to be taxed which would be around 5 mil in tax.
SD gives nothing to the club for advertising then that is just more for the tax man when he calls next April. I do not think MA is daft where money is concerned so I think there must be some benefit somewhere to NUFC and SD if there was no official payment made for the re-naming.